It never fails that I am given notes to create at the most random times. As I was compiling an email to send to my new mentee this morning, her prior email had asked in which building she could locate me on campus. In my response, I stated, “Please come to this building and this room number, and from there the Office Manager will direct you in which way to go.” Immediately, God placed Proverbs 3:5-6 on my heart, which tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding and He will direct our path. No matter where we are in our lives or careers even, when we feel lost or uncertain, we can always go to God and He will direct us in the way we should go.

Towards the latter end of 2022, I felt so uncertain about my future, particularly year 2023, and what it would look like for me. I kept trying to lean on my understanding and make sense of what I had gone through previously, and if things we get better. All the while I was taking things into my own hands, God was calling me to place them in His. Nothing I went through was happenstance, but all a part of His doing. Unbeknownst to me, I was under His direction the entire time and needed to trust He was leading me down the right path.

We won’t always understand the things we go through in life, but we have to trust God’s direction and willingly take His guidance, for He will never lead us astray.

La’Rue

There have been several instances where someone has wronged me, but there was one occasion in particular that stood out. I’ve shared many times how I’ve felt personally attacked and preyed upon by a superior I used to report to. This person was not just, fair, nor did they represent or model, I should say, what a leader/manager should be. In fact, they were hell bent on making me the least, because they knew God had favored me the most. I make no admission that I was (or am) Employee of the Year (although I was bestowed that coveted award in 2014), however, I do know that I do what’s required and expected of me, and I do it very well! Nonetheless, this person harbored resentment towards me and conspired against me for two years to have me removed from my position, until God positioned me to leave.

After I gathered my belongings which had been gathered underneath my desk for months, I left relieved, at peace, and hopeful for my future. The next days that followed, I experienced a lot of hurt. I wasn’t hurt that God had removed me from that person’s toxicity. I was hurt because the two years that should’ve been used to manage and mentor me, were used to (try and) destroy me. I felt such immense anger and used some of the most impure language to describe them, which is a good reason why I never saw them again. I wanted so desperately to start a smear campaign as revenge, but I settled on unforgiveness. Besides, “How could I forgive anyone like that?” Yet God reminded me of the many times He forgave (someone like) me.

When I was flustered and upset at the things that person said or did to me, I had no peace. It bothered me to know how much they had bothered me, but nothing bothered me more than my unwillingness to forgive. In my mind, if I forgave them, it meant I’d dismissed their offense, but in actuality, I only dismissed the anger that was festering inside. While I will never forget what they did, I did find peace in forgiveness. Now when they cross my mind, I don’t boil with rage, because God has given me peace that surpasses all understanding (of what they did).

Forgiveness is a difficult fete and can take years to accomplish, depending upon the level of trauma experienced. Whether you do it tonight, overnight, or over the years makes no difference, so don’t be led to believe you have to do it now. When you forgive, you’re not excusing what happened or looking to make the offender happy, you’re doing it for yourself. Forgiveness is a powerful thing and can bring about a lot of healing, especially your own.

La’Rue

This past weekend, my mother, two of my sisters, and I, watched a very inspiring movie on Netflix entitled, Arctic. I don’t remember the lead’s name, but the setting was centered around a fallen aircraftman, as he raced to survive the bone-chilling weather. With his food and water supply running low, he set forth on a long and almost impossible journey of making it out alive.

Spoiler alert: Not only am I going to give the movie away, but I’m also giving away a free gem.

As he sought refuge, he saw a helicopter in the distance, and signaled by burning a hand-flame (I’m sure that’s not the appropriate term), to let them know he was there. As the plane attempted to descend, it spiraled out of control and crashed into a large snowbank. One of the crew members had immediately expired, while the other was injured, but alive. For what seemed like eternity, the man and woman trekked across the sea of snow, as he fought relentlessly to pull them both to safety.

During one of his final attempts at survival, he saw another aircraft and motioned to get its attention, but it left without them. Having no other choice, he surrendered and laid next to the woman. The moment he laid his burdens down, the aircraft came to their rescue. Does this movie sound familiar? Maybe you’ve seen it before, but not on Netflix. Perhaps in your own lives. You’ve carried around backloads of issues and problems, and no matter how heavy the load became, you still tried to find the answer on your own, rather than casting your cares and burdens to God.

Like the man in the movie, you may be in survival mode right now and have made many attempts to seek refuge, only to be passed by. However, when you choose to allow God to do everything instead of in your own strength, that’s when He will come to your aide. A lot of people have this idea that surrendering is a bad thing, when it’s not. If anything, it’s the best thing you can do to see the mighty hand of God.

La’Rue

As you lay in bed or sit in your chair at work, and allow your mind to wander, while you wonder if everything is going to work out for you, God is already on the scene working miracles and wonders for you. You don’t need to see what He’s doing to confirm that He’s doing anything. All you need is faith to know that if He’s brought you through other things, surely, He can bring you through anything, especially the very thing you’re dealing with now.

Let this be the year your faith increases, and your fears decreases, as you set your eyes on God.

La’Rue

When we need God to help us through difficulties we face in life, we are to look for His grace. God reminds us in His word that “My grace is sufficient…” and all that we need. When Paul asked Him to remove the thorn in his side, God told him, “My grace is sufficient.” Like Paul, God may not remove your burdens or pain and suffering (immediately) but He will give us the grace and strength to get through everything we endure.

No matter how tough times are, God’s grace makes us tougher and able to withstand it all.

La’Rue