By Megan Blansit

Director of The Beautiful Movement - a youth ministry for high school girls. For more information, visit The Beautiful Movement’s Facebook page, where I post the time, place, and activity for each month

Hi, friends, can I share with you a time I have been discouraged? Here is a little background of the story. I graduated from Plainview in 2009, got my associates from Northeast Alabama Community College in 2011, and then got my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2013.

Lets be honest, Northeast was pretty easy and I didn’t know what intense studying was until I attended UAB. I went from what people call “Northeasy” to what felt like a jail sentence. I spent hours upon HOURS at the library each week and still struggled to make an A. Staring at the bare cubicles got old… real fast! May I give a shout out to my best friend during that time? Thank you, coffee! I tried my absolute best to stay dedicated to my studies because I was focusing on my next goal-graduate school.

As my senior year approached at UAB, I began the application process for the master’s program in counseling. My ultimate goal has always been to get a Ph.D but I wanted to start with a master’s  first. I had good grades, reached out for recommendation letters, and studied 3-4 hours a day, for months, to prepare myself for the GRE (a test you have to take for any graduate program.) I was confident that through all my hard work, I would get in. Due to this confidence, I did not apply to any other graduate programs.

Newsflash!!! I did not get in! Talk about a girl being crushed. “But God, why did you not let me get in?”… “But God, I worked so hard!” … So many frustrations went through my head when I read, “…. you are not accepted into the master’s program.” Another frustration was when I read that the ONLY reason I was not accepted was due to being 4 points short from meeting UAB’s GRE requirement. FOUR POINTS. Remember, I studied MONTHS for this test. Life, in this moment, did not seem fair. I was heartbroken and humiliated! Graduation was weeks away and all my plans were crushed.

As I began to pray, I realized prayer was not my first resort in this situation… it was sadly my second. After reading that plan-sucking email and spending time in prayer, the Lord was quick to show me that attending UAB’s master’s program was not His plan for me. I felt led to move back home, leaving my best friends and the city that I strongly grew to love behind. Thankfully, I have an awesome family who welcomed me back home but I was still embarrassed to tell people I did not get accepted. I, for sure, never thought I would be writing a newspaper article about it!

After moving home, I began working full time and applied for graduate school at Jacksonville State University. I could have shouted when I got my acceptance letter! There is no sweeter place than knowing you are in the will of God! Since being back home and seeing how God has blessed my life tremendously and opened doors that I never dreamt of being opened,  theres no place I would rather be. I’m very thankful God redirected my path and led be back home.

Here is my reason for sharing this: Sometimes, despite our “great” plans, God says “No.” We must accept this and believe He has everything under control and that He even has our BEST interest in mind. I have learned there is purpose beyond the pain. God does not tell us “No” to hurt us or to keep us from something good, he says “No” because He has something better. This could relate to a job, boyfriend, etc. He is still God, He is still sitting on the throne, and He is not deaf to your prayers. I love serving a God who works behind the scenes to work everything out for my good. Romans 8:28 says, “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.” That verse does not say, “He works some things out for our good,” it says “ALL THINGS.” That’s exciting and refreshing, friend! What I am trying to say, is that God never has an “Oops” moment. He never forgets his plans for us. I’ve realized sometimes rejection is simply God’s redirection. In my case, I will forever praise God for his “No.”

This weeks challenge: Be mindful that sometimes a closed door can lead to your biggest blessing. I pray that you would press in through the discouragement and praise Him for what is to come! Lastly, I challenge you to put complete trust in the Lord’s judgements and plans for you life. He wants the absolute best for you, friend!