This is not about food

Well, at least not in the traditional "Emily includes a recipe and/or photo" post kind of way.
But in the Jesus kind of way, it is about food:
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work." (John 4:34)

I love teaching. It's one of the things I feel that I was created to do. And so upon relocating to Virginia, one of my desires was to find a teaching position.
*Pause* -Here comes the aside.

I think that there are times when God calls us to believe. Times where we have no guarantees, but where our faith opens up the door for God to do something great. I can tell you stories when simply believing led to miracles before my very eyes. But I also think that believing in something (even if we believe it to be in the name of our God) does not circumvent His authority, goodness, or will.

I think that there are times we are called to believe, and times we are called to surrender.
*Unpause*

Throughout my entire move to Virginia, I sensed God calling me to surrender my teaching hat. We wrestled back and forth and what I came out with was a peace about not teaching this year. Was I still applying to schools? -You betcha! I want to teach! But deep down I was content with the very real (and what I considered likely) possibility that God would not put me in a full-time classroom of my own this year.

Did I cry?
Yep.
But I surrendered. And I know that God is a God of greater possibilities and plans than I could ever even imagine (i.e.: that handsome man in my sidebar picture). So I surrendered, and I trusted. I prayed for guidance and that my food, like Jesus, would be to do His will - wherever, whatever that meant.

And today I accepted a full-time teaching position.
And I'm smiling pretty largely about it.

Sometimes it's faithfulness in belief, and sometimes it's obedience in surrender.

Would God be good regardless of my teaching situation? Faithful and just and perfect? Absolutely. He cannot be anything but. Still, I am amazed at His grace.
It's going to be a wild and crazy year, and I am so excited! :o)