Rubber Band

Hey friends,

I started typing the blog post "Something New" that I promised you all back in April; while typing it out and trying to figure out what all God wanted me to talk about, He told me that it wasn't quite time for that one yet. Instead, I needed to type this one out. We may eventually come back to "Something New,” but for now, here we are. I haven't quite figured out the title for it yet, and currently as a place holder… And brain holder… it just says "Patience." (I wanted something a little more unique than patience, so I looked around and found that quote and decided "Rubber Band" would be an intriguing unique name.) If you know me, even in the smallest capacity, you most likely know that I am not a patient person at all. Even while typing this, I had to submit a job application three times because I kept trying to submit it before it accepted my "not a robot captcha". I am in a position in my life though where God is working on that. I have a very long way to go until I can even slightly call myself a patient person. There are a few things from God that I have been promised, and they are taking much longer to work out then I would like them to, or feel like they should be taking.

I know it will all work out, but I am having problems waiting and being patient. I just want it to come to pass now, mainly because I am really excited about all of it, and I am ready to see it happen. “It” being a position, that I have been promised and am really, really excited about. I have actively been stewarding the requirements for the position. I really feel as though I am doing my part, but it still hasn’t happened yet and is really testing me. I am becoming anxious and nervous waiting for it, to the point that I feel as though it may not happen. Even though I know that God has promised it, and it will happen in the timing that is best for me and everyone around me. I know that God has the perfect timing, and my timing can be a little less than perfect. (Okay, a lot less than perfect... ya get the point.)

I know that my patience and trust in the Lord have to improve greatly before the position will work out, especially in order for me to execute it successfully. I also know that I have a lot to work on when it comes to being patient and trusting the Lord, but I am trying. Without the patience and trust that I am gaining, I would be way too anxious in the position. It’s a requirement for me to have, but it is also an extremely hard thing for me to practice and be good at.

Also, for those of you who do not know I just recently (less than 2 weeks ago) moved to Atlanta, Georgia. If you were not already aware, let me just tell you how bad the traffic is here.. I lived in Orlando, Florida for months traveling I-4 to and from Disney World and have never seen traffic this bad.. I have lived in Mobile, Alabama dealing with the tunnel and people not knowing how to use the tunnel 99% of my life.. The traffic here is CONSTANTLY backed up.. there are wrecks everywhere and I am already tired of coming to a complete stop on the interstate for 30 minutes or more at a time, it's absolutely BONKERS and drives me insane. I actually just found a list of "Top 10 busiest highways in the USA", and Atlanta is on there THREE times. If you can't tell by this one paragraph I absolutely hate traffic and sitting in traffic is one of my least favorite things, and it really does not help when Eliza is in the backseat screaming like a wild banshee.

Thankfully God is able to use this time of sitting in traffic to talk to me and work on me. He's helping me to become more patient sitting there through traffic. I am already getting less frustrated each day driving in Atlanta traffic. There were times before where I would get off the interstate and take a route 10 times longer just to avoid sitting in traffic. Now I am able to sit there in the traffic and not be stressed out and anxious. People who know me really well and have ridden with me before in traffic, I am sorry.

A lot of the patience that I am learning how to have is coming from spending time with God and reading my Bible. I have been trying to work on it before Eliza wakes up, even though I haven't been very consistent, and I really need to work on it... 🥴 I am not a morning person in the slightest, but I feel that I am being called to wake up earlier and to spend that time with Him. I need to let Him love on me before my day gets started, so that I can be a better person, friend, and mother. Starting October 31st, I have a mission to read through the whole Bible chronologically. I will add the first week of my schedule below. The schedule that I am following is from the Bible plan “As it Happened- a one year chronological walk through the Bible” on YouVersion. If you’d like to join me on the app feel free to message me on instagram @peppk7, email me at kristenpepper1@gmail.com, or text me if you have my number! I will work on adding you to the plan and we can help hold each other accountable.

Chronological Bible Schedule Week One

Sunday

-Genesis 1, 2, and 3

Monday

-Genesis 4, 5, 6, and 7

Tuesday

-Genesis 8, 9, 10, and 11 Wednesday

-Job 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Thursday

-Job 6, 7, 8, and 9

Friday -Job 10, 11, 12, and 13

Saturday

-Job 14, 15, and 16