NEW
jo Crosby
If we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, my name is Devin Philbeck, and I have worked at Five Stones as the Office Administrator for over a year and a half now. Simultaneously, I have been pursuing a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Liberty University. I feel quite blessed to see what I am learning in play in John and Jo’s work. As we enter mid-May, I am stepping into a new role working in my Practicum. As I look to what is next, I have been putting much thought into new beginnings.
Often as we step into something new, there is much anticipation, excitement, and for many, fear. It’s weird to think about the fact that even good change can be hard, but it can. Whether it’s new marriage, new job, new school, or new baby, we are greeted with many congratulations. But for others, there is great fear as they step into this newness. Only those who have walked through it before us fully understand the difficult emotions that can come with something new.
As I step into this new role, I am scared. Scared of failure, scared of the unknown, scared of not managing time well, scared of not knowing the answers. But at the same time, I am excited, eager, and expectant of all the growth and goodness which God has in store.
What newness are you stepping into today?
What emotions do you feel as you step into this new space?
Where are you finding comfort in the midst of this newness?
How beautiful that we can hold both fear and excitement at the same time. How beautiful that we can fail and grow simultaneously. How sweet is our God that he sits in those mixed feelings with us. I encourage you to sit in those emotions with the Lord as you step into a new space, as I plan to do. And, let this lead you to sit in those emotions with someone else.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3, NIV
Devin Philbeck
