I’ve taken a year off from writing on my blog. Last year was full of changes that were both exciting and frightening. I completed my MBA and started the journey of self-employment. I knew when I started working on my MBA that I would eventually want to work for myself. But I envisioned that road beginning with working for another company where I could really dig into the business aspect of running a company. But God had other plans. Through a divine set of circumstances, I found myself thrown into self-employment before my editorial business was able to meet my financial needs on its own. Thankfully, I was able to start working for horse shows immediately, and God has faithfully provided for my every need. I also discovered that I love being self-employed and making my own schedule! Not having a 9-5 job has been such a liberating experience, and I have truly been blessed by the freedom offered.
It does come with its downside though. Not having a steady paycheck on a regular basis is a scary thing. Learning to budget on a very inconsistent earning schedule is challenging and frankly has made me wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I am learning to trust God all over again when it comes to financial stability. I have to know that I can trust Him to provide enough for the unexpected and even the expected but irregular expenses like buying Christmas presents and new tires for my car.
Another challenge is trying to figure out where to invest my time and energy when I’m not working events. What is the most productive way for me to advance my business, grow my career, and glorify God in the process? I confess that I often get this wrong and can get paralyzed by the options available on my “self-employed” days. Last month after my final horse show of 2021, I really began praying earnestly about where to put my focus for the future. Where was God leading me and what did I need to finish? How could I best cooperate with His plans for my future? I needed direction, guidance, and wisdom for this self-employment journey to be a success.
Since then, God has led me to enroll in a judging seminar, further develop my riding and writing skills, and focus on continuing to learn new things. I believe 2022 will be a year of growth in many areas, and I’m looking forward to seeing where He leads me throughout the year. When fear of the future tries to take hold, I remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I pray that we all learn to walk in the power, love, and soundness of mind that God offers us and will be writing regularly this year both as a reminder to myself about how far God has taken me and as a source of encouragement to others who are learning to trust God when the path God sets us on is not as well lit as we would like.
God bless you in 2022. May He ignite a spark of hope in your heart this year.