By Rachel G. Scott
God's Brave Women - Rachel's Story
God has a sense of humor and a wonderful one at that. Sometimes I think he looks from heaven and says, "What have we here? Rachel, with a checklist and calendar. How adorable! Let's see what she plans to do with this."
He knows that I love checklists and calendars. I started using them as a teenager and I never looked back. For some reason, my feeble mind believes that those handy, dandy tools create order and structure within my life. I will admit they worked a little better pre-children. But post-children, I'm not so sure.
The bible says "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." (Proverbs 16:9 NLT)
I love that first part of the scripture, but that second part gets me every time. Throughout my lifetime, I have experienced something called divine interruptions. They are best described as beautiful invitations from God, to interject my today for his tomorrow.
"Throughout my lifetime, I have experienced something called divine interruptions. They are best described as beautiful invitations from God, to interject my today for his tomorrow."
2019 marked a season of divine interruptions. Before I explain, there is something you should know about me, I am a calculated risk-taker. I will take some uncalculated risks, if absolutely necessary, but it doesn't come easily. Oddly enough, I am also very big on obedience. I believe it is the reason God calls me to take uncalculated risks. But in 2019 divine interruption and calculated risk met head on.
If I had to choose one thing from my, “I will do anything except..." list, I’d select hosting a conference. I previously hosted a conference and it took so much work and energy. Adding Event Host to my resume was not appealing or necessary for me. After the first one ended, I checked it off my obedience list and moved on planning life as usual with the intent to never do that again.
But one day, I felt this nudge to plan another conference. The first few times, I brushed it off. My life was already hectic, events take a lot of work and I simply wasn't qualified to do this. However, the feeling wouldn't go away. The whisper that ‘the world needed a message I was carrying, which would start with a conference’ lingered in my heart.
Let me admit, although I am obedient, it's not always immediately. Especially when the thing God asked me to do was something he knows I don't want to do.
"Although I am obedient, it's not always immediately. Especially when the thing God asked me to do was something he knows I don't want to do."
A few weeks into this idea, I went to a friend's conference. As we sat at the table for the pre-dinner, the conversation from the volunteers centered around how this conference started with just 40 women in a local library. Although there were about 200 people at the time, it started small. That had to be my sign. God wasn't telling me to start this huge conference, I could start small.
So I agreed in my heart to do the conference with the expectation that there would be about 40 people.
Flyers were created, speakers found, and a library location booked. The final step was to make an Eventbrite page that connected to a Facebook event. Once that was done, I waited. And waited. Until it didn't make sense for me to wait any longer and I finally hit publish. My heart felt like it sank into my stomach as the event went out into the world.
Obedience, check!
Somehow I forgot, God works in multiplication!
Each day I would wake up to new event sign-ups. People who I'd never seen were registering. I was totally confused. Each day the numbers rose higher and higher and within the first 5 days, I was already over the 40 that WE had agreed to.
What was happening? Someone wasn't keeping their end of the bargain. I was terrified and overwhelmed. With each new click came a new level of fear and uncertainty.
What was I doing?
How could I give these people their money back?
This wasn't what I agreed to.
Eventually, registrations reached 150+ and I hit the sold-out button. I hadn't necessarily met capacity, but was at my emotional capacity. I took a few days to calm myself. Remembering that I was building the kingdom of God through this work and I couldn't let my fear get in the way. The event was titled I Can't Come Down, and the theme was Walking in Your Purpose and Assignment with Focus. I had to model what I was leading others to live.
"I was building the kingdom of God through this work and I couldn't let my fear get in the way. The event was titled I Can't Come Down, and the theme was Walking in Your Purpose and Assignment with Focus. I had to model what I was leading others to live."
The event was going to happen. So I'd better plan accordingly.
As I got closer to the day of the event, God brought everything together beautifully. Once I overcame my fear of rejection and committed to the call, he showed up in the most amazing ways. Vendors helped to cover the expenses, affordable options to cover some of the needs were presented, and he placed it on people's hearts to serve as volunteers.
As I stepped onto the stage that day and looked at the room full of women, I couldn't believe what God had done. He took my willingness and placed his super on my natural so that he could get the glory out of that great work.
"I couldn't believe what God had done. He took my willingness and placed his super on my natural so that he could get the glory out of that great work."
That single act of obedience and bravery became an entire movement that encourages women around the world. It was a soft launch for a worldwide ministry that helps women walk in their purpose and assignment with focus.
Friend, God's plans are so much greater than ours! And we get to live in the beauty of his good work each time we choose to be brave. So let's continue to build his kingdom as vessels he can use until he returns.
"God's plans are so much greater than ours! And we get to live in the beauty of his good work each time we choose to be brave. So let's continue to build his kingdom as vessels he can use until he returns."
Brave Woman Manifesto
Make sure to check back next week as another courageous Sister shares her story.
And by the way...
You are Brave!
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About Rachel
Rachel is a wife, mother, and Ohio native. As a writer, speaker, and brand mentor for writers. She has been featured nationally and internationally on television, podcast, radio, devotionals, and blogs. She has shared on platforms such as Family Life, TCT television, and Propel Sophia.
Rachel is the Founder of the I Can’t Come Down movement, host of Taking the Leap Podcast, and Co-founder of B4 Women. She is a former Huffington Post contributor, current Youversion and Moody Radio Cleveland Partner, and COMPEL Focus Group Leader.
Rachel is deeply devoted to serving God, loving and honoring her husband, and raising her children in a Godly home where they experience authenticity and learn to embrace their imperfections.
Connect with Rachel on her website Rachelgscott.com, as well as on Instagram.
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