Sisterhood Part 2 - While You Wait
Wow! I am in awe of what God has done through this blog over the course of 7 days. I know God is teaching me to rely on Him throughout this entire journey. I have learned that God’s plan is always better, and we are to follow His leading every single time…. Even if He halts "the plans” I have made.
Evidently, our hearts needed the reminder of how we find Godly sisterhood in our lives. So, here I am… following God and you!
I have a love/hate relationship with social media. Sometimes, it makes me so disheartened and sad for what it has become. However, it can also serve as spectacular reminder of God’s complete sovereignty and reign over everything. Last week, God reminded me of the positive impact social media can have.
God carried the last blog post further than I could have ever imagined. I’m in awe, honestly. The message reached the very people in that iconic photo from the crowning of Miss Texas. It reached the new Miss Texas, Ellie Breaux. I said I wanted to meet her, and God made it happen in the social media world. It reached the 1st Runner-Up, the one who is “holding up the queen.” I even heard from readers in foreign countries! Crazy! God orchestrated all of that.
Today, I want you to hear from the 1st Runner-Up in that photo. Her name is Madison Matlock. She is the beautiful young lady holding up the queen. I feel like there might be some of you waiting on your turn. You may be praying and asking God for your opportunity but wondering how you wait in humility and hold the people in front of you. How do we do that well and biblically? I believe God wants us to live in blessing while we wait. It’s in the waiting where God does his best work and draws us closer to Him. I know this…. Because I am waiting. And I am confident you are waiting too. Here are a few truths to hold on to while you are waiting for God to move.
I asked Madison a few questions. Enjoy her response below.
What is the best way to be a Godly sister to those who get the very opportunities you are waiting on?
“‘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 a hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
It's hard to watch the people around you get engaged, get their dream job, or even the crown. However, because I know Him and completely trust in His plan for my life, I can rejoice for those people. It might sound cliche to say "everything happens for a reason", but that gives me so much peace. Celebrate your sisters! Uplift them! If you have ever been the queen or a leader, you know how much those uplifting sisters carry you. Someday, your time will come and you will need people to rejoice and stand with you. It will be perfect because it will be a part of HIS plan.
While you wait for the opportunity to compete again, what is the biblical truth you are holding onto?
When I was dedicated to the Lord by my parents, this scripture was read over me.
"A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10 (CSB)
This verse has been prayed over me multiple times throughout my life and my family even texts each other at 10:10 AM/PM to tell each other we love each other. It's a thing for us!
I've gone back to this verse for two reasons:
Satan could steal the joy that comes from an opportunity like competing for Miss Texas. It's easy to be jealous or angry. Satan wants nothing more than to divert my attention from how God plans to work through incredible opportunities like this one. Those feelings are not from God. Not today, Satan!
He is the Good Shepherd and I just love the imagery in that passage about His love and who He is. He protects, provides, and lays down His life. And He doesn't just give us life, He gives us the most abundant life. He wants us to flourish and revel in His goodness. This verse gives me so much peace in knowing that I can find comfort in Him and the plans He has for my life.
What do you think God is calling you to do through this experience?
God has absolutely called me to save lives and speak his truth through drunk driving prevention (even as the 1st Runner-Up to Miss Texas). I know that for a fact!
In this time of waiting, I think He's using this experience to call out to me. If I am honest, I haven't been invested in Him enough. Being in a pageant can easily lead you to invest more time in personal preparation (talent, evening gown, interview) than spiritual preparation. During competition week, God brought me to my knees. I literally was like, "Lord, I am on my last legs here!". Y'all, when we say the Lord is our strength, it's true! I was exhausted, but that's because I hadn't been resting in Him and His Word. God uses exhaustion, waiting, and even disappointment to bring us closer to Him.
I felt his presence the entire week of competition and I think he used that experience as a wake-up call. Like… “Hey girl, you're kind of caught up in an earthly crown.” And I'm glad He did, because the crown is Him.
Madison Matlock
Amanda here…. “The crown is Him.” I keep replaying those words in my head. God is the prize. Jesus is the gift. While you wait, don’t let Satan attempt to steal your joy or plant seeds of jealousy. Allow God to do His best work through you in the waiting. And I can’t wait to hear the story you will tell of God’s goodness.
The crown is Him.
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