making mosaics.

One of the perks of being an intern is that you get to meet a lot of the people higher up on the totem pole. Today we interns met Selma Wilson and John Kramp, the vice president for church resources. (Tomorrow we're meeting with president and CEO, Dr. Thom Rainer.) We went through the usual: where you're from, where you're working, how you heard about LifeWay lineup. We offered some feedback on LifeWay's "culture" and heard some pretty staggering HR statistics: there are currently 25,000 people applying for positions at LifeWay. Wrap your head around that number.

Yikes.

Sure, being an intern at least gets you a foot in the door. The hiring managers have seen your face and if you're lucky, you've got an employee or two willing to put in a good word for you. I'm not gonna lie; I felt good hearing I was picked out of more than 100 internship applicants. But it's hard not to ignore the fact that the economy is grim. People are saying this year's graduating class (that would be yours truly) is facing the toughest job market. I suppose it could be worse; I could not have a college degree. I could be irresponsible and hate what I'm doing.

It's still hard sometimes not to have high-stress moments when you can just imagine that
no one will hire you
and you'll be forced to move back home with your parents
and work as a burger flipper at a local greasy pit drive-in until you are 30
and by then forget what you learned in college
and move into a small place of your own
where you live with your two cats
and basic cable.
Okay, maybe I'm getting a little carried away.

We ended our meeting with the VP this morning with prayer and his words of wisdom that we have to remember that it doesn't all come down to our abilities. Every day isn't "oh man, I have to do a really good job and excel or it's all over for me." God works for our good. That's really hard for people to grasp sometimes, especially when you're in the midst of a difficult situation.

LifeWay interns with Selma Wilson and John Kramp.

I was talking with my friend Jenn when I was in Kansas City about trusting God. I'm working on John Piper's Desiring God this summer and Piper was writing about how God's view of things isn't the same as our view of things. God sees the small picture, the close-up view, and He sees the big picture -- everything that leads up to and results from an event. God sees the small picture of suffering, the devastation of sin, pain, grief, sadness -- and He does not delight in these things. But the Lord is weaving everything together for good. Whether it is Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, a relationship ending, housing falling through, or an early-morning car accident. These are all just little pieces, like a mosaic. There are light pieces and dark pieces, and some look really beautiful by themselves and some look... not-so-beautiful. But when they are all put together, it's this brilliant piece of art.

Maybe you mostly believe that the picture is going to turn out well in the end. You trust God for the big things. But what about the everyday things? Is He not the Lord over everyday matters, too? Not trusting God for the everyday is like watching Him set a single tile in place and saying, "Hey now, are you sure that's where you want it? Don't you think it would look so much better over there? Or maybe if you used a yellow tile instead of a green one. Yeah, I'm pretty sure yellow would be best." Are you kidding? If you've ever taken care of small children, you've probably laughed when they told you they knew better than you did.

Praise God it's not up to me to make something beautiful out of my circumstances. I'm not just hoping that the tiles will randomly fall into just the right places. And I'm not sweating over the gray ones to turn them pink. I cannot create anything good. But it's sure sweet knowing the One who can wants to and will.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
-Proverbs 16:3
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
-Proverbs 16:9
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
-Proverbs 19:21
A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
-Proverbs 20:24
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
-Proverbs 21:30

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