There is one thing I have complete faith in.
“God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him” Romans 8:28
God has plans for us. The best plans. However, he also blessed us with free will and we live in a flawed world filled with human frailty.
Life is a beautiful struggle.
He doesn’t want his children to suffer. It’s never his plan for us to endure abuse, disease, the loss of a loved one, natural disasters, birth defects.
Yet God will weave all these things – all our pain, afflictions, hurts and experiences – into a beautiful tapestry for our life. He makes something with beauty and purpose from whatever scraps and remnants our lives produce — like a phoenix from the ashes.
He’s a good weaver and that’s not all.
God is a really good writer and he carries a big eraser.
He has a story written out for your life, but you know what?
Tish Happens.
We screw up. Life gets in the way. Tragedy strikes.
When it does, God writes a new chapter for you.
He may sigh a little, but he has no problem ripping out the page and working out a new plot. Even if he has to re-write the same chapter over and over–he’ll never grow weary.
But no author is an island. He needs a little help! That’s where we come in.
We have to be God’s editor; read what he’s written and suggest improvements if we have any or add a few tweaks.
We also have to be God’s publisher.
We need to believe in the story he has written for us, go out in the world and sell it!
What I’m saying is God will always help us work out our purpose in life, even if it changes a whole bunch of times.
But we have to take the time to read the book. We’ve got to hang out with God and use our relationship with Him to strengthen the power of our story.
It’s never too late to flip the script.
God? I’m ready. Let’s DO this.
- Put it out there. What’s God got written down for you right now? I have to admit I’ve always felt called to teach and I have a real passion for encouraging children to eat healthy….I have a feeling there’s a line or two in my book about that. Of course, you know I have to teach myself to eat healthier first!
For those of you who left comment love on my last post I leave you with this:
I just read a great part of The Purpose Driven Life that dealt with all of this. (Gah, I feel like all my comments these days are featuring that book! Lol!) But, it’s such an eyeopening realization. The “purpose” is going to be in doing the things we love and interest us, and incorporating God into that. Being a teacher? What if you did that and it became your purpose and somewhere in your life you lead someone to Christ because you were exactly where you were suppose to be doing exactely what you were suppose to be doing! It’s like a big sigh of relief and you can say “I’ve fulfilled what I was meant to be here for”.
I know that’s a mess of a comment! But I have so many thoughts about “purpose” and life passions right now relating to my faith. But I won’t bore you with them all! Just wanted to let you know this is currently taking up much of my mind right now too
I actually was gifted that book and the accompanying Journal but I have preserved it till I felt ready.
Years have gone by. I just hesitate to start ANYTHING whilst most of my day is combatting the ED. However you make me want to break it out.
I know you have been thinking about purpose because I read your post a while ago. I know, girl!
Amen sistah! I couldn’t have said it better. This really put into words what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, so thank you. My favorite part: “We need to believe in the story he has written for us, go out in the world and sell it!” I have struggled so much with believing in myself, especially believing in my hope that I will be a news anchor someday. It’s my dream career but I often don’t think I’m ‘good enough’. But if I believe in my story, I really do think God will bless me!
I saw I’ve seen your vlog! You can do it!
Love this, Missy! I’m trusting God to write my story and I’m working everyday to live my life in a way that honors Him. I mess up all the time, but I’m aware and I’m growing in Christ. Love you!
You mess up? No way.
Hahaha…I fall into the trap of thinking you are perfect but I know we all have our stuff.
‘Let’s do this’ – loving your willingness to listen to God and do what it takes. Praying that you will do what you need to nourish yourself so you can fulfill your purpose.
I’ve been challenged recently to finish what I’ve begun. I started my masters last year and tackled recovery for real at the same time. I made real progress on recovery, not so much on the research. I’ve been tempted to run away because it’s all too hard, yet I know that there is another few hard moments for me to work through, including my incapacitating fear that I can no longer write and am too dumb.
Thanks for the reminder to listen to our great God and walk with him in the plans he has already set for me.
xM
That’s a whole lot top tackle all at once….most people can’t handle anything else while tackling an ED.
This is great stuff… Missy, I feel that you are moving forward. You are looking for things that could enable your creative passion to come out. ED is about being disciplined and goal-oriented, at least for me it was. But it is a bad goal. I mean, it could have killed me. Now, redirecting this enormous passion to something good, admirable, blessing to you and others… Go, go go sweet lil’ sister! Come up with ideas, look for people who carry you forward with them, develop it all… and you’ll be freer, I promise.
Huggedy-hugs!
Thanks. I really want to find passion.
I thought I left a comment but I guess I didnt. Love this post. Hang in there…I am thinking of you and praying.
I saw it — my blogs all weirdity right now.
okay I thought my brain was playing tricks on me from lack of sleep! Which happens a lot!
Great post!!! Life IS a BEAUTIFUL struggle if you just step back and think about it
I love how spiritual you are and how you keep God in mind at all times <3
[...] other favorite blog post this week was God’s Book Deal on Beautiful Struggle. Missy is a wonderful writer, and she discusses how God may be writing the [...]
Hi Missy,
How much weight have you gained?
You look really really bloated in this photo.
Im not trying to be a hater and not saying your fat now
but are you trying gain even more or lose
I keep seeing you get bigger and I know when I go to treatment its gonna happen to me, too and Im really freaked out about it I have to wait until school gets out and Im going to move in with my parents.
I like reading your blog and I just think if you talk about fat and weight gain and show pictures its okay for me too.
sigh. I guess to be fair I’ll respond.
I’m kind of freaking out too, to be honest.
But I’m dealing.
I have gained close to 20 lbs in less than a year. That’s a rough guesstimate because I am staying far from the scale.
I’m not trying to gain or lose I am just eating.
Thanks for not calling me fat? LOL.
Is your name really Jane?
I dont understand people. I do not understand why you would feel it is appropriate to mention bloat/weight/physical appearance that way.I don’t think you look bloated at all. Good for you Missy… 20 pounds is awesome forward moving progress! I think you should be very proud. I also think you should be proud that you have stayed away from the scale! I am doing this myself and it has been 3 weeks. It has been hard but the numbers on the scale do not define our self worth.
I am irritated at Jane’s comment. It isnt even my blog and I am irritated. I can only imagine how you feel Missy. I don’t need to come in here and rant. Missy you are totally able to take care of yourself I just get irritated when I see comments like this. Honestly they piss me off.
I have to admit it’s hard to be up front about this stuff but in order to keep this blog comments real I am approving all of the ones even when they get uncomfortable. It’s funny — two days ago someone was yelling at me and saying I looked like a 12 year old from a concentration camp and today I am bloated.
Whatever, my problems are mostly dealing with the feeling I have in my own skin. People’s comments aren’t that difficult to hear, except the ones where people say they are worried because that makes me feel bad.
If I received a comment like this while I was in the process of restoring weight, I would be absolutely devastated. Missy, please ignore this person’s rude comment and distorted view of you–you are not REMOTELY bloated or fat. The commenter clearly has a lot of personal issues that they need to seek help for. An optometrist’s office might be a good place to begin. I apologize if my reply is rude, but I really care about you and want you to know how out of line that comment was. Ridiculous!
Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it I have been thinking about it all day….like I have the word “BLOATED” on my forehead.
I tagged you by the way for a blog post…
I guess I didn’t mean to be rude, I just want to know how much you weigh so I can no what to expect and how tall you are.
I think if you want to blog about it you can help people know what to expect.
Jane,
That’s the number 1 rule to be ED-PC….no numbers! I can’t talk about that on my blog.
Email me like a big girl if you want to get to know me better.
However I don’t even want to think about my weight right now!
I “guess” you didnt mean to be rude? Wow. She is going through the refeeding/weight restoration process and you made comments about her personal appearance. I find it hard to believe you just want information. Besides if you yourself need to refeed you should obviously ask a doctor or a trained preofessional as to where your weight range should be. Everyone is different so it doesnt matter what Missy weighs or how tall she is. And she certainly is not obligated to give information about her weight just because she has a blog.
Okay I am out this is really bugging me to the point of anger and tears. I am sorry you have to get irritating and non helpful comments. You are handling it with more grace then I ever could.
I love this post! It’s so true that God doesn’t plan for us to suffer. I have tried to remember, on a daily basis, the suffering Jesus went through for me. It makes my own suffering seem so miniscule. Thanks for your encouraging words.
sending you some xoxoxoxoxo your way love!
You are amazing! I really know you can overcome this, and follow gods plan (with some beautiful Missy style editing) to become the best you can be. if that means being a teacher, amazing! Just keep on fighting.
And please ignore that girls comment, you do not look bloated at all, your hair does look nice!
<3
I totally agree that we are lifes editors. Yes Gods got a plan for us, but thats just his plan, sometimes we dont do what he thinks or wants us to… and thats why lifes interesting and not a bunch of robots. I agreed with this post, alot. Blog kisses haha I love it.
Sending love, and wishes for a happy weekend xo
You are so beautiful and have such a strong belief in what makes you feel whole….I love that!
Honestly at the age of 30, I just picked up the bible for the first time ever and am learning some interesting stuff!!
xxoo
[...] needs us to be team players (co-authors). I just need to get a ball rolling and I CAN get back in the [...]