Yesterday in a parent youth meeting, one of the parents asked me, “Aren’t you planning on going to Nashville after graduation?”
It took me off guard because I didn't even know she knew I planned on going Nashville after graduation. But, I responded, “No, the Lord told me I’m supposed to stay in Baton Rouge after I graduate.”
It's been a few months since the Lord told me to stay in Baton Rouge, so I haven’t given Nashville much thought — until today.
Today, I was walking in Hodges Hall on the way to my mass communication 4500 class and ran into a former professor, Cindy.
I gave her a brief hello and walked into the classroom. I thought to myself, “Wow, I have not seen her in almost a year!”
In class my professor assigned a group project. He wanted us to work on interview framing outside, in the hall and in the classroom. When I walked by Cindy’s office in the hall I felt compelled to talk to her.
She knew I was interested in reporting for RFD TV, an agriculture TV network in Nashville, TN. While we were talking she mentioned a few weeks ago Tammy Arrendar from RFD TV, sent her an e-mail saying there is an agriculture reporter/anchor spot open for anyone who is interested. It pays $35,000 a year — a lot more than any starting reporting job around here!
When she said this my heart dropped. My thoughts…(but I told the youth parents LAST NIGHT I planned on staying in Baton Rouge because I know I’m called to lead youth ministry!)
I told Cindy I would pray about it and let her know.
After that, of course, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I'm supposed to do after graduation. Am I supposed to stay here like I thought God told me or is this God’s way of telling me to think about Nashville? Other thoughts…what else am I supposed to do in Baton Rouge? How else am I supposed to make money?
Now, how do I decipher what is from God and what is my flesh and the enemy? The cool thing is, God did that for me.
It’s 12:00 a.m. (yes, my sleep schedule is off because I’m a procrastinating senior) but God revealed something to me — it’s not a coincidence the day after I tell the youth parents I feel called to stay in Baton Rouge for ministry, I run into Cindy who tells me there’s an opening in Nashville.
Of course my flesh wants to take the easy route and go where the money and security is. However, God told me, “Taylor, I allowed this to happen to show you and remind you of my peace. I allowed that to happen to show you how easy it is to turn down something when you know you are serving in the right place. I did that to show you I will take care of you.”
I’ve never felt so confident I’m where I'm supposed to be — with my church, my family, the people God’s put in my life, and most of all, the ministry God’s called me to serve.
Finding out there’s a job in Nashville is exciting, however I know it’s not for me. God confirmed that for me today. How cool is that? Praise God!
