Grand Rapids Wedding and Portrait Photographer | Emily Rae Photography

I don’t often post personal stuff on my blog.  Not because I don’t want to share … I’ve just never have liked writing about myself very much.  In school, I could write pages and pages about any topic – but ask me to write something about myself and my pen would dry up.  I just couldn’t come up with anything.  Today I started reading a new book – it’s more of a devotional.  It’s by Scarlett Lillian and it’s called Prosper: A 40 Day Prayer Journey To Pray God’s Will For Your Photography Business.  I’m excited to read this book and will be doing so over the next 40 days.  But one of the first challenges of the book, was to share something personal about what God has been teaching me.  So here goes!

I love to plan. It’s a gift, but it can just as easily be a curse!  I love to plan out what I’m going to do next or how to solve some problem.  Over the last several years, God has been teaching me to really seek his guidance for next steps and planning.  It’s a daily struggle, but I’m slowly learning to depend on Him more and patiently wait on Him.  I’m not a patient person either.  Thankfully God is very patient.

When we seek God’s guidance, sometimes God’s answer is to wait.  I really hate getting this answer.  Yes or No would certainly be easier to deal with.  God gives us dreams and there’s nothing wrong with dreaming about the future. But we can easily become so focused on that future plan or dream, that we aren’t at peace in our present circumstances.  I waited a long time for my dream of becoming a full-time photographer.  I remember the moment when I decided I wanted to do photography for a full-time job.  It was in the summer of 2008 and it seemed impossible.  I finally took the leap to full self employment in 2011 – over 3 years later.  I’m so glad I waited (sometimes very impatiently) on God’s timing.  God was teaching me contentment in my current circumstances as well as preparing me in many other ways.

Being self-employed is a daily reminder to me of how God provides for our needs.  I’m learning to be at peace in the knowledge that God will provide.  It’s scary at times but I’m so glad that I’m able to experience this!  God always provides.  And His ways are better than what I could ever ask or imagine.  Sometimes waiting is really hard.  There’s an area of my life where I’m currently waiting. It’s really painful and difficult at times, but I rest in the knowledge that my God has great plans for me.  Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite verses and it says ”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.”  Romans 8:28 is also one of my favorites “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God has great plans for your life.  His plans are better than anything you could imagine.  So keep dreaming and embrace the promise that God has plans to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future!