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My senior year in college, the dean called me to his office. That was not typical and I was really nervous. He got straight to the point, "Karen, you need to go to law school." What??? I can honestly say becoming a lawyer NEVER had entered my mind before that moment. Inside, I laughed hysterically. To the dean, I said, "I don't know a thing about law school." He explained that I would have to take the LSAT and then apply to schools.
I had no money for gas to get to college. How would I pay for the LSAT? The dean had an answer for that too. Ohio State's Law School had a fund for financially needy students. He sent me to the law school.
That happened to be the last day to register. The receptionist handed me a form to complete. She disappeared into another room for a few moments, then returned to tell me I was registered. She handed me a tri-fold brochure that included a brief explanation of the test and question types. She told me where and when to report for the test. Easy!
And then... test day.
A mob of hopeful attorneys-to-be waited outside the test room. Some were taking the test for the third time, hoping for scores that would finally get them into law school. I remember thinking I had no business being there if they had taken study courses and still couldn't score well.
The proctor let us into the room and I sat down with pencils, pop tart and pepsi. Closing my eyes, I offered this prayer, "God, I have no idea what I'm doing here. If You want me to go to law school, You better show up big time." Like the Israelites who were cornered with the Egyptians in pursuit in Exodus 14, I had no place to turn. Either God showed up or I didn't go. That day, I lived out Moses' instruction in Exodus 14:14, "The Lord will fight for you. You need only be still." When we get to the end of ourselves, God shows up. We just need to be still and trust Him.
The test results came.
Maybe God has a plan for you that you don't even know about. Will you trust Him with your life?
Or maybe you know God has a better plan -- peace for your family, or contentment in your circumstances, or joy in living -- but you just don't "feel" it.
Trust me, I didn't "feel it" for law school, but God did. Won't you trust Him today? Just BE STILL. TRUST His plan. One day, you'll yourself like the Israelites, victorious. Then you can shout praises too.
And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD
and put their trust in him...
Exodus 14:31
12 comments:
Wow, Karen. That is an awesome story! I needed that reminder. We get so busy doing this and that and we just need to BE STILL. Thanks for that swift kick in the buttocks this fine day :).
Hey Fawn,
I'm going through a little trial here at home and a friend emailed me and said, "Read your blog post today..." I got a swift kick in the behind today as well!!! :)
If I can pray for you in any way, please let me know.
Blessings,
Karen
This is amazing! I was asking God literally yesterday should I go to Law school! I have 7 kids, several bills and no real idea as to how I would do what I do know and that! I haven't heard a YES, but I do hear through this message that whatever He has me to do He will give me the strength/equipment to do it. I read this 3 times before I could even respond. WOW Thanks for sharing. The Lord with you!What a blessing!
Thomasina,
Please keep me posted on your decision. I can't wait to hear what God finally shows you :)
Dear Lord,
Please be with Thomasina today. Give her clarity whether law school is your plan for her. If it is, please give her a clear and unmistakeable yes! If it is not, then give her peace in that decision. We love you, Lord, and are so thankful you care about every detail of our lives.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen
Very inspiring post. Thanks for the honesty and sharing it with us.
Karen,
This is an amazing story about when the presence of God is explicit. Many times it is not but we can hold on to these stories to help us get through those!
Love,
Jodi Aman
www.healnowandforever.net
Karen, this nearly brought me to tears. I can't tell you how much I needed to read this today. See, I'm not highly educated, but I do have a ton of corporate work experience. I'm not a Biblical scholar, but I do have real life spiritual battles I've endured and continue to fight.
In a million years I never would have thought I'd be writing a Christian faith blog or that God would be calling me to write and self-publish a book. But He has. I'm hoping to have it published by the end of the year.
Just yesterday I was feeling discouraged, thinking nobody will buy it or read it. There isn't a market for the information. What am I doing? I'm setting myself up for a lot of criticism...etc...etc...I'm filled with fear over this but something keeps pushing me forward.
The book, by the way, is about a christian wife's perspective on how to cope with her husband's unemployment. It's the heart of the matter...not the financial side...nothing about how to get a job or survive financially. It's about how to survive emotionally through faith.
The thing is I think my situation is different than most. We get a lot of help from my in-laws. Many people don't have that option. Most women in this scenario have had to go back to work and are filled with resentment. Marriages are falling apart.
I just don't know what God's plans are in this. Maybe it's for my own healing. Maybe there's only one person out in the world that He will hand this book to. Anyway, your post was encouraging to me, so thank you! Sorry to ramble on so much. :-)
Blessings,
Rosann
How incredibly encouraging for me...I stand at the crossroads of making a decison to sign up with the Bible Institute...Money= none Time = scarce Energy = used up = other demands = plenty ...but in the depth of my heart there is this "knowing"....as you it was presented to me a week ago and well, I have set the ball in motion ....with this education and diploma I then can become an ordained minister: Realizing I do not need a diploma to preach God's Word but this is something the LORD has put in my path....I'm as the Children of Israel...needing the Sea to Part that I may cross over on dry ground!
What a beautiful and powerful message! I need to listen harder, I'm afraid. I used to be better at it - I prayed very hard when I was having trouble finding a job teaching and asked for God's will to be done. I wound up getting a call a few days later that started my career. When I went back to work after our daughter was born, I could feel God calling me once again, this time to stop my career for the time and be a SAHM, something I never thought I'd do. But somehow through the past couple years I've been struggling to hear him. I need to learn to be quiet and trust him again. Thank you for your beautiful words to remind me.
I didn't think I'd find a message that would speak to me this way when I stopped by tonight... I was stopping by to tell you I've picked you for "The Tell Me about Yourself" award. You can find more details about it at: http://theresjustonemommy.com/?p=1741
Thank you!
Wow! Thanks for sharing your story, I love to see the hand of the Lord in the lives of everyone, and especially to see others acknowledge His hand too.
That is AMAZING!
Karen,
I meant to post this weeks ago, but have been set back on catching up with the "Moms of Faith" on VB. Sorry it's so late, but I really, really ENJOYED reading your personal testimony to where God has led you in this blog post.
Thank you so much for sharing, and hope to continue to hear more about your journey :)
Blessings,
Jackie
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