Launched - A Personal Story

“On your mark! Get Set!”

The shrill whistle blew. I dove into the water.
The race had begun.

Never the fastest swimmer, I enjoyed it none the less. The long hours in the water were calming to me, a reset for my whole body. 

I enjoyed the water so much, that from my childhood days of swimming lessons, I launched into lifeguard training, and then became a Water Safety Instructor (aka. formal name for swim teacher). I swam competitively, and also as a synchronized swimmer.
​

Yet my launches in life seemed to come about much slower than diving off the block at the whistle blow.
​
This was particularly the case with my launch into motherhood.

My husband and I tried to conceive, to no avail. The desire to be a momma grew, yet there was no fruit in my womb.

The Lord brought about opportunities to speak, one after another. And these speaking events were for moms groups! Yet I wasn’t a mother.

Who was I to speak to mommas? I didn’t know what her life was like. 

But God. He knew what her life was like.

The Lord led me to speak to her about the lies women believe, taking care of herself, and how she matters. I see now that the Lord was teaching me great lessons during that season.

First, the Lord knows what your life is like, and what you need.

Second, the Lord knows that you are His daughter first and foremost. He made you woman. He made you His. No matter your role as momma, you have a heart He speaks to as His daughter.

Third, the Lord will use whomever He chooses, however He chooses.

If you think about it, there are many launches in life. They begin small, like learning to walk. That is a launch. 

They include learning to read and write, and graduating from different education levels. Making your first call. Starting your first job. Moving out of your parents’ house.

Launches can include what look like failures. Not making the team. Not getting the job. Not having the child.

My launch into motherhood included two plus years of infertility, me down on my knees praying Hannah’s prayer* and asking the Lord for a son.

He answered.

His timing, His way, His purpose. All for my good, and His glory.

Four children later, I see that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

Your launch may be slow. It may not look how you think it should look. Yet in His sovereignty and love, He is at work in you and for you. He wants to use you, for your ultimate good, and His ultimate glory.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps 37:4)

Wherever you are in the journey of your launch, seek and delight yourself in the One who’s preparing you. Consider that your desires (if aligned with His Word), may be from Him.

Stay the course. Trust Him. He loves you. He has good things He prepared in advance for you to do. (Eph 2:10)

“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (1 Thes 5:24)

Launch.

*You can read Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1. The prayer I specifically prayed was the first part of verse 11.

© Sanctuary of Home™ All Rights Reserved

All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Back to blogs