Written by Lisa Hanash
It was at the United State of Women Conference — hosted by the White House in the Washington D.C. Convention Center — where I had one of my biggest epiphanies. I had not planned on going to this event, nor did I even hear about it. It was a friend and his family that I had gone to visit that weekend away who made sure I did not miss the opportunity (mostly because one of the members worked there)! I was not remotely in the right headspace to even picture myself in a sea of 6,000+ individuals, let alone 99% of which were women entrepreneurs. I was the last person in the world I would have pictured going to this event. I was visionless and had little hope for my future.
Watching the President of the United States speak, I stood shocked. Not because of what he said but because of the mere realization that I was present. “How did I get here?” “Who am I to even be here?”
Then a thought entered my mind, “Who are you not to be here? You are My child and it’s by My grace.”
It was while the First Lady spoke, which further revealed the lie I was believing about myself. She said, “People used to ask me, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ This implied that at one point that I would stop growing.”
It was true. I had put so much pressure on figuring out what I wanted to do and be that I had forgotten how to just be present and see what was around me that would improve my growth.
You never “Grow Up”
Certain clichés aren’t always true just because they are often spoken. I always thought I had to figure out some special answer to feel better about myself. I’m 26 years old now, and I still haven’t figured out where I’ll be in 10 years from now, let alone next year.
I dream a lot about my future, but it’s in God’s time that He reveals His purposes to us. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Learning to surrender age, time and my plans to God is not easy.
New Eyes
God saw my process all along, but I had forgotten how to see from His point of view. I got too myopic and focused on controlling everything I could in front of me—not realizing if I just let go, opportunity was all around me. Coming out of my comfort zone, God showed me the grander picture, but not so that I would become farsighted.
I realized I could not do it on my own, but that I needed the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead me. I did not need another perspective but new eyes—God’s eyes. What we focus our eyes on, we will become like. So, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Being in relationship with God and others gives us a distinctive opportunity to recognize when we are living in either one of those extremes.
Your Journey is Your Inspiration
Without a process, there is no revelation, and without revelation, there is no inspiration. I recognize now that God values every little “yes.” The process of becoming is constantly in our midst as He runs to meet us with His grace in every experience. When we pay attention, holding firm to His truth, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). So if it is not the good yet, then it is not over.
To finish the story, I had not been visionless, I was not hopeless, I had just forgotten to believe the truth; I had forgotten how to trust the Father’s goodness. There are people in your midst that God has placed as gentle reminders that He is good and that you can trust Him no matter where you go. Remember, where you are going, no one has ever gone before—follow His peace and you will find your piece.
Guiding Prayer: Father, create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).