Right now, thousands across metro Atlanta are hunkering down, scouring grocery stores, and bracing for a second winter weather storm.
Meanwhile, I am a day past due with my sweet Olivia Kate. Also, the amazing team I work with, plus hundreds of Door Holders, are trying to get to Houston, Texas, to gather thousands of students for Passion 2014 Houston.
In short, our response to this threat of crippling icy weather is: "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
Meteorologists have been warning us about the impending weather for a couple of days, and my anxiety developed slowly and then peaked. I woke up at 3:15am on Monday morning and couldn't fall back asleep until 4:30, fretting my little (okay, not "little" - nothing about me is very "little"right now!) head off trying to figure out how we would get to Northside Hospital if Olivia comes during the ice storm and what I needed to do/buy/think about/plan. I was restless, anxious, and worried.
At my 40-week appointment later that morning, I asked my doctor and the nurses for advice and if I could just be induced that day to avoid a potential catastrophic, frantic, dangerous trek to the hospital later that week. I was told that a forced induction that day was not a great option, unfortunately.
I went to work after my appointment, still scheming internally about our options and how we would cope with a power outage, icy roads, and the unexpected, whatever that may be. My head was spinning with worry and exhaustion.
As I drove home later that afternoon, the Holy Spirit gave me a clear word: God is never surprised. Huh. Interesting. I was not expecting the threat of going into labor while housebound. I was not expecting our team to have to rework plans they'd spent months developing for Passion Houston. Heck, I was not even expecting to still be pregnant at 40 weeks. But God knew.
This thought instantly provided some welcomed relief from my frantic mental state, like taking a deep breath. Nothing happens on Earth that surprises my Father. I don't want to get into a theological debate about if he causes things to happen or doesn't cause them, but regardless of his role in instigating things, He sees them coming.
It's not up to me to strive and manipulate plans for labor, trying to figure out the best timing, safest scenario, and all of the specifics. It's not up to the Passion team to figure out minute details, make every change, communicate excessively, and stress over things until wee hours of the morning. Is some prep work, thinking ahead, and flexibility required as we assess our respective situations and adapt? Of course. God created our minds and expects us to use them. But it's not up to us to dictate everything and try to predict and control the course of events. Some faith is required. A lot of trust is required. There's no need to approach the unexpected with clinched fists and white knuckles. God is not surprised. He takes great care of the flowers of the field and birds of the air - He's got this, too.
Yesterday, my husband made some preparations for us in case we are housebound. We're being smart, but we're not trying to over plan or act like we don't need God. We do need Him - in crazy weeks like this one and seemingly routine weeks. And we can rest knowing that while we are taken off guard, He never is.
Meanwhile, I am a day past due with my sweet Olivia Kate. Also, the amazing team I work with, plus hundreds of Door Holders, are trying to get to Houston, Texas, to gather thousands of students for Passion 2014 Houston.
In short, our response to this threat of crippling icy weather is: "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
Meteorologists have been warning us about the impending weather for a couple of days, and my anxiety developed slowly and then peaked. I woke up at 3:15am on Monday morning and couldn't fall back asleep until 4:30, fretting my little (okay, not "little" - nothing about me is very "little"right now!) head off trying to figure out how we would get to Northside Hospital if Olivia comes during the ice storm and what I needed to do/buy/think about/plan. I was restless, anxious, and worried.
At my 40-week appointment later that morning, I asked my doctor and the nurses for advice and if I could just be induced that day to avoid a potential catastrophic, frantic, dangerous trek to the hospital later that week. I was told that a forced induction that day was not a great option, unfortunately.
I went to work after my appointment, still scheming internally about our options and how we would cope with a power outage, icy roads, and the unexpected, whatever that may be. My head was spinning with worry and exhaustion.
As I drove home later that afternoon, the Holy Spirit gave me a clear word: God is never surprised. Huh. Interesting. I was not expecting the threat of going into labor while housebound. I was not expecting our team to have to rework plans they'd spent months developing for Passion Houston. Heck, I was not even expecting to still be pregnant at 40 weeks. But God knew.
This thought instantly provided some welcomed relief from my frantic mental state, like taking a deep breath. Nothing happens on Earth that surprises my Father. I don't want to get into a theological debate about if he causes things to happen or doesn't cause them, but regardless of his role in instigating things, He sees them coming.
It's not up to me to strive and manipulate plans for labor, trying to figure out the best timing, safest scenario, and all of the specifics. It's not up to the Passion team to figure out minute details, make every change, communicate excessively, and stress over things until wee hours of the morning. Is some prep work, thinking ahead, and flexibility required as we assess our respective situations and adapt? Of course. God created our minds and expects us to use them. But it's not up to us to dictate everything and try to predict and control the course of events. Some faith is required. A lot of trust is required. There's no need to approach the unexpected with clinched fists and white knuckles. God is not surprised. He takes great care of the flowers of the field and birds of the air - He's got this, too.
Yesterday, my husband made some preparations for us in case we are housebound. We're being smart, but we're not trying to over plan or act like we don't need God. We do need Him - in crazy weeks like this one and seemingly routine weeks. And we can rest knowing that while we are taken off guard, He never is.
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