Lord, Prepare Me
by Michele Husfelt on November 5, 2021
After living in our home for three years, it was time to make a change. I know others who enjoy contentment in their surroundings for much longer periods of time, however, when you’ve been in the military your entire life and are used to moving every two to three years, your mind senses the temporariness of a dwelling. There comes a point in which it’s time to move on. Or at least make a few changes. The adjustments don’t always need to be drastic, but they must induce a feeling of new surroundings.
Reading another military spouse’s similar quandary on a social media post, someone suggested she spruce up her living room by painting her entertainment center and replacing the hardware. That’s when my mind began swirling. We have a rather large center that traveled from its original owners in Alexandria, VA, to our home in Woodbridge. (I rarely buy anything from a store; my home is furnished in early Craigslist and mid-century Marketplace.) From Woodbridge, we moved to D.C., and a few years later to our current home in The Middle of Nowhere, NJ. For those wondering, that’s seven years. It was time for a change.
Within a few minutes of reading the post, I found my phone, shot a quick pic, and recklessly threw it up on Marketplace. Then I began searching for a new one. I surmised a white one would bring some lightness and a new vibe to my boring brown space. The thought had crossed my mind to paint mine, as well, but I quickly dismissed that notion as I lazily whined to my husband that it’s not the actual painting of the project but the preparation that’s so time-consuming and tedious. Even in my “No directions needed. Let’s cut corners and unnecessary steps and just get it done.” mindset, there are obvious steps one must address when painting a large centerpiece of a room. First, all the books and vases and photo frames and DVDs must be removed from the plethora of shelves and drawers. The large TV along with all the stereo equipment must be dismantled and detached. The entire unit would need to be moved away from the wall (I’m sure the Enneagram #1s would have been aghast that I even considered painting this massive piece of furniture in my living room and not completely disassembling it and moving it to the garage.) I wanted a quick fix, even if it cost a little more. After receiving a few offers for mine, but not finding another one to replace it, I revisited the thought of painting it. I sat on the couch and envisioned my new white entertainment center. I was already exhausted rehearsing the steps it would take to prepare for its transformation.
Preparation. It’s a theme that’s been weaving throughout many facets of my days lately. It’s the focus of my current Bible study on the prophet Elijah, why I love and hate DIY projects at the same time, and what makes letter-writing to faraway friends a labor of love. Preparation seems to be the road God is walking me down as He readies me for what’s next.
“Preparation is an important part of the process God uses in our stories.”
The study of Elijah has reminded me that preparation is an important part of the process God uses in our stories. Preparation often takes a while and rarely looks like we imagined. God led Elijah to the brook of Cherith to begin his time of preparation for a future of greater impact than he could have imagined. It was an unlikely place using unlikely circumstances for what seemed like an unnecessary amount of time, all to prepare him for God’s calling and purpose.
God longs to prepare each of us to carry out our calling. The circumstances and length of time will vary. God’s ways will not always be our ways. There will be great opportunities along the way to trust God when we don’t understand. We may be tempted to become weary in well-doing, but we must remember God is preparing us for our greatest purpose. Preparation may be tedious and time-consuming. But it will be worth it. As God continues to write our story, may we be patient in the preparation. Our best days are yet to come.