Here we are – the beginning of September. We are nine months into our storefront and oh, what a ride this has been! It is a constant process of praying, learning, exploring, trying, failing, succeeding and experimenting.
Earlier today I was reading my last blog post from December 2018 where I was “Setting Expectations” and had to chuckle. It is so cute how I thought I knew what things were going to look like – almost like I thought I had control of everything, huh? But as we have grown and learned, God has guided and directed us in a few different ways. (hello, tables and chairs!)
Throughout the last nine months, one thing I am constantly learning (and relearning) is that He is the one who put this idea in our hearts. He is the one who brought it to fruition and He is the one who sustains it. I can get caught up in worrying about what other coffee shops are doing, or what new things I need to do to drum up more business. I can get discouraged when we have a slow day. But I need to remember from whom all blessings flow, right? I need to take root in that truth. He has brought us to this – not for our prosperity, not for our success as business owners, not for our accomplishments – but for HIS GLORY. So when I get bogged down in the cares of this world, the worries, and the stresses – He always lifts my eyes back to Him.
There is a fine line between trusting in Him to make it work, and doing my part. Yes, He is in charge and control – He IS GOD after all. But I still have a part to play in doing the next thing that is in front of me. No matter how menial it may seem in the moment – obedience to what He puts before me is what He desires of me. It is not a matter of letting go and letting God, but believing in God and get going.
So we are taking root in Him. It is the only way this venture will bear fruit for His glory. He has to be the center of it. So as I look back on the last nine months, I can see some of the exact moments where I was reminded of that fact. And I am thankful for each and every one of them, as they have taught me to trust in Him more and more.