The Journey

I am a planner by nature.

For as long as I can remember, I had plans for my adult life laid out. College right after high school. College degree in four years. Marriage around the same time as graduation. Great career. Two or three kids. Happily ever after.

To say that my life has looked nothing like MY plans is a severe understatement. BUT I am able to look back at the first 10-ish years of my adult life (I recently turned 30) and see God’s sovereignty throughout all my failed plans and horrible attempts to rectify those plans. Had my life gone my own way, I feel very confident that I never would have finally fully surrendered to the Lord; I’d still be living a lack-luster, only-come-to-Him-when-I-need-something kind of “Christian” walk. Instead, the Lord allowed me to endure hurt and heartache so that He could bring me to the place of surrender. Honestly, the way God used some of the dumb things I did–which I thought were fulfilling MY plans–to bring me exactly where He wanted me makes me laugh. Touché, God, touché. 

I am SO GRATEFUL that He loved me enough not to leave me where I was or let me have my way. His way has undoubtedly been better.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. [Isaiah 55:9]

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” [Jeremiah 29:11 AMP]

But surrendering my life to the Lord didn’t change the fact that I’m a planner. In many ways, this is an asset, a facet of my personality that is God-given. But it also presents its own challenges. Daily–sometimes many times a day–I have to resurrender my plans and MY ideas of how something should go or in what time frame it should happen because otherwise, I can become easily attached to an idea of mine, which can cause it to become somewhat of an idol in my life.

If I’m totally honest, when the Lord asked me two years ago to give pause to my career in world missions and step away from Overland for a season, I think that’s one of the reasons why. I remember a few months prior a co-worker mentioning something about being willing to give up being a full-time missionary if the Lord asked, and just the thought of that made me sick to my stomach. I was totally attached. I had my plans of how I wanted things to go. And the Lord did something different. 

But as always, He knows better. And I’m very grateful for the season He’s had me in.

It’s been tough, no doubt. I’m not going to lie and say that I’ve enjoyed every moment. But the comfort and reassurance that He has given me from the very start has been indescribable. The refinement He’s allowed me to walk through with assurance of growth and taking me deeper in different areas of my faith–when I truly think about it, it makes me want to fall on the floor and weep with thankfulness. (I may or may not have tears streaming down my face as I write this.) And I know that I don’t even know the half of it. There is so much more He has yet to reveal.

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it..” [Philippians 1:6]

Life is a journey. (Totally cornball, I know, but at least I didn’t say ‘life is a highway’.) It’s true, though. And oftentimes, we get so caught up in the destination that we forget the importance of the journey. (Also bumper-sticker-esque I know, but also very true.) If we allow ourselves to soak in every moment, we can find so much joy in the Lord’s overwhelming and relentless love for us, even in moments [seasons] of refinement and equipping.

Through it all, He who has promised is faithful [Hebrews 10:23], and I am grateful to be able to announce that God is bringing me to the next step of my journey, which means that my season of pause is coming to a close very soon. 

I will provide more details in time, but for now, I will share that step one is that I will be going on a two-week mission trip in August to the country of Madagascar, and I am now fundraising for that trip. (I’ll be reaching out soon so that I am able to share more details with you. If you definitely want to know more, let me know, and I’ll make sure you’re at the top of the list. If you want to go ahead and give in the meantime, visit https://www.overlandmissions.com/donate, and fill out the form. Make sure to put “Stacy Moorhouse – Madagascar” in the ‘donation memo’ line of the ‘financial information’ section.)

I am excited and expectant for this next season. I can honestly say that despite the trials and perceived failures that I’ve walked through, the Lord hasn’t failed me yet, and I know He won’t start now. 

“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack?  Surely we are the most favored of all creatures.” [AW Tozer]

“Whenever God begins something, we have the assurance that He will finish it. Nothing will stand in the way of Him accomplishing His purpose in this world and in our lives. What God starts, He finishes, and nobody can hinder Him. Sure, delays will happen. Just remember, God is in charge of the delays as well as the progress.” [AW Tozer]