Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I handed Mark his lines for the play, so he could start rehearsing for the Christmas program. He skimmed the page and looked up and said, "No disrespect Ms. April, but this play looks boring". A little offended, I retorted "What do you mean it looks boring"?  

He went on to explain how it didn't really make sense and he couldn't see the point of it. It then dawned on me that he couldn't make sense of it because he only had one scene to rehearse. I didn't give him the entire play at once because I needed him to focus on his scene before bringing it all together. After I explained it to Mark and went over the entire play, it all started to make sense. He began to get excited and was ready to rehearse.

Have you ever struggled with this in your Christian walk? Sometimes, I find myself questioning God's plans for my life because I'm only looking at the current scene. When I struggle to make sense of things that are happening in my life, instead of patiently remembering that there is a bigger picture that God sees and will soon reveal, I tend to get bored or irritated with the current scene.

As I continue to grow in leadership and in ministry, I also find myself feeling the need to defend my calling. When I feel strong and confident in my Christian walk, I encounter a part of my past that only wants to remember a small scene of my life. I've been questioned about the authenticity of my calling by those who only had access to one scene in my life's script. In those moments, I can choose to shy away from God's plans and believe that my calling is limited by one small part of my life, or I can trust that God has called and equipped me to live out something greater.

We all have that same decision. Don't let one scene of your life keep you from living out the bigger picture. Each scene of your life will look different and some scenes will be more difficult than others. Don't give up. Don't listen to the chatter of those who only want to keep you in stuck in the past, even when those whispers come from within. Learn to listen for and to the voice of God. He is leading you to a spectular story that is sure to be a blessing.

Heavenly Father, Help me not to be discouraged by only a scene in my life. I want to focus only on you and the calling you have in my life. I bind anything that comes as a distraction or as a means to keep me stuck in the past. I lose patience, strength and focus over my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

By: Min. April Carter