The Display of God’s Glory in the Peaks and Valleys
Retrospect is an incredible gift that God gives us to see His glory displayed throughout our life. But the better gift is faith, knowing that in the moment of our joys and sorrows we have confidence that God is always working for good. God has shown me how to use the peaks in my life to further His Kingdom, and He has also revealed how He elevates my most embarrassing valleys to accomplish His will. In the next few minutes, you will see God’s glory on display through two very different portions of my life. My prayer is that you use it as a faith builder and evidence of His sovereignty over every detail in your life.
The Peak
I took one last deep breath, closed my eyes, and stepped into the stage lights. I was competing for the chance to become Miss Louisiana and ultimately Miss America. The competition was in its final minutes and my knees started to buckle as the announcer narrowed the field to two remaining contestants. I knew in that moment my life was about to change.
Within sixty seconds, I was standing at the end of a runway with a crown and in complete shock. I had been perfectly poised for the entire competition, but in that moment, I couldn’t even walk straight! Years of work and dedication paid off and God had given me this incredible opportunity to serve the state of Louisiana and compete for Miss America.
That moment when that crown was placed on my head was one of the most pivotal points in my life. You see, my life was headed in one direction and in an instant everything changed. But these changes had nothing to do with the allure of being Miss Louisiana. That crown introduced me to my husband, moved my life to Monroe, brought me to a church home which eventually led to a closer relationship with God and a greater calling in my life. That crown and that moment pivoted my life towards God in a way I never expected. My crowning moment was a huge stepping stone in living out God’s purpose and plan for my life.
We all have crowning moments in our faith. Your crowning moment points you toward the crown of Christ. It is a part of your testimony and the story of how God saved, delivered, rescued, redeemed and pivoted your life towards Him. The crown logo on my website was very intentional. It represents the crowning moments in our life that are pure blessings from God. We should seek to return those blessings as a sacrifice so that He can use it for His purposes.
“They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and honor and power.’” (Revelation 4:10b-11 NIV)
This scripture describes one of the more beautiful displays of worship in Revelation. In this scene, the Elders lay their crowns before the throne and worship Jesus. That’s exactly how God wants us to use worldly awards. We are to present our crowns, titles, and blessings bestowed upon us before the throne of God and ask Him to help us use it for His glory. The Lord, in all of His goodness, was using my time as Miss Louisiana to prepare me for ministry work. My year spent as Miss Louisiana taught me how to love and relate to all types of people. It taught me to step into the light in confidence and how to give others joy. God used the secular accolade of Miss Louisiana as a training ground for ministry.
You might be thinking, “This is all great. I can lay my crowns and accolades before the Lord and watch Him work, but what about the devastation and disappointments? That’s hard.”
Ok, I’m with you. It’s easy to point out the ways He can receive glory through worldly awards. But it takes a truly wise person to see how God uses our most embarrassing valleys for the good of His Kingdom. I wish they were all glamorous and full of applause, but sometimes these monumental shifts in life can feel like valleys of disappointment. In fact, some of the most pivotal moments often come in the form of rejection – the opposite of applause.
The Valley
As my year of Miss Louisiana was coming to a close, I was preparing to go back to Louisiana State University and finish out my college degree. I had been a member of the Golden Girl dance team for three years, and it was now time to tryout one last time going into my senior season. I left that tryout with these words: “You’re not good enough. There’s no spot for you on this team and you are no longer on scholarship.” These words still ring loud and clear in my mind. I had been a part of one of the best collegiate dance teams in the country for three years, and going into my senior year I wasn’t good enough? I have had many other rejections in life, but this one I remember so vividly. It was a turning point. My life was headed in one direction and in that instant, it shifted.
I was confused and defeated. How did I go from one of the best to not enough? It felt like I was losing my friends and my identity. I lost the scholarship that helped pay for college, but mostly I lost my way. I forgot who I was without dance. It was my identity for so long.
I didn’t know it, but God was using this valley as a part of a bigger plan.
If I had been a part of that team again, I wouldn’t have been offered a dream job. In my senior year of college, I was able to work with LSU Sports Information providing video content for their website and hosting a variety of sports shows. I was able to sit down and interview every coach and great player at LSU during that time. My experience in this position propelled my career in the sports industry.
Holy redirections sometimes come in the form of rejection. Jesus knew rejection. He was rejected in His hometown by His very people. This rejection in my life served as a cornerstone for me - a building block through which my faith was increased. It allowed me to immerse myself in the passion and excitement of college athletics. This passion has turned into ministry! Play for the King is an outlet in which I use my passion to bring people to His word. I am in awe of how God used this one rejection to pave the way for passion and ministry.
“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.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
I know God is faithfully working through all things. I have seen the evidence in both the joys of life and the devastations. God used both of these moments in my history as a training ground for ministry. Miss Louisiana taught me to love and to want to pour into people. It helped prepare me to serve as the Women’s Ministry leader for my local church. And the devastating blow of losing a scholarship in college was a part of a bigger plan that God will use to bring others to Him through a shared interest. God used both of these moments in my history to eventually point people to Him.
God works equally through both the applause and rejections in life. In the peaks, we are to lay our crowns before the throne and allow God to use our abilities for the Kingdom. And if you find yourself in the valley, know that He will elevate those valleys to become the cornerstone through which your faith is strengthened and His plans are made perfect. Through the highs and lows, God is always carefully ordaining our steps. Our job is to rest in His sovereignty and stand confident that God works through every portion of our lives as a display of His glory.
