After checking in at the registration desk I sat down, folded my hands in my lap and waited quietly for the numbers on the clock to read 3:15 p.m. The moment I would give my first-ever book pitch to a publisher at the She Speaks 2016 Conference. The moment I’d have to talk about a project I’d been working on for the past three years in a span of 15 minutes. The moment I’d been looking forward to for nearly a year and a half.
Once settled in my chair I felt a wave of nerves begin to wash over me. I begged them to go away and leave me alone. But with each passing minute they grew a little stronger. Lord, I need you to step in here. I prayed. My only goal is to communicate this book and the passion you’ve put in my heart clearly. Please remind me I have nothing to fear.
Seconds later the elevator door opened and Lysa Terkeurst stepped out to check in with her daughter, who was managing the check-in table right beside me. (Let me stop right here and point out — for those of you who don’t know — that Lysa is not only the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, the organization that puts the conference on, but she’s also a New York Times best-selling author and all-around amazing woman.)
“Hi, I’m Lysa,” she said as she turned and extend her hand to shake mine.
“Hi, I’m Lauren,” I smiled, and she wished me good luck.
As if meeting Lysa wasn’t enough to take my mind off my silly nerves, her friend Colette walked over to say hello too.
“So what’s your book about?” Colette asked.
I shared a condensed version of my pitch with her and her eyes lit up. We’d only met just minutes ago but in that moment Colette asked if she could pray over me and the appointment. I don’t remember her exact words, but in my heart of hearts I know this:
God used Colette’s prayer as a blanket of peace to cover me in my moment of need.
And you want to know something, sisters? I nailed my pitch. Without a single touch of anxiety. Not because I’m a great pitch giver, but because God showed up. And when God shows up, the impossible becomes possible.
I’d prayed for God to help get me through my first appointment, and He immediately answered my prayer! There are no words to describe the gratitude, awe and wonder I felt over the goodness of our Father in that moment. It was as if the words of Deuteronomy 31:8 had come to life right before my very eyes:
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” {NLT}
As I sit here today trying to process everything that happened during the She Speaks Conference, all I can say is that looking back I can see that God truly did go before me in every situation and conversation I encountered. In every conference room, in every hallway, in every bad night’s sleep, his presence was undeniable and all-consuming. I think part of the reason for this was because thousands of people were praying for the conference leading up to the actual date. But you know what I think the real reason for all of it was?
I was tuned in to the presence of God.
Every morning of the conference I woke up and immediately prayed something along the lines of: Holy Spirit come and speak to me. Whatever it is you have for me, I want to hear and experience it. I want to see you move today. Come and have your way. Be alive in me and in this place.
I have to confess: Prior to the conference, I did not pray this prayer in my day-to-day life. Rather than connecting with God right away in the morning, “pre She Speaks Lauren” usually only thought about her to-do list and checked social media. I still encountered God throughout the week but I wasn’t in tune to His presence, per say.
She Speaks reinforced many things I already knew to be true, but one of the most important things it reinforced is the fact that God is alive and on the move — but we’ll never fully grasp the power and extent of His hand if we’re not tuned in to and focused on Him.
About a year ago, I wrote a blog post called “Am I Expecting God to Show Up?” In that post, I wrote, “I expect to meet God today and every day. I live in full expectation of God.” Here’s what God is whispering to me today, as a follow up to that post: Dearest daughter, you can know and believe that I am at work here on Earth, but knowing and believing are different than seeking me and actively participating in what I’m doing. Don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t be consumed with and focused on your to-do list. Be consumed with and focused on me.
You will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. {Jeremiah 29:13 NASB}
God is on the move today in a mighty way. But while it’s good to know and expect this — it means nothing if we don’t try to seek and find this.
It’s a small shift in our way of thinking but I’m telling you, as I just experienced in my own life, it changes everything. When we keep our internal radio station tuned in to Him and ask Him to reveal Himself to us, we can experience His presence in a deeper and more powerful way. And living in God’s presence? Well, there’s no place I’d rather be.
In the to-dos of daily life, where’s your focus? How can you take steps to be more in tune with God’s presence?
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Lauren, what a powerful testimony of your decision to be a vessel of God each day to be poured. I love how you asked God each day to pour into your life and how He used people to pour into you during your experience. You could have been focused solely on selling your book or meeting all the right people, but you chose to pursue God and waited for Hi, to show up and do the work. Love this!
Hi Barb! There are no words to describe the gratitude I also have for your willingness to coach me leading up to the conference. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. P.S. I know I still owe you a full download of what happened … can we just plan on having a phone date when you get back in the country? Too much to type!! 😛
Sweet sister! What a beautiful post! She Speaks is such an amazing conference chock full of God moments! Love your focus of this post, too. We have to be tuned in to God to see Him at work. Blessings!!
You are too kind, Liz! Thank you so much. Have a blessed week.
Lauren, I can honestly say this is one of the absolute best blog posts I have read in a long time. I am grateful to have run across it on Coffee for Your Heart this morning! (I’m your neighbor at #33)
I am getting ready to go to the Declare Conference tomorrow and your post reminds me to seek God FIRST and then everything else will fall into place.
Congratulations on a successful meeting with the publisher! I’ll be waiting to hear more about your book as you get closer to having it ready for market!
So nice to meet you, Linda! Thanks so much for your kind words. I will be praying over you as you continue to prepare for Declare. Say hey to Michelle Nietert for me if you see her! 😛
Lauren, powerful, powerful reminder this morning. I *do NOT* want to miss seeing every bit of God today. Oh that we had eyes to see all He’s doing! I”m so glad you went to She Speaks this year. It’s is some of the best fuel for ministry — authentic worship and practical help. <3
Dearest Lisa, so nice to see your name come up in my comments today. I hope your summer is going well. <3 Let me know how I can be praying for you specifically! XO
To stay in tune with Him – what a goal! What a wonderful way to pray!
And, I do believe He has wonderful things ahead for your life and for your ministry – whatever they may be!
I’m blessed by you~
Melanie
Melanie, you are too sweet!! Thank you for the encouragement. I’m blessed by you as well! <3
I’m so glad your meetings went well. And yes, I will remind myself each day that I am expecting to see God at work around me. I know He’s there, I want eyes to see and faith to trust. Thank you so much for this beautiful post, Lauren! Blessings to you!!
Thanks Deb! Praying your heart would have the desire and spiritual discipline to stay tuned in to God at all times! 🙂
Lauren, thank you for sharing how God ministered to you at She Speaks. I love how you shared, “God is alive and on the move — but we’ll never fully grasp the power and extent of His hand if we’re not tuned in to and focused on Him.” Amen, sister. Amen!
Sweet blessings to you!
Hi Cindy! Thank you so much for hosting the She Speaks recap blog hop. What a blessing you are, dear sister. Hugs!
Beautiful post. So exciting to see what God has done in your life through the She Speaks Conference! I know he will continue to work as you look for Him and seek his guidance. Will pray for a great result of the meeting and that God will bring the book project to fruition in His timing.
Thanks so much, Beth! I appreciate your prayers. <3
I’m so glad that God showed up and spoke to you at the She Speaks Event. I’m guessing we are going to feel ripple effects of this life-changing event over the months and years to come. I am so grateful that we were able to share the experience with each other, and I know that God forever united our hearts in those special moments we shared debriefing at the end of stress-full and God-filled days.
Dearest Sarah, I’m already missing you and looking forward to the next time we get to be together. (South Dakota isn’t TOO far from Iowa, so I say we plan something! LOL) God knew what He was doing when He put you in my life, and I’m so very grateful for your friendship. Praying over you as you take that next faithful step — whatever it may be. XOXO
This is excellent. Truly, we MUST seek Him if we are to find Him. Seek His presence! Thank you!
Wow what an incredible testimony. I’m so excited for you Lauren!
Also can I just say I’m really impressed you handled meeting Lysa in person so well. I probably would have said or done something embarrassing because I was so excited!
This was such an inspiring post! “Dearest daughter, you can know and believe that I am at work here on Earth, but knowing and believing are different than seeking me and actively participating in what I’m doing. Don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t be consumed with and focused on your to-do list. Be consumed with and focused on me.”So powerful!
Also Jerimiah 29:13 was the verse I picked up on the scroll when I visited the prayer room… Coincidence, I think not! haha blessings sweet sister!
Lauren, my heart is so touched by all God did in and through you at She Speaks. One may think it it’s a place where women go to strengthen their writing and speaking skills, but it is so much more. Life -changing and life-giving! I’m praying your project comes to fruition or that God uses it as a springboard to many other books and publications! You are a beautifully gifted young lady and I cannot wait to see the wonderful things God will do through you!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
amen
Lauren – you nailed it once again! I was right there with you (sweaty palms and all) when those doors opened and, oh just a little someone named LYSA TERKEURST walked in! Oh, and then she wanted you to speak!? SheSpeaks would have left me speechless right then. But I LOVE that God had prepared your heart (and nerves) in advance! You had prayed for His strength and peace – and He gave it to you in a big way! Love, love, love that! Congratulations for listening to His calling – and for being brave enough to continue taking those steps of faith. The Lord absolutely goes ahead of us – and prepares the way. All we have to do is trust in Him – and keep that oil burning!
What a great God, period. I loved meeting you and hanging and encouraging and being encouraged. Somehow i knew this would be your time (whatever form that takes!) AND a great post, btw. xx
Lauren, stopping by from #LiveFreeThursday and loved to hear how God met you at She Speaks! I wish I had met you too 🙂 I also had some wonderful “coincidences” right before my publisher appointments last week that reminded me God was present, had brought me this far and wouldn’t leave me now. It was a wonderful conference and I am still mulling over all I learned. Thank you for your powerful message about getting off the sidelines and jumping into the arena where the adventure is! Keep writing, sister!!
Such wise words, Lauren! Thanks for sharing your experience at She Speaks and the encouragement to intentionally focus on God’s work each day, even when that “to do” list is clamoring for our attention. It was such a blessing meeting you!
Love this Lauren and I so agree! My word for She Speaks was surrender and I prayed a similar prayer while there. Thanks for sharing your heart and loved meeting you while working out Saturday of She Speaks.
I am so sorry we didn’t meet up. I too was there and it was amazing! I ended up writing a poem in honor of Lysa’s talk on Friday evening. I want to share that poem with you as well since I am certain you can relate as well. Beautiful post, dear sister in Christ. My Love is Enough
by Effie Darlene Barba
Trials arise and storms of the heart
Come raging into our life
Uninvited, unwanted they scream
Words of bitterness and strife
Into the depth of our heart and our soul
Driving their pain with sharpest of knife
Cutting, bleeding taking their toll
Stripping away any signs of our life
Crying to God, I scream for a why?
Didn’t I love enough? Sing your praise?
Wounded, battered I really did try!
All of my life! All of my days!
Then I did feel His warmth, His embrace
Oh, my dear child, don’t you now see
Everything, spiraling toward you with grace
Only reveals the truth that is me
I had to remove the scars of this world
The dark hidden spots you never reveal
Twisted, resisted so tightly furled
Had come in the night your joy to steal
Come deep in my arms, rest for a while
To heal all those scars you carried so long
The Broken Unspoken pain doth beguile
Drawing you far from where you belong
I see your heart wounded deep inside
Come my dear Child, Safe you will be
Wrapped in my love, here to abide
Wait for a moment and then you will see
My love is enough to fill you with glee – Read more at: http://scl.io/VeiBlORL#gs.SGZIlfA
Thank you for your post, Lauren! It is so humbling and awe-inspiring when God answers our prayers in such specific ways. Such a great confirmation that He sees us and He is with us! Congratulations on a great publisher appointment! I didn’t get to meet you at She Speaks this year but I’m hoping we’ll get to meet next year. Best of success during the writing process!
Wonderful post!
Lauren, your excitement and connections with both God and fellow bloggers is contageous! What a wonderful opportunity to rely on the Holy Spirit to comfort, go before and strengthen your faith!
Thanks for linking up at Welcome Home Wednesdays!
What a great story of God’s faithfulness, Lauren. I love how he used Colette’s prayer to give you peace and to nail that pitch. “When God shows up, the impossible becomes possible.” So thankful that’s true!
HI Lauren
I am Lorrena. I loved your post and testimony of how God did indeed show up for you at She Speaks!
So cool that you met Lysa and her friend Collete praying for you. I am glad I found your blog! I love to try new healthy recipes, I am also a self taught cook and baker. Praying for your book and Gods hand to be on your project. 🙂