Stepping Out In Faith Toward Your Life's CallingSample

Do You See God Around You?

When our daughter was being recruited by colleges for softball, we were excited just to have the opportunity for her to play at the next level and obtain an education.  Of course, she had some criteria that she wanted in a school. She wanted to be a part of a program that had the potential of making it to the Softball College World Series and she wanted a great college atmosphere in a safe community.  She seemed to find all the criteria in one of the schools that was recruiting her, Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.  

This is a big decision for a 17-year-old to make, but Carl and I knew that only she could make such an impactful decision.  The fact that the school was located over eight hours away from home was a big factor, making the decision even more difficult.  Knowing that we would not be able to be there to watch every game or even make a surprise visit on a whim, made it very hard to let our youngest child, and only daughter, leave home for a school so far away.  But on the other hand, what an opportunity she had in front of her!

We drove up for her official visit just three days before Division 1 Softball Signing Day.  Knowing that her decision would be permanent once she signed that college softball offer, she was nervous about the final visit.  She seemed to start questioning everything she saw.  Not knowing if she would fit in, if they would win, if she would be good enough to play and many more doubts seemed to consume her thoughts on this last visit.  She even said to us, “I don’t know if this is where I need to be.” Carl was frustrated over her indecisiveness, but as a mom, I knew that she just needed us to tell her that she was making the right decision.

The problem that Carl and I were having was that we did not know if this was the best college choice for our precious little girl. We were just as fearful as she was about this big decision.  We decided to let her sleep in the next morning as we drove around and discussed the decision before leaving for home.  

I had great concerns about the lack of seeing any Christian organizations on campus.  I saw several Darwin fish on the back of vehicles around campus and many more anti Christian symbols.  Upset about what I saw in the natural, I said to Carl on our early morning drive, “I just don’t see God anywhere here.”  Just as those words left my mouth, Carl pulled over onto a scenic lookout.  I gasped as I realized that we were at the very highest point of the Blue Ridge Mountain range.  There were mountains as far as my eyes could see.  North, south, east and west, we were surrounded by breathtaking mountains.  The sun was coming up and the site was absolutely beautiful.  Carl got out of the car to take pictures of the majestic site. I could not move.  I just sat in the car with my seatbelt still fastened and wept.  “God, I am so sorry.  I see you! I see you all around us.”

When Carl returned to the car, we decided to have our morning devotion at this most wonderful site.  I prayed that God would show me exactly the word He had for us. I could hardly see the pages of my Bible as I opened to Psalms 125:1-2, “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people, from this time forth and for evermore.”

We drove back to the hotel room and picked up Cara and brought her to this site.  Carl and I shared with her our prayer and showed her the powerful Word of God. Knowing that she would be surrounded by our Almighty God as those mountains surrounded Boone, NC brought a peace and assurance to her and us.  The doubt and fear that had consumed us was now replaced with peace and joy!  

The first time I saw the blue and yellow football field that was given to the community of Barrow, Alaska it wasn’t hard for me to see the handiwork of God. The blue football field wasn’t the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but like those mountains, when you looked at it, you realized that only Almighty God could create such a thing.

Questions to ask yourself:

Are you able to see God in your surroundings, or, does your fear blind you?

What difficult situations are you facing that you need to see God’s beauty?

Are you ready to trust God today to put you and your loved one’s in the right place?