Column Post by Laura Hyers
“You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, you just might find
You get what you need.”
(The Rolling Stones)
I’ll just get straight to the point: I think it’s funny how sometimes what we want isn’t what we need, but we don’t know any better. Of course I think it’s an ironic, irritating sort of funny. I like having my pretty little illusions of control, pretending that I can accurately predict what’s going to happen, where I will end up, and what I will have to walk through to end up at my desired destination. But God never promises me those things. He never promises any of us those things.
I applied for a job right after I graduated from college because I was ready to use my degree and have a “grown-up job” and be “successful”. I laugh now looking back at me desperately grasping for control over my situation. I wanted a salaried position that used the piece of paper for which I had worked so hard, I wanted to comfortably pay my bills, I wanted my husband to be proud of his hard-working wife.
I went to the interview and it was a wreck and a month later the man who interviewed me asked, in spite of the awful interview, if I wanted the position and I said I wasn’t the right person for the job. I had been so convinced that it was perfect for me and I went home from that interview and looked at my husband and said, “Please don’t be angry, but I don’t want that job. I don’t know what I want, but I know I don’t want that job.” Of course, he was wonderful and said he didn’t want me doing any job but one I was incredibly excited about.
I did the same thing a week ago at my job at the preschool. I made myself a candidate for an open position and ended up not getting the job. I had peace about it because I had prayed about it and I knew my boss had been praying, but I was still disappointed because I felt like this job would better prepare me for my future goals. Then I got to spend the rest of the week in that position, and I was miserable. Like, ridiculously unhappy. I prayed for the weekend to come quickly and I thanked God for not giving me that job I thought I wanted and needed.
It isn’t just work where I’m trying to get my way, thinking that I know best; I know what I want and I think I know best. Thank goodness God is patient with my wayward heart and redirects me every time I take off on my own, determined to do things my way.
Where is He redirecting your steps today, friend? Where is He reminding you that He knows best, that He knows what you need as well as what you want?
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P.S. We’d love to know your thoughts, so please be sure to comment below. Each of our commenters will be entered in a drawing for our current FREE book giveaway, Mothers & Daughters: Mending a Strained Relationship by author Teena Stewart.
Laura Hyers is a Tampa native, writer, and the newly wed wife of musician Caleb. She recently graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in literature and is currently teaching preschool. When not chasing a class of two-year-olds, Laura is writing and fighting fierce bouts of wanderlust. She loves music, reading, being near the ocean, and dreaming big over huge cups of coffee with her best friend Lakin. Laura blogs at http://littlebirdmarie.wordpress.com.
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