Trusting God’s Process

May 25, 2025

In church service today, I thought about how I gradually grew from a young adult who only knew God in passing to someone with a relationship with Him. There’s something profound about looking back and realizing how far God has brought you, not just in circumstances but in relationships. What does it really mean to live with faith, love, and purpose? Scripture gave me a reminder I needed, and I want to share how that truth showed up in my own journey.

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 states:
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I believe this means that while we pray to God and ask Him to break chains for us, we must also do the work through our own labor. God accepts us for who we are but aims to grow and mature us. We know God can break chains. He is a miracle worker! However, sometimes, He provides us with the tools we need to change our lives, including our courage, belief in ourselves, and faith in Him.

I believe verse three speaks to having a purpose. I remember my first few years in the Navy. I was living life on autopilot. I woke up daily feeling less and less fulfilled, which was strange, considering I was serving an entire country. That was my purpose; that is what my contract basically stated. I knew that although I was not fulfilled, I could continue for another 10 to 15 years because of the benefits; who wouldn’t want to retire at 40 and get two checks for the rest of their life? However, one day, the Senior Medical Officer contacted me personally (which was rare) and had a one-on-one meeting with me. He sat me down and said,
“ABF2, you know, because of the medication you take for your migraines, you are disqualified to perform the complete duties of your job. So you’re either going to cross-rate or get processed out of the Navy.”

What would have scared others left me feeling numb because I had been praying to God to give me a sign and help me figure out what to do about this feeling of unfulfillment. I saw this as an opportunity. Maybe it wasn’t the Navy but the job itself. I looked at potential jobs I qualified for, but none interested me. I would have had to retake the ASVAB for the jobs I wanted. At that moment, I decided the Navy was no longer for me. This began my journey to find a new purpose, which led me to a deeper understanding of faith and self-discovery.
While I am forever honored and proud to have served, I realized I was not doing it with love and purpose. So, the repetitive nature, ice-cold showers, cold, sometimes undercooked chicken, being out to sea for months, and constant sea sickness were no longer worth it.

As I grew older, I realized I needed to find my purpose in life. To do that, I had to put in the work, talk to God, and use the tools God provided me. I was starting from ground zero. I had to rediscover myself and challenge what I knew about myself. But change required me to have faith in the Lord. There were many times throughout this journey when I had to remind myself: “How many times has God come through for you, Brooklyn, when you thought you were going to fall? He’s got you.”

I want to leave you with these questions:
How is your life reflecting work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope? Are you walking in your purpose, or is it time to ask God for clarity, courage, and direction?