The Little Trumpet Player That Couldn't: Romans 8:28 Moment

To all of you out there, I am so sorry for my absence from the blog world. God has placed so many other wonderful ways to spend my time. This summer I hope to keep you all updated on my 2 month mission's trip to Santa Cruz! God has opened up a huge "out of my comfort zone" opportunity to share Love with the people I encounter in Santa Cruz, along with 60 other college students from around the country.

Tonight is my last night at home before my trip and as I pack I can't help but feel unprepared for what I'm about to encounter. God always has a funny way of bringing up past stories to show me His hand and I'd love to share the one He reminded me of with you.

Imagine me as a sixth grader - short blondish hair, -

80 pounds, "abercrombie stage", with a sling shoulder backpack ( I didn't quite go to the rolling backpack zone phase). One of the classes I decided to take was band - not that I could play an instrument but because it wasn't offered in elementary school and I thought it was cool. Another smart decision was my instrument choice which tur

ned out to be the trumpet. I was one of three girls in the entire band who played trumpet - but I turned out to be the worst band musician in the bunch.

Now I'm not being a silly girl who looks down on herself and just says I was a bad musician - I really was. No, realllllyyy. It was embarrassing, but I was determined not to drop out so I stayed in band that entire year, through all the performances and playing tests. My poor parents had to listen to me practice in my room - so sorry about that, Mom and Dad. And no, I didn't pray and then turn into an amazing trumpet player - that wasn't God's plan.

The next year I accidentally got placed into a chorus class - it was a mistake on my schedule. Not a mistake in God's plan though. I decided to s

tay in the class because I felt like it couldn't be that bad to just sing...but then when my teacher handed out the music I got a little overwhelmed by the music notes and key changes. I suddenly felt unprepared to sing this song because of the sheet music given to me. How could I sing this? Why is this not just words? I don't know how to read this music!

But wait a minute.....it was like a "bubble" moment in a movie where you see the thought bubble with a past memory. All the days I spent in 6th grade learning about music notes, what the letters mean, rhythm, keys, etc. It was what I had learned but put into a different situation. I was prepared - I just had to remember

what I had learned previously and apply it to this situation. What I had thought was a huge

waste of time and didn't help me in life, turned out to be exactly what I needed in order to be prepared for this situation. Being in band wasn't about failing at trumpet or learning how to be humble - which both happened; rather it was about learning how to read music and be able to appreciate music with a musician's ear, preparation for my many years to come singing.

It was a Roman's 8 moment - God working all things together for my good. God using a lesson learned in the past to help me succeed in the future. When I felt unprepared I remembered that God wouldn't have put me into this situation without the right tools being inside of me already.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is scary, uncomfortable, and risky. God loves turning the scary, uncomfortable, and risky into an adventure. He also loves comforting you with past victories and turning the present into a victory. A victory is always preceded with a struggle of some sort - nothing too big for God to turn into something beautiful. Trust God, He's got your back even when you can't feel your backbone and your world seems hopeless. He will always use this season as a reminder, a "6th grade trumpet fail" reminder of His goodness to take what seems like a waste of time and turn it into the tailor-made tool you need in your present situation. He makes all things work together for your good.