I\u2019m so excited to begin this journey, and I thought it would be meaningful to start by sharing a story that\u2019s close to my heart.
I wrote this allegory, \u201cGo for Gold, Not Clay,\u201d several years ago as part of a series, and even now, its message still stirs something deep within me. Since this blog is where I\u2019ll be sharing little nuggets from my walk with God \u2014 stories, reflections, and faith lessons I thought, what better way to kick things off than with this one?
This first post is all about choosing God\u2019s will even when it\u2019s not the easiest or quickest route (trust me, I\u2019ve wrestled with that too!). But oh, the reward of waiting on Him. I truly pray it blesses you as much as it blessed me while writing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dad once told me that gold was more valuable than clay, and that he would give me gold to build my house. I waited patiently, but the gold was not forthcoming. Eventually, I chose clay because it was all around me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then Dad called out, \u201cDaughter, wait! The mining and refining process takes time.\u201d I came back to my senses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My siblings said, \u201cIf you don\u2019t use this clay now, you might never have any material to build.\u201d I was almost lured, but I decided to wait for Dad. The clay was visible and tempting; the gold was buried deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, they warned, \u201cGirl, even if you get the gold, it still needs refining before it can be used!\u201d My confidence wavered \u2014 in myself and in Dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then I remembered what He said: \u201cClay is easy to get but will fade away. Gold is hard to find, but it will last forever. Don\u2019t sell your future for your present.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though the process tarried, He gave me the gold. My siblings were amazed \u2014 I had what would last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I dreamt. In it, my gold remained as it was, shining. But their clay began to crumble. I remembered what Dad had told me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThough it tarries, wait for it. Wait for Me \u2014 I\u2019ll make all things beautiful in My time. Let Me lay your foundation. If it\u2019s destroyed, you can do nothing. Your walls are drawn on My palms. I know the end from the beginning. Just follow My maze. Unless I build your house, you labor in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I woke up stronger. \u201cDad,\u201d I said, \u201cI\u2019ll forever do Your will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To my siblings and all who wait for gold<\/strong>: Don\u2019t let your present ruin your future. Hold on to Dad \u2014 the God of the future \u2014 and let Him direct your path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trust in the\u00a0Lord\u00a0with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall\u00a0direct your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019m so excited to begin this journey, and I thought it would be meaningful to start by sharing a story that\u2019s close to my heart. I wrote this allegory, \u201cGo for Gold, Not Clay,\u201d several years ago as part of a series, and even now, its message still stirs something deep within me. Since this blog is where I\u2019ll be sharing little nuggets from my walk with God \u2014 stories, reflections, and faith lessons I thought, what better way to kick things off than with this one? This first post is all about choosing God\u2019s will even when it\u2019s not the easiest or quickest route (trust me, I\u2019ve wrestled with that too!). But oh, the reward of waiting on Him. I truly pray it blesses you as much as it blessed me while writing it. Dad once told me that gold was more valuable than clay, and that he would give me gold to build my house. I waited patiently, but the gold was not forthcoming. Eventually, I chose clay because it was all around me. Then Dad called out, \u201cDaughter, wait! The mining and refining process takes time.\u201d I came back to my senses. My siblings said, \u201cIf you don\u2019t use this clay now, you might never have any material to build.\u201d I was almost lured, but I decided to wait for Dad. The clay was visible and tempting; the gold was buried deep. Again, they warned, \u201cGirl, even if you get the gold, it still needs refining before it can be used!\u201d My confidence wavered \u2014 in myself and in Dad. But then I remembered what He said: \u201cClay is easy to get but will fade away. Gold is hard to find, but it will last forever. Don\u2019t sell your future for your present.\u201d Though the process tarried, He gave me the gold. My siblings were amazed \u2014 I had what would last. Then I dreamt. In it, my gold remained as it was, shining. But their clay began to crumble. I remembered what Dad had told me: \u201cThough it tarries, wait for it. Wait for Me \u2014 I\u2019ll make all things beautiful in My time. Let Me lay your foundation. If it\u2019s destroyed, you can do nothing. Your walls are drawn on My palms. I know the end from the beginning. Just follow My maze. Unless I build your house, you labor in vain.\u201d I woke up stronger. \u201cDad,\u201d I said, \u201cI\u2019ll forever do Your will.\u201d To my siblings and all who wait for gold: Don\u2019t let your present ruin your future. Hold on to Dad \u2014 the God of the future \u2014 and let Him direct your path. Trust in the\u00a0Lord\u00a0with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall\u00a0direct your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"yes","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[57,61,59,58,54,56,60],"class_list":["post-258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-creative-faith-expressions","tag-christian-allegory","tag-christian-faith","tag-christian-inspiration","tag-christian-reflections","tag-faith","tag-trusting-gods-plan","tag-walking-with-god"],"yoast_head":"\n
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