Single & Living Fully by Krystle A. Barrington

Being single is not a tragedy. It is a season that lasts longer from some than others.  It is something we can either embrace or try to “fix.” While this season is precious and significant many times we are overwhelmed by the constant questions about our relationship status or maybe even the pressure of getting married. The uncertainty of the future has the potential to leave us feeling anxious and doubtful but the good news is that we can find complete peace in knowing that God is in control. We cannot embrace the season we are in if we allow everyone but Jesus to influence our thoughts. As such, the beginning of living fully as a single woman starts when we begin to trust in God’s good and perfect plan for our lives. 

And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power or authority. Colossians 2:10 NIV

We cannot afford to be anxious for the future when God has plans for us right where we are. Through my own trial and error I’ve learned that true contentment is the ability to stand still where we are without beating ourselves up about the past or worrying about the future. I truly believe that when we are able to embrace the season we are in, that is when we position ourselves to be used by God. There is power in resting right where we are and when we do we are able to hear from God like never before. 

Our mindset can get a little cloudy when we allow spectators, society, and even our insecurities to influence our perspective on singleness. Rather than allow foolish timetables to influence our thoughts, we’ve got to let God renew our minds. When this happens, it only reinforces that God is so very intentional. Our God is loving, kind, perfect, and all knowing, and there is something about knowing that He knows what’s best for us. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

As single women we are not absent from purpose. No, we indeed have a unique opportunity to give God our undivided attention. I am personally grateful that God is willing to use us no matter what our circumstances look like. Even when we don’t have it all together God still wants to use us and speak to us. Getting to know Jesus Christ is the most important relationship we will ever find ourselves in. Even if we don’t have a ring on our finger or see marriage in sight, we can find fullness in God simply because we are His children. 

God is our father and He wants His daughters (YOU) to be loved, respected, cared for, and cherished. What happens many times is that we find ourselves growing impatient. We settle for what is convenient and we ignore the Holy Spirit telling us to run the other direction.  We decide that we know what’s best for us, all the while forgetting to include God in the process. Learning to trust in God is not an easy task. It takes discipline and daily reminders of who God is and how we ought to move through each season of our lives. The more we trust in God the more peace we will experience. He hasn’t forgotten about you, I promise!

When we learn to find contentment in the season we are in, that is when we can give our hearts and our minds to God wholeheartedly. Again, God wants to use us right where we are. I believe with all my heart that the only place we will ever find complete peace is when we learn to be content, joyful, productive, intentional and FULL of life in the season we are in.  

♥ Thanks Krystle for joining us here on She Inspires, we love having you! ♥

Ladies be sure to visit Krystle Barrington  at http://www.authorkrystleb.com for more inspiration! 

Her Story:: Carrying Grace

It's hard to believe I met this beautiful girl through blogging almost 5 years ago, I feel so blessed to have her in my life and call her my friend. God sure does have a way of bringing people together. My sweet friend Stephanie Schoonover is here sharing her story of faith, during one of the most difficult times in her and her husbands lives. These two are truly an inspiration!

This is our story of a love that runs deeper than the pain…finding happiness in the midst of unknowns. Trusting in the plans God has for our family, giving thanks in all circumstances…

On the night of Thursday, September 18^th I couldn’t silence the thought that I might be pregnant. I wasn’t necessarily feeling any different but in my heart I knew and fortunately a little test confirmed my intuition. Overwhelming joy was immediately met with prayer. My husband Andy and I prayed thanks to God for this life He had given us - but we also felt called to pray that our baby was healthy and growing. So we did just that. It became a regular prayer of ours until the afternoon of Wednesday, November 12^th when we prayed the hardest we had ever during the ultrasound that revealed our worst nightmare and before our doctor could break the silence, we knew.

How could we have known?

                   

I was 12 weeks pregnant when during a routine appointment our daughter, Grace, was moving her arms and legs and sweet little lips for us to see how much she had grown. Everything looked great. Until it didn’t. We never imagined we’d receive news that our daughter has a neural tube defect that would result in a fatal outcome. In a single moment my whole world came crashing in and an emptiness carved itself into every hollow of my body. We both looked at each other without saying a word, hot tears streaming down our faces, and vowed in our hearts that we’d remain faithful to our daughter’s tiny perfect soul growing inside me. The thing is, when you’re faced with circumstances like ours you’re given a choice. The depths of carrying to term has humbled me beyond words.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. – Erma Bombeck

The following month was mainly spent researching neural tube defects and connecting with other women who had walked this exact road before me. I started to find strength in vulnerability and seeking beauty in being broken. At times I felt so lonely - constantly teetering between grief and joy - but I knew I wasn’t alone. God was revealing truths to me. He still is actually.

You see, it is not God who puts us through burdens, loss, devastation or anything hard we have experienced in our lives – the world in which we live is a broken place and at times it means we are bearing heavyweights as a result. Andy and I weren’t chosen to be Grace’s parents because of her diagnosis. Grace was known and He knew we were about to face the most difficult season in our lives but He didn’t choose us. God wants to meet us where we are, and looking back I can see how our faith was being rooted and our hearts were being prepared. Through all the tears and confusion early on I was asking the hard questions. But I think God is okay with our questions. We can either become consumed by those moments and try to figure it out all on our own or we can lean into faith and grow through it.

                            

We never thought we’d make it this far – statistically we were given a 20% chance of seeing the third trimester – but here we are at 32 weeks and Grace’s strength continues to amaze us all. Each day Grace is with us is truly a gift and we’re just so thankful we’ve been given another day to experience her. I find myself with my hands embracing my belly, holding her more and more these days. Her kicks remind me just how full life is and this journey, it’s so bittersweet. We’re cherishing every minute of these last eight weeks together.

Carrying Grace has given me the kind of perspective that can’t be understood unless you’ve been through it. I’m soaking in everything emotion of this pregnancy and know that while I carry her, He carries me. When you’re struck with the unimaginable you learn you will never be the same. You will be changed. You will never love the same. You will love better.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5

Grace Elisabeth, we love you to the depths of our being and consider you our greatest blessing.


You can follow Stephanie's journey on IG @stephanieschoonover

Makayla's Story

This is Cheri here, with our first She Inspires feature of the year.. We figured we would end the week with one special girl! Here at She Inspires, women of all ages inspire us.  I want to introduce you to our little friend Makayla.  Makayla is twelve years old and is wise beyond her years.  She loves to read, loves art, loves her family, and mostly importantly love God.  When she grows up, she wants to become a Neurosurgeon. 

 
I met Makayla & her family several years and have since become great friends.  I have had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family throughout the years.  I have seen them at their best and I have seen them at their absolute worst.   Family sessions with them are always bittersweet, I love that I have been able to document these years.  The appreciation and joy that my images bring to them each and every year is priceless.   However, with each and every session there is a lump in my throat and often times we find tears burning our eyes because we see the fragility of life.   I see such raw happiness behind my camera, but I know they are fighting a raging battle.  Each day is a gift and what lies ahead is often times filled with uncertainty, but they handle each sharp turn with beauty, strength, faith, and grace.

So world, meet Makayla.  She is the face of strength, beauty, & grace.  A child of the King who is not defined by her illness, but fueled by it.   During the Summer of 2011 Makayla became extremely sick.  He illness started off with a horrible headache, progressed, and ended with a diagnosis of an incurable illness.  As a parent, you never want to hear the world incurable in conjunction with your child.  Makayla was formally diagnosed with Chiari Brain Malformation and Pseudotumor Cerebri. 

She has endured 26 surgeries during the last 3.5 years.  She still attends school, plays the Piano & Cello, and even in her most painful moments, has a smile on her face.  And her reasoning for wanting to become a neurosurgeon is fueled by her determined to find a cure for Chiari.   In her spare time you will find her studying the brain and reading medical books, YES, I said medical books.  Her room is full of them!! 

When she is not working on getting into Yale, she has a paint brush in hand or she is making paper cranes.  

Just this past month, she launched her very own website/e-store.  She continues to make sweet lemonade with life's lemons and inspires all those around her.  I truly believe if anyone is capable of becoming a neurosurgeon, this little lady can do it. She has perseverance, drive, determination, strength, and most importantly faith.  Follow her journey and become inspired.  This is a journey of courage, faith, & love at www.ourstrengthproject.com

  
 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Psalm 73:26