I’ve always been inspired by the legacy that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived out. His eloquent and brilliant speaking style, perfectly mixed with stunning biblical inspiration, along with his dream for a beloved community, always left me in awe. In 1955, he was a young pastor in Montgomery, Alabama, thrust into the role of president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). The MIA led the way for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, after Rosa Parks had been arrested a few days before, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Of course, Rosa Parks was just one person, on an endless list of people who were abused by Montgomery’s segregation practices. What’s fascinating to me, is that Dr. King only had 20 minutes to prepare the speech he gave at the Holt Street Baptist Church on December 5, 1955 – a speech that would change the trajectory of his life and thrust him into the national spotlight. With a commanding voice that shook the room, he told the church packed full of people, “we are here this evening to say to those who have mistreated us so long that we are tired – tired of being segregated and humiliated; tired of being kicked about by the brutal feet of oppression” (King, 435). The one-day bus boycott ended up lasting for 13 months, all because a community decided to stand up together, against the atrocities that had plagued them for generations. It was in the midst of their radical faith, that God’s divine plan was set in motion. One other inspirational aspect of this movement, is the fact that it was actually started by the insistence of a group of passionate women from different backgrounds, educations and social classes – who were all fed up with the abusive and oppressive system of segregation. The bus boycott eventually led to a United States Supreme Court decision in 1956 that ruled Montgomery’s segregation laws were unconstitutional.⁣⁣
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There are many lessons we can learn from the life of Dr. King that are far too vast to recite here. Yet, I’ve been most impacted by the courage he embraced, along with a multitude of other unsuspecting people that came together as a community, to fight for racial justice and equality. The boycott was a success and changed a nation – not because everyone who stepped out in faith had an education, money and privilege, but because they believed in something bigger than themselves and could no longer stand by and allow such injustices to continue. In the face of fear, uncertain where God was in the midst of the turmoil, a community believed they could make a difference, one voice at a time – and together they did!⁣⁣
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I vividly remember receiving our son’s diagnosis of Autism. The doctor’s words hit me like a high-speed train, leaving me speechless and numb. I felt so lost and unprepared for the journey I knew was ahead of us. I spent a few weeks feeling sorry for myself, crying and thinking of all the heart-breaking scenarios that could play out in my son’s life. I remember asking, “where are you God?” I felt completely unequipped and couldn’t see beyond my fears and swollen tear-filled eyes. Little did I know that God was writing the lyrics to a beautiful symphony, that would play out in my life in the most unsuspecting of ways.⁣⁣
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Although I was a prosecutor at the time, I had absolutely no knowledge about special education. But God had other plans. A year after our son’s diagnosis, I kept sensing that I was supposed to leave my job at the DA’s office, but didn’t know why. Eventually, God’s calling became clear and through circumstances that can only be described as divinely orchestrated, I was approached by a special education administrator who said, “you’d be great at representing special education children”. At the time, I didn’t even know that area of law existed. That conversation set my life in a new direction. Soon after that, I ended up prosecuting a student for truancy, only to find out later that he had a disability that prevented him from being able to attend school consistently. I was mortified as I looked his mother in her frightened eyes and apologized. It was during the prosecution of this sweet boy that I met a special education attorney, that unbeknownst to me, would one day, several years later become my business partner.⁣⁣
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Within a few months, I opened up my private special education law firm. At the time, all I had was a law school degree and faith that God would give me everything I needed. And boy did he show up! The past fifteen years have been filled with some of the most amazing experiences of my life, as I’ve been privileged to work with hundreds of families to obtain appropriate supports and services for their children – children who are often treated unfairly and not provided opportunities to grow and thrive. I look back on my life and see God’s hand all over it, leading and guiding me to my destiny. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God took one of the most heart-wrenching and difficult situations in my life, and used it to impact other children and families in need.⁣⁣
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I’ve come to learn that God is always present. Even when it feels like he has abandoned us, nothing could be farther from the truth. He is always with us, behind the scenes, orchestrating everything to work together for our good, even when it doesn’t make sense. Whether we’re fighting for justice in our communities or simply believing that God will equip us to do what we know he’s called us to do – we just need to take a step of faith. That’s where God will meet you, bless you and give you all you need to accomplish the dreams he’s put on your heart! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).⁣⁣
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Footnotes:⁣⁣
Martin Luther King and James Melvin Washington. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. 1St Harper Collins. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco (1991), 435.

Throughout my life, I’ve been in situations I didn’t think I had what it took to make it through to the other side. The un-relenting wave of fear and worry threatened to drown me, as the enemy tried to convince me to give up. Yet, time and time again, I have pulled through, finding strength I didn’t know existed within me.

There’s a story in the Old Testament about a widow whose husband died, leaving her and her two sons in debt to creditors. Unaware she already had the answer to her problem within her own house, she went to the prophet, Elisha, pleading with him for answers so that her sons wouldn’t be taken as slaves to pay the debt. All she could see in that moment, was what she didn’t have. But, Elisha challenged her to look within – revealing what she already had. “What do you have in your house?”, he inquired (2 Kings 4:2). This must have frustrated her. I imagine, she thought to herself, “do you think I would have come to you in desperation if I already had the ability to pay off this debt on my own?”. Her response revealed where her heart was: “Your servant has nothing there at all…except a small jar of olive oil” (2 Kings 4:2). I think we can all relate to how she was feeling. She knew she didn’t have the money to pay the debt and barely had enough food to feed her and her children. Her world was crumbling around her. But Elisha encouraged her to see what was already there:

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left” (2 Kings 4:4-7).

It wasn’t until she closed the door of doubt behind her and stepped forward in faith with the little that she had, that God went to work. But, did you notice that the oil stopped flowing, when there were no more jars left to fill? If she would have collected more jars, the oil would have kept flowing. If she would have taken an even bigger step of faith, God would have met her there too! God can use anything to accomplish his will for our lives. The key is, we must be obedient and believe it! Ephesians 3:20 says that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. When we align our spirit with the Holy Spirit within us, God’s supernatural power is unstoppable. It doesn’t matter how much we have according to earthly standards. When we use what we have and step forward in bold faith, we can beat any enemy that comes against us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). 

In 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer, leaving me unable to have more children. But, I knew deep within my soul that we were going to have another child. After having surgery, leaving me physically unable to have any more children, I remember the look on my husband’s face when I told him we were going to have a baby. He looked at me like I was crazy! But, I was determined to use what I had to get what I knew God had promised me. I started calling adoption agencies. All of them told me that based upon my diagnosis, we’d never be approved to adopt. I was undeterred! After at least ten more phone calls, I finally got a “maybe”, if I could provide a letter from my doctor that I had a good prognosis. Ten months later, we traveled to Ethiopia to adopt our baby girl. Even though the circumstances swirling all around me were attempting to pull me into the sea of doubt, I stepped forward with the little faith I had, and that was enough for God to meet me there and provide us a miracle!

Whatever your walking through right now, no matter how big the mountain may be, you’ve got what it takes to overcome it! What’s in your house? Do you only have a small amount of oil?  A small amount of faith? If that’s all you have, I promise it’s enough. You just need to take a step forward, using whatever you’ve got. God has given you exactly what you need for this moment in time. Muster up as much faith as you can, and step forward in anticipation that God will show up and provide exactly what you need. I promise, God will meet you there and carry you through to the other side. The miracle is already there!

When I was in high school, I participated in track and field and absolutely loved it! It’s such a great sport because it is both an individual and group activity, encouraging each athlete to strive for their personal best while also working together as a team. One of my favorite events to run was the 4 x 100 meter relay. This race consists of four runners who each run 100 meters, as they methodically pass a small baton to each other at the exact precise moment. The timing has to be absolutely perfect or the team risks dropping the baton or stepping beyond the boundary, either of which disqualifies them. If you watch athletes run this race, it’s truly stunning to see it orchestrated succinctly – as each person somehow hands off the baton to their fellow teammate at each turn. What I learned from this experience is the uniqueness that each runner brings to the race and how every member is a crucial part of the team. No one team member has the exact same gift. Some are faster at the beginning of the race, but taper off toward the last few yards. Others are the fastest runner from beginning to the end, while others might not be the fastest, but they are consistent. Each relay team member is chosen for their unique gifts and talents.

We live in a world that constantly tells us we should be something different than we are. We’re given messages at every turn that we’re too short, too tall, too skinny, too fat, not educated enough, not smart enough, not talented enough, not pretty enough, not a good enough mom, not a good enough wife … you get the picture. Just look around and you will see the constant pressure to look, feel and act like someone else. And usually, that someone else is totally unrealistic. Of course, it’s great to pursue goals and dreams and it’s fantastic that we continue to improve in all areas of our lives. But not when our ultimate goal is to change who we are and what we were made to do just to fall in line with what culture tells us. We were all created in the image of God with unique and different abilities, specifically made to complete the call God has placed upon our lives. The psalmist beautifully describes this reality:

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16).

God doesn’t make mistakes! When we try to become someone else, we can’t authentically be all that we were created to be. Some of us were meant to run businesses while being a mom. Others don’t have that calling and are killing it by being a mom and not working outside of the home. Others are called not to have children at all. You were called by God to run your race, not mine and not anyone else’s. In one of Paul’s epistles, he writes:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

For many years, I felt guilty for working outside of the home, as if that somehow had a bearing on my ability to be a good mom. I made excuses when people asked, “what do you do?” I used to respond something like, “I’m partner at my private law firm, but because my office is so close to home, I’m able to spend valuable time with my kids and since t’s my own business, I can sneak away to their school and sports activities”. Now while all of this is true, I usually provided this information out of guilt. I eventually came to realize that the life I’m living, is a life that God called me to live and I will NOT make excuses for stepping into my calling. And although I’m not a perfect mother, I’m a pretty darn good one! I love my children more than anything. I also love the job God has called me to as well. We should continue to pursue our goals and dreams, but not if we’re simply chasing a dream that isn’t ours. We should take care of ourselves, eat healthy and create positive life choices, but not with the ultimate goal to become the unattainable woman we weren’t created to be or to change the beauty and uniqueness of who we are. We can feel confident that we have everything we need inside of us to become exactly who we were created to be. Hold your head high and run the race God has called you to run. I promise you, when you do this, you will win every time!

Danielle Augustin inspires others to pursue their dreams and fulfill their God-given destiny. Married for over 26 years with four children, she has both heartwarming and painful experiences to share. Practicing law for nearly 20 years, first as a deputy district attorney, then as a founding partner at her private special education law firm, her perspective on the world around us is enlightening. Danielle believes in the power of prayer and hopes to inspire others to consistently come into the presence of God, seeking His will for their lives. She is currently in her last year of seminary and will be receiving a Master of Arts in Theology in 2019. Danielle has a deep love for the Lord and desires to share the lessons she has learned with other women in order for their lives to be transformed, so that they too can walk in the full power of God and live a life of faith, purpose and joy.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi boldly challenges the people of Israel to stop living sinful and morally corrupt lives, warning them to turn back to God. He then shifts his tone to reveal that the Lord longs to bless His people:

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

This verse specifically addresses God’s people and their refusal to tithe (10%) appropriately. Yet, when you dig deeper into the context of who Malachi was talking to and why he was so aggressively challenging them to tithe, you find that people weren’t dropping the ball merely in their tithing. They were blowing it in all areas of their life – refusing to follow God’s covenant. Thus, their lack of tithing, was merely a by-product of their refusal to live honest, grateful and humble lives.

The word tithe is used 32 times throughout the Old Testament and means “the setting aside a tenth of goods or money given as a gift or offering”. Notably, in 2 Chronicles it states: “The Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything” (2 Chronicles 31:5). Thus, the key is that our tithes are not merely 10% of what we have, but it is our firstfruits (the best) of what we have.

As a mother, I used to struggle to wholeheartedly put my trust in God. For many years, I lived in fear, micromanaging every area of my life and the life of my family. After a very long and difficult season with one of my children – I was tired. Tired of living in fear. Tired of the constant tears of worry. I realized I hadn’t fully given the situation to God, trusting that He was in control. There was no amount of tears or anxiety that would cause God to answer my prayers any quicker.

The passage in Malachi gives me chills every time I read it. I think it’s partly because I realize how much I hold back from God. I’m not just talking about money…I’m talking about EVERYTHING. My children, marriage, relationships, finances, business, health, dreams – you name it, I’m usually holding onto part of it. It’s like I’ve got one foot here on earth and one foot in heaven. But, God commands that we give Him the best – our firstfruits. It’s the only place in scripture where God actually challenges us to test Him: “‘Test me in this’, says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’”. I don’t know about you, but this is a challenge that I’m going to accept.

When we align our thoughts with God’s thoughts, our spirit with His spirit, our dreams with His dreams, we will run to Him with our firstfruits – our everything. Only then will He open the floodgates of heaven, pouring out so much of His blessings, we won’t be able to contain them. This is a powerful way to live – in faith, not fear. Let go of your worries and fears. Everything we have has been given to us from God. Our health, money, families, abilities, talents and treasures are all stunning gifts from God. When we give God our everything first, trusting He is in control, wait and see how the floodgates of heaven open up, as the rushing wave of uncontainable blessings overtake our lives, leading us to our destiny.

I‘m pulled in so many different directions every day – most of us are. Work demands, the kids, being a wife, making sure we are there for our friends, eating well and staying in shape can sometimes feel unmanageable. Add to this, the pressure that social media places on our lives. As we observe everyone else living perfect, filtered and stress-free lives, I sometimes want to crawl in bed and pull the covers over my head. Yet, I’ve learned there’s a much deeper truth behind each photo I view. Behind the filters, make-up and perfect pose – lies a story. A story like mine, filled with vulnerabilities we all desperately try to hide, even if we don’t realize it. I’ve learned to resist the urge to check social media and put myself on a disciplined schedule, only engaging it a few times per day. I’ve learned that when I start to feel a sense of anxiety and stress – that’s when I need to lean into what God says about me. Instead of listening to the lies in my head, telling me I’ll never be good enough or measure up to everyone else, I turn my focus to Jesus.

Let’s face it, no matter how hard we work at being perfect in all that we do, we will make mistakes. We will lose our temper with our kids, forget our friend’s birthday and burn the meal we spent hours in the kitchen making. I know I have. But the key is, don’t wallow in your mistakes and failures. Don’t stay down when you fall. Get up each day and try again and again and again. Keep moving!

In order to keep our body, soul and spirit connected with God, we must have the protection of His armor. Only then are we able to step into His calling upon our lives, grounded in and protected by our Father who deeply loves us. This armor is found in the Book of Ephesians. Let this text sink into your soul and visualize yourself as these words reveal His protection over your life:

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Take up the full armor of God and stand firm in His truth. His love casts out all the schemes of the enemy – all fear, worry, anxiety and doubt, and refocuses us back to Him…back to love. Every day, equip yourselves with these pieces of armor:

Belt of truth

Breastplate of righteousness

Feet fitted in the Gospel

Shield of faith

Helmet of salvation

Sword of the Spirit (word of God)

Prayer

Remember this: You are loved, made in God’s image, forgiven, destined, a daughter of the King, made for a heavenly purpose and absolutely beautiful. Any other voices telling you otherwise are all lies. Of course, this doesn’t mean we get to sit around, not taking care of ourselves, pursuing goals and listening to the call God has placed on our lives. But, we can rest in the peace that God loves us and is with us through it all. As we take up God’s armor, our fears, doubts and worries are washed away, leaving us standing strong and ready to step into the destiny God created us for.

When I was a little girl, I loved putting puzzles together. I’d see the beautiful picture on the box and couldn’t wait to create the masterpiece myself. But after opening it and seeing the overwhelming number of pieces that needed to be put together, the fun quickly became daunting. With every momentary inability to find the correct pieces to connect, discouragement set in. Many times, I didn’t have the patience to persevere to the end. If it was a small puzzle, I’d usually stick with it. However, any puzzle that required resilience and time, created a lot of frustration causing me to simply walk away, leaving behind scattered pieces that didn’t make sense.

The book of Ruth in the Bible is a very small, yet profound story filled with lessons for us today. It reads like a novel or blockbuster movie, with twists and turns that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The story opens up with a Jewish family, Elimelech and his wife Naomi along with their two sons, Mahlon and Chillion, who were forced from their home in Bethlehem due to a deadly famine. They ended up living in Moab for 10 years, displaced from their home. During their time in Moab, Mahlon and Chillion married two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. After tragedy struck the family when Elimelech died in Moab, both Mahlon and Chillion died as well. This left Naomi and her two daughter-in-law’s alone. Not surprisingly, Naomi became bitter. At every turn, all she knew was famine, tragedy, displacement and death. She decided to return to Bethlehem and tried to convince Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab so they could rebuild their lives and have a chance at happiness. Although Orpah decided to stay, Ruth insisted on going with Naomi, boldly asserting, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you

In our world, we sometimes find ourselves surrounded by circumstances that don’t make sense, unable to dig ourselves out of the sinking sand of fear, worry and grief. Life can seem like a puzzle that never fully comes into focus or completion. We want to run from the reality of the scattered pieces of our lives on the floor, unable to muster up the strength to stick it out to the end. I’ve felt this way on several occasions – most people have.

Ultimately, Naomi and Ruth started their lives over in Bethlehem. Things turned around for them when Boaz, a wealthy and kind man married Ruth, redeeming both her and Naomi. Eventually, Ruth gave birth to a son, making Naomi a grandmother. The book ends with a stunning picture, “Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:16-17). Did you catch that? Naomi became the grandmother to king David.

By the time I was 16 years old, I had already experienced so much loss – the death of my mother, being abandoned by my biological father, running away from home, losing my friends and dropping out of high school. I became so discouraged and convinced myself I’d never accomplish anything. But God had other plans. Through my tears and anger, I found the strength to push forward in faith with God by my side. I started over. And as I did, everything fell into place. I enrolled back in high school, went to college, got married, went to law school and had a beautiful family. Life hasn’t been perfect and I’ve had some bumps and bruises along the way. But my puzzle has come together, revealing God’s plan and call upon my life. I recently ordered a puzzle with pictures that represent different moments in my life – times of struggle, fear, love, abundance and joy. Although there are still pieces left to be added, as each piece of my story falls into place, I can see how God’s plan for my life fits together in His time and is always perfect.

I’ve always been struck by the fact that if Naomi wouldn’t have let Ruth go with her back to her home in Bethlehem, God would have used someone else to accomplish His will. But she did let Ruth go with her. She did go back home and started over in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds. Even through her anger and bitterness, Naomi pushed forward in faith and ended up stepping into her destiny. Even more profound is the fact that Jesus came from the line of David. I’m sure Naomi never imagined in her wildest dreams, that God himself would come from her family’s line. She went from a widow with no children, to the grandmother of a king.

When the puzzle isn’t coming together or you want to walk away because the pieces of your life seem in disarray, know that God sees the bigger picture. He lies outside of time and has an eternal perspective. He knows the beginning from the end and has the solution to your problem before you knew there was a problem to begin with. I’ve learned not everything that happens in this life is good. However, I’ve seen the truth of God’s word play out in my life time and time again: ^“And 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). When the walls are crashing in around you and you can’t see through your tears of doubt and worry, let God guide you through the storm as the pieces of your life beautifully fall into place. With each step of faith, everything will come together, bringing into focus a stunning story of joy, love and destiny.

Danielle Augustin inspires others to pursue their dreams and fulfill their God-given destiny. Married for over 26 years with four children, she has both heartwarming and painful experiences to share. Practicing law for nearly 20 years, first as a deputy district attorney, then as a founding partner at her private special education law firm, her perspective on the world around us is enlightening.  Danielle believes in the power of prayer and hopes to inspire others to consistently come into the presence of God, seeking His will for their lives. She is currently in her last year of seminary and will be receiving a Master of Arts in Theology in 2019. Danielle has a deep love for the Lord and desires to share the lessons she has learned with other women in order for their lives to be transformed, so that they too can walk in the full power of God and live a life of faith, purpose and joy.

Trying to balance being a mother of four children, a wife and navigating a career, has come with challenges over the years. Add to my busy schedule, all of the children’s activities consisting of baseball, football, dance, girl scouts and youth group (to name a few), I used to feel stretched beyond my capacity. The more opportunities given to me, the more I squeezed in. Soon, the stress became too much and I knew something had to change.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, two by two, giving them authority to cast out impure spirits with the following instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt” (Mark 6:7-8). Jesus was telling them that all they needed was Him. The disciples followed Jesus’ instruction and went out preaching, driving out demons and healing the sick. This short section of scripture speaks to us today in our busy world, pulling us in so many different directions. Instead of cramming more things to accomplish into our already overburdened schedules, ultimately leading to more stress, there is another approach. We need to fill ourselves with Jesus, focusing on Him first. Only then will our world make sense. Starting with Jesus creates space for Him to lead and transform our lives. Jesus is enough!

When my children were little, in the rush of trying to be everything to everyone, I found myself squeezing in Jesus when I had time. I wasn’t praying consistently each day and I only read the Bible when it fit into my schedule. I had the best intentions, but they never panned out the way I had planned. I read the Bible to simply check it off on my list of things to do and promised myself I’d pray before I went to bed each night – but this rarely happened. I had it all backwards. I learned that I need to start everyday with Jesus, praise Him throughout the day, and end each day leaning in to Him as my head hits the pillow each night.

The Bible is filled with many miracles, but the only miracle found in all four Gospels is when Jesus feeds 5,000 men (which was probably more like 15,000 people if you count women and children). The Gospel of Matthew picks up the story after Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, where He hears about John the Baptist’s death. “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place” (Matthew 14:13). It was only after Jesus removed himself from the crowd and prayed, that the miracle of feeding the 5,000 took place a few verses later. Even more powerful, immediately after this miracle, He made his disciples go ahead of him in a boat, dismissed the crowd and “went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:22-23). Jesus is a beautiful example for us, to come into the presence of God in all areas of our life – times of mourning, blessing and miracles. Only then does life make sense. Only then do we create space for Jesus to step into our lives and lead us.
The bottom line is this – we need to stop leading ourselves by what the world says we should do and lean into Jesus for the answers we are seeking. When we study His word, pray and relate to Him, we will start hearing Him speak his sweetest blessings to us, guiding us and stretching us to places we never dreamed of. The opposite is true as well. If we don’t study His word, pray and speak to Him consistently, we won’t recognize His voice so we can be led by His spirit.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Instead of squeezing Jesus in each day, we need to start with Him – only then will the world around us make sense. It’s a very powerful way to live, as we learn how to navigate through a world that demands our attention at every turn. You will gain wisdom, leading to less stress and peace that you are walking out the call God has put on your life. Once you experience the power of being led by Jesus, your life will never be the same.

Danielle Augustin inspires others to pursue their dreams and fulfill their God-given destiny. Married for over 26 years with four children, she has both heartwarming and painful experiences to share. Practicing law for nearly 20 years, first as a deputy district attorney, then as a founding partner at her private special education law firm, her perspective on the world around us is enlightening. Danielle believes in the power of prayer and hopes to inspire others to consistently come into the presence of God, seeking His will for their lives. She is currently in her last year of seminary and will be receiving a Master of Arts in Theology in 2019. Danielle has a deep love for the Lord and desires to share the lessons she has learned with other women in order for their lives to be transformed, so that they too can walk in the full power of God and live a life of faith, purpose and joy.

To My Son,

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a mother. I knew I wanted a big family too. Perhaps it was because I was an only child due to my mother’s illness and her inability to have more children at such a young age. I also knew how deeply she wanted more children. I used to look at big families, yearning to have a brother or sister. My friends complained about their siblings, while I deeply longed for the sibling rivalry they felt burdened by. Motherhood is a fascinating journey, filled with eager anticipation, unexpected blessings and detours we never see coming. I became a mother to your sister Taylor at the age of twenty-four. But when you came into the world on September 5, 1997, our manageable family of three grew to four – and with that came many unforgettable, exciting and unplanned experiences. At the age of twenty-seven, you were my first son, bringing many new adventures we shared together, including your extremely high energy, passionate curiosity to see and touch everything and your insatiable ability to get through each day without a nap. Throughout your toddler years, visitors who came to our home often asked us why each room was decorated from the waist up. But after meeting you, they quickly found their answer – realizing that anything within your curious reach needed to be moved to avoid certain disaster.

As you grew older, we started noticing your high energy and particular social skills were even more obvious when compared to other children. On most days, you entered each room at full speed, unaware of anyone or anything in your way. Many times, this drew attention to you, especially from other parents who didn’t appreciate your deep desire to make friends with their children through unconventional methods. At times, I wondered if your unique personality was something that needed to be changed, so that you could conform with the other children around you. This was probably due to the usual piercing looks and unsolicited comments I received from others. They felt inclined to provide their advice and solution to what appeared to be a problem. I thought if you had less energy and better social skills, perhaps you would be able to play with the other children more appropriately. Doctor’s appointments, therapy visits, calls from other parents and a lot of prayer filled my days. In the midst of searching for answers, I remember stumbling upon Psalm 139. As I read the words, the text jumped off of the page, taking my breath away. Suddenly, a verse I’d read many times before, provided new and life-changing meaning. My eyes filled with tears as I re-read the text over
and over again, stunned by my new revelation: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you” (Psalm 139:13-18 NIV). I was speechless, as the reality of these words revealed God’s beautiful creation of you, a creation He knew about and specifically planned before you and I locked eyes together the day you came into this world. The moment I held you to my chest with tears rolling down my face, was when I gave you to God and asked Him to use you to glorify His name. As I read the words of the psalm, I realized I had convinced myself there must have been a mistake, because you had challenges so many other

children didn’t have. Making friends and completing even the simple task of staying in your seat in
school weren’t easy for you. In that moment, a peace overtook me, in the midst of a thousand
questions I still had. The Bible is filled with God’s promise that we all have a purpose: “Before I
shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for
you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you” (Jeremiah 1:5 -The Message).
None of us will ever be perfect according to earthly standards, but a perfect God created you just the
way you are and that is something beautiful to celebrate. God doesn’t make mistakes!

As I reflect on the last 21 years, watching you grow from an energetic toddler to a curious little boy,
to a young man navigating the world, trying to find your place in it, I find myself in awe of our God
who knew you before the beginning of time. He knew on this day where you would be, what you
would be searching for and the challenges you would be facing. He also knew the amazing plans He
had for the young man He made you to be in this moment in time. As a mother, I’ve always searched
for ways to teach you and inspire you to grow into a man of strong character. But, throughout the
journey of motherhood, you’ve taught me more than I could ever have taught you:

Love people exactly where they are in life.
Accept differences in others as gifts to be inspired by.
Be a genuine reflection of how God created you.
Be authentic to who you are deep within your soul.
Don’t change anything about you, to be what the world tells you to be.
Celebrate the uniqueness of everyone.
Don’t spend time comparing yourself to others.
God created all of us for a divine purpose.

Knowing the difficulties you continue to face, when friends and family ask me how you are doing, I
no longer try to avoid the truth. I’ve come to realize that being honest about the road our family has
walked with you down, has been filled with lessons that have blessed my life beyond measure. It is
the story I yearn to tell others, so that they too can be encouraged by the journey we’ve walked. Even
in the midst of unanswered prayers and a future that sometimes appears daunting, please know what
God says about you: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and
not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 – ESV). I don’t profess to understand
why God chooses certain people to walk more challenging paths, but I trust that He is sovereign and
His plan is absolutely perfect. God knew you before time, He’s walked with you every step of your
life and He’s already waiting for you in all of your tomorrows. I’m so thankful to be your mother –
the mother of a remarkable and inspiring young man who God deeply loves and created for an
amazing purpose.

Happy Birthday! I love you my sweet son!
Love, Mom

There will be instances that cause us to experience fear – but there’s a difference between
feeling fear and living in the spirit of fear. Feeling fear in frightening situations is to be expected.
But, staying in that place of fear, unable to pull ourselves out of the negative thinking, is
dangerous and threatens to keep us from all that God has planned for our lives. What’s the key to
living fearless in a world filled with situations and circumstances that threaten to fill us with
despair at every turn? God’s word provides the answer in the midst of chaos: “God is our
refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth
give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and
the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV). The Message puts it this way:
“God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge
of doom, courageous in sea, storm and earthquake, before the rush and roar of oceans, the
tremors that shift mountains”. Although we can’t plan and expect all the earthquakes and storms
we will face, we can have faithful hope built on God’s promises. But, our foundation cannot be
the things of this world. We can live a life without fear, in the middle of the storm because
Jesus is our rock, even when the ground beneath us is giving way.

I’ve been blessed to work with amazing children over the past 15 years in my practice as a special education attorney. The countless families who continue pushing forward in faith, in the midst of frightening circumstances have deeply inspired me. Children struggling to speak, read, write, walk, make friends and live a life without depression fill my caseload. At times, when I read their educational files and meet these families, I wonder how they find the strength to get up, choosing faith yet another day. Many times, I’ve ended up in tears. As a mother of a child with special needs, I can relate to feelings of fear and hopelessness. I lived many years in deep fear convinced I didn’t have what it took to raise my son and was terrified about his prospective future. I walked through life with my head turned downward, focusing on the pain and struggle. It paralyzed me!

I’ve learned the key to living a life of faith, instead of fear, is completely connected to the
direction we are looking. If we are constantly looking at, perseverating on and talking about the
turmoil surrounding us, we will live in that space. However, the opposite is true as well – if we
keep our eyes on Jesus, we will be able to move beyond fear and step into His perfect peace in
spite of our circumstances. I love the text found in the Gospel of Luke: “There will be signs in
the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring
and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the
world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming
in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift
up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21 :25-28 NIV). When your
world is spiraling, the ground doesn’t stop shaking and the storm doesn’t cease, STAND UP
AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS! I love what the Message says: “It will seem like all hell has
broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a
panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking. And
then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all
this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!” Even

if you don’t feel you have the strength to stand on your own two feet or have the ability to lift
your head to heaven, look upward, stand tall and fix your eyes upon Him. He will be your
strength to move on, one day at a time.

I sometimes look at other people and wonder how they got to where they are. What did the road of life look like for them? What sacrifices were made? Was there pain? Or fear? Dreams that were never fulfilled? There will be experiences we walk through during our lifetime that don’t make sense. Some of them are filled with pain, suffering, frustration and seemingly unanswered prayers. Many times, we feel God isn’t listening or maybe we feel he’s ignoring our cries for
help. Financial stress, an unexpected health diagnosis, a lost job, legal difficulties or being betrayed by someone close to you – all of these can cause us to doubt that God actually has a plan that can result in something remotely decent, let alone good. But then I’m reminded of the Scripture that says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). You and I are God’s creation, made for a divine purpose that He knew about before we were even born.

I’ve learned that I got to where I am today, because God walked with me through circumstances I needed to experience in order to be ready and prepared for the dreams He put on my heart. I’ve experienced quite a bit of pain, sadness and fear throughout my lifetime. Most of us go through these emotions at some point in our lives. For many years, I couldn’t see past my circumstances, wondering if I’d ever reach the other side of the raging river of helplessness.

In the Bible, the people of Israel were slaves at the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt for many years. Moses, one of the greatest old testament prophets, was sent by God to lead them out of Egypt. Moses’ response sounds like so many of us today, convinced he didn’t have what it took to do what God called him to do: “Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Who am I? This is the question we all contemplate when we are faced with a future we feel unequipped for. But Moses obeyed, stepped forward in faith and God parted the Red Sea for the people to walk through, escaping from the Egyptians. But, what was supposed to be an eleven-day journey to the promised land, took them FORTY YEARS. The Bible says, “He made them wander in the wilderness forty years” (Num 32:13).

Why did it take them so long? And, why did God make them wander the wilderness for so many years? He could have created an obstacle-free path for them, straight to the promised land. He’s God after all, right? The answer is quite simple. It’s the same answer when we ask why our own wilderness experience is taking so long. God is strengthening and preparing us for the call He has put on our lives. The dreams within us don’t happen overnight. They take time to cultivate so
we are fully ready to step into the destiny God has ordained for us. If we arrive too early to our destination, we won’t fully appreciate it or be able to sustain it.

Eventually, the wilderness you are walking through will make sense in God’s perfect time. At first, the shards of glass in a pile on the floor, appear dirty, ugly and useless. But, when God takes the broken and shattered pieces and meticulously places them together at just the right time, a story is revealed. Your story is revealed. It’s a story that God saw all along from His heavenly perspective, that will eventually make sense to us. It’s a story of a difficult road that leads us to our God-given destiny.

Trust that God sees the big picture as you continue to take steps of faith, even when the world around you seems to be out-of-control and doesn’t make sense. With each step you take, God is walking alongside you, guiding you and strengthening you throughout the process. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). When we are finally able to take a step back,
we will look up and fix our eyes upon what God has walked with us through, and see a beautiful masterpiece, filled with stunning shapes and colors that reveal our story in unexpected ways. The stained-glass piece of art, representing all of the experiences we lived through, will finally reveal a remarkable and purposeful life that makes perfect sense.