Miracles and Trials...together?

I thought I would jot down what has been rolling around in my head these past few days....the Lord has been teaching me a lot, and as I have talked to so many girlfriends about this, I have realized that trials during a blessing is more common than it seems...

A year ago today, I was a few weeks into my new adventure in Nashville. I said yes to God, not really knowing what He had for me, why He had me move, and what He was going to do with the two months I was supposed to be in Nashville. I was in a season of complete harvest (Ecclesiastes 3).

One small yes to God turned into a bigger yes, where I officially quit my job, made the big move to Nashville, launched my business, and met the man I am now engaged to. God moved mountains. He made a way, and the enemy did everything that He could to cause me to doubt Him. I never thought I would be living thousands of miles away from my family and friends. But, I just can't say no to Jesus, as scary as it may be. He has a beautiful, unconventional, unique plan for me (and for each of us) that often takes us in directions we never thought were possible. Isaiah 43:19 changed my life, and continues to move me in ways I never thought possible.

A few weeks ago, my fiance got offered an incredible job (through a crazy chain of events..I am so proud of him) that is based in my hometown and has a branch in Nashville (where I /we live now)...God is so evident in that story as we were praying with where He wanted us to live once we were married, He gave us both options...He has provided immeasurably more than we could have ever asked for...I will never get over it!

We have been bouncing back and forth between the two states, getting real good at packing a carry on, and starting to know the flight attendants by name it seems :). He is training for a few weeks here in in my hometown, so of course I came with him to wedding plan, be with family, and savor the special time that God gave us with this miracle job.

As beautiful and blissful as this season is, it has really been very hard. There have been growing pains with moving, the realities of a new job, and constantly traveling. There have been hard conversations as we have been getting closer to marriage. There have been fears with entering into a new season. I have been struggling more than I thought with living in two places...causing me to question things that are gifts from Jesus. The enemy has been doing everything possible to steal our joy and make us doubt God and His goodness. The enemy is crafty and clever. He comes to steal and destroy anything that God has brought to life. 

I guess what I have been thinking is, can you be living in a miracle season but also be going through a trial? I hadn't ever though of this until now. My answer is yes. Life is bittersweet as I get older. Good and hard go together more often than not, but Jesus, who gave me these feelings, is guiding us every step of the way. Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." I know we are right where we are supposed to be. There will be a time soon, a chapter in our lives, where we are settled, roots planted, in one spot. That is not right now and that is okay. Right now, we are in a season where we don't really know what God holds for our future, but I look at what He has done in our lives this past year, and I can't deny how faithful and true His word is.

So friend, if you are in both the miracle and the trial, we are in it together! I am figuring it out with you, holding your hand along the way. God's way is always greater.