Author: marquitabp

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. (John 19:30 NLT)

Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. (2 Corinthians 8:11 NLT)

So I got peace about sharing some of my testimony from the last three months. So many lessons I’ve learned…so much clarity I’ve gained and all I can say outside of being sleepy right now is that I’m so grateful.

This morning as I went to sleep, body worn out and weary…I had peace because I had completed my 30 page brief. This time last week I had just given myself a pep talk after having a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment as I like to call it. I really have to say thank God for this first three months of this year. I knew ahead of time that things were going to get crazy…but all I could do is say thank you God and endure.

For a long time I thought life was unpredictable and that the things we faced were left up to chance. Then I grew up and starting seeking God as the pull in my heart for Him got stronger. Fast forward to now, and I can honestly tell you about 90% of the things I experienced so far this year, I anticipated.

And this morning, as I typed my last word in my revised and edited brief, down from the 36 pages I had initially wrote to the 30 page limit required by my school–the first words I thought and felt with everything within me were, "thank you God for getting me through this."

I have another journey of uncertainty lying ahead for me. I can’t say its a journey so much as an assignment. I don’t know all the details, but I know God will show them to me just like He did for me coming here to New Orleans. I’m sad to know I’ll be leaving the people I have grown to love (and hate–these New Orleans streets are bad on your cars man!) in less than two months. But I’m even happier to know that purpose awaits me.

I shared these scriptures because they hit my heart today as I thought of all the things I overcame in these last three months, let alone the nearly 2 years I have lived here. Only God could heal me and heal my heart. Only God could show me why I’ve made mistake after mistake…and still love me. Only God could get me through medical challenges amid law school pressures and working full-time doing development work. Only God. Why? He loves me. What for? He has a plan and purpose for me…and I can proudly say its finished (at least this part–I see the end!).

So many tears I’ve shed overcoming myself and my past. So many nights I’ve cried out…fought back tears in public places, all from awareness of God’s revelation and Him showing me myself in the least expected ways.

So imagine my joy today at the submission of that brief…it was much like a baby I bore. I labored late into the night literally several nights to fix errors, reorganize, and get it right. That has been my actual life process too…up late into the night praying to God for the why, the how, the when, receiving His revelation and direction and making changes to move forward. In the process I’ve been more myself than I have ever been, and I have gained contentment in this place.

I don’t know…but I just want you all to remain encouraged in these coming days. Once you get to that place in God you can rest and know that things will come but He has it all worked out for you. Do your part as instructed but rest in Him for the next step…embrace the journey, whatever leg of it you are on. Give God your concerns, your worries, your fears, and your talents…finish the race.

God will carry you through it. I love you guys…and maybe this makes no sense or has no flow…but I just felt the need to share it. Good night!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7, 8 NLT)

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:21 NLT)

I stopped at pinkberry earlier today to treat myself to some peanut butter and chocolate frozen yogurt (which they no longer had 😭😔). As I pulled in, I saw a lady teaching another lady to use the visually impaired walking stick, the one that is white and red at the bottom.

The one being taught had a mask on to block out light (I’m assuming she isn’t completely blind yet). I assume that this also helps to strengthen her hearing to discern distances from on coming cars and the sound differences of the stick hitting concrete, grass, wood, etc. To teach her, the other lady followed behind her, giving her cues and instructions.

And it hit me. This is totally what God is doing for us if we listen. Life makes it difficult for us to completely trust God, albeit a god we cannot physically see or touch. He’s speaking, in that still, small voice or through scripture, or through dreams or through the man or woman of God where you attend weekly services, or through that introspective stranger, sent to you to deliver a message from God on high. As you listen, you get more comfortable, trusting your steps, using that walking stick to guide you safely into oncoming traffic. As you close your eyes to what you physically see and feel, your inner eyes are opened, your ears tune in, and your heart reaches out for God’s hand to lead you through the most tumultuous storms. So you learn, even through your mistakes, and you trust His voice. Then you arrive at this beautiful place, one you did not anticipate, clothed in His glory and splendor that you have gained along the way. You are ready to learn a new path, and God is right there to guide you.

God is everywhere all at the same time and He is speaking to you if you listen, waiting to guide you. It’s a true testament to your faith when you step away from the crowd and blindly follow Him. This journey has been amazing this far and I’m excited to learn more. I’ve had to do much more than I expected and some of it has hurt greatly but I’m so happy with who God is making me into. I love me for everything I am and everything that I am not. I’ve made mistakes and taken wrong turns but God has even been using those to bless me. My journey has led me from Atlanta to Charleston to New Orleans and soon back to Charleston, but I hear Him so clearly now. I’ve lost friends along the way but God has definitely replaced them with some true jewels. And the ultimate goal is to fulfill His divine will. So my charge to you today is to take that first scary step if you haven’t already done so. Step out blindly in faith and trust God. Seek His divine purpose and plan for your life. Seek Him in everything. You never know what He has waiting for you if you try Him out!

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalms 32:8 NLT)