Leah Grace This is one of the more interesting seasons of my life. It’s not simply due to the fact that we are now owning and running an RV rental business in Texas. No, what makes this interesting is one small, little thing: I have no idea what’s coming next in my life.
We are currently in Texas & are finally settling. My family has been here for almost 9 weeks.
We’re starting to get a system in place with the business and learning to shop at HEB. My mom and I also got library cards and have been enjoying local thrift stores. The heat is becoming easier to handle, cacti seem more normal, and I could even eventually see myself getting a pair of cowgirl boots (although I’m NOT committing to that yet 😂).
Since December of 2023, we knew as a family that we would sell our home, move into a skoolie, and travel as Mobile Hope—a family on mission to share God’s love everywhere we go. We also knew that eventually, we would end up in Texas; the Lord had made that abundantly clear to my dad several years ago.
Well, these last 2 years have held more twists and turns than any of us expected! It wasn’t until last October that we actually traveled like we’d dreamed. We hit Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas—and in all of those places, we saw God do amazing things!
But our time in Texas was short, and we knew that it had to only be the beginning of what was to come. God didn’t place Texas on my dad’s heart years ago—and then keep reminding him of it—only to have us spend 3 weeks there and move on.
This January, my dad was looking into possible business options that could eventually serve as passive income. That way, we could continue traveling and know that our financial needs would be met.
The Lord worked it out that we were able to take over Fireside RV Rental of Austin, Texas—in the exact city that God highlighted to my dad over 6 years ago!
And so, since February 25, we’ve been in Texas.
For years, I’d been thinking that once we got to Texas, things would finally settle and I would get into the perfect groove. I would settle in, find my system, and life would be totally normal again.
I loved our first few weeks in Texas… until I realized that I still don’t know what my system looks like. Next steps haven’t come together yet. I graduated high school last summer and am not pursuing college. I don’t have a traditional job (although I do some work for our business), and really haven’t met people here who are my age.
That realization took me by surprise: I thought that this is where I would find my system, and yet I still didn’t know what to do with my days. Other than playing foosball with my brother, working out from time to time, walking, playing piano, working on the business as a family, or bullet journaling, I really didn’t know what to do with myself.
I didn’t want to throw myself into my writing, since I didn’t feel a peace about that. Every other project I could think of doing just didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t want to do something just for the sake of doing something—especially if the Lord wasn’t leading me in that direction. Anything He’s not in usually fails… I wasn’t about to go that route again.
A few weeks ago, I got really frustrated by the lack of clarity and direction in my life. So, I decided to dump it all on my mom and see what she thought.
She reminded me of something so crucial: my purpose is to shine Jesus.
Working toward goals or being productive isn’t what gives me purpose—living like Jesus and representing Him well, is what does. When people see me, they should see Jesus. In fact, I can evangelize by simply living the gospel.
I still don’t know what next steps look like. But, I have a feeling that they’ll come together soon enough. In the meantime, I’m not going to look at this season of my life as a waste. How could it be, if I’m not living for myself anyway and have already died to myself? My life belongs to Christ and it’s not even about me anymore.
Yes, I feel like I’m waiting on clarity for what comes next in my life. But at the same time, I know what I need to be doing right now: following Jesus well and making sure that the people around me see Him in me.
Things will come together. I won’t be waiting forever. One day, I’ll know what God’s plans are about marriage, work, missions, and everything else I don’t know yet. But, God will make all of that clear in the perfect time. Right now, I can enjoy today and do what I know that God has called all of us to do at all times: live like Jesus.
I am so encouraged when I think about my current season from this perspective: One day, I’ll look back on this time and think, ‘Man, I had no idea what was about to happen! I’m so glad that I didn’t give in to discouragement or doubt—God had the most amazing things up His sleeve! During that season, I got to grow a lot, learn so much about faith, and come to know God even more intimately. I’m so glad that I stuck it out and didn’t give up. Little did I know what wonderful things were right around the corner.
I want to encourage you with the same thing. Maybe you feel like you’re waiting on next steps and don’t know what direction your life is going to take. If you’re surrendered to God, dead to yourself, and following Him completely, then I can promise you that it will all come together. Don’t waver in faith. Don’t give in to discouragement. Don’t doubt that God has good plans for your life and loves to give you the desires of your heart when you delight yourself in Him (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 37:4, Psalm 84:11).
In this season of your life, perhaps you feel like you’re waiting on something. So am I. But at the same time, I realize that I’m exactly where God wants me to be. He’s setting the stage for something great, and He has not stopped working behind the scenes this whole time. It will come together in the perfect timing and will one day be an amazing story of God’s goodness & faithfulness.
In the meantime, let’s not forget what we’re called to do at all times: shine Jesus. The people all around us, believers or not, need to see Him. Let’s represent Him well and know that we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing 💜
