Sometimes it can be so challenging to find joy in a season of preparation. We cannot wait to be husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, nurses, teachers, preachers, or lawyers. I will be the first to admit that I cannot wait to teach future high schoolers and to create an environment where they feel loved on, cared for, affirmed and encouraged. I cannot wait to be a wife and to serve alongside of a man who laughs at my jokes and leads me well because he is after Our Father's heart. I cannot wait to be a mother and tackle my kids with the biggest hugs when they walk through the door after a long day of school, and embarrass them by singing High School Musical songs at the top of my lungs in the grocery store. I cannot wait to travel and experience God's rich love in other cultures other than my own.

Although all of the things above are sweet desires to have, if I focus solely on them now then I lose sight of the mission field Jesus has called me into right now in this exact season. He has called me to be His hands and feet at Charleston Southern University in the beautiful city that is Charleston, South Carolina. I get so caught up in what is ahead that I am often blinded by what is right in front of me. I sometimes even get so caught up in the wonderful community He has surrounded me with, that I forget to praise Him for sending me such amazing people to grow and serve alongside of. I so often think "I cannot wait to be out on the mission field one day," but guys- I am reminded daily by our gracious Father that my mission field is NOW. There are so many broken people in this world that are filling their hearts with worldly and fleshly desires, instead of the Living Word. If we continue to focus on what lies ahead and not what is placed in front of us, then we miss out on conversations and opportunities of building relationships that further The Kingdom of Heaven now.

We need to step up and take joy in the fact that He has called us into these seasons of preparation, because He is preparing our hearts, souls, and minds for what might lay ahead. He does not call us to be comfortable. As humans, we can get so caught up in the state of complacency. We so easily get distracted by materialistic things that this world has to offer which can cause us lose focus of what God has right here and now. We must pray for and seek out intentional relationships, conversations, and opportunities to serve our King by serving our neighbors, so that we might better love those who are placed along our paths in the future. What a sweet and precious joy it is to serve a God who is constantly preparing us for what might lay ahead.