Closing Up Shop

I remember several months ago, my mom said that she watched a home renovation show on HGTV that she loved. She suggested I watch it knowing I love all things HGTV, but I also love whatever sleep I manage to stumble upon these days, so finding time to watch the show was not a huge priority.

One day, I happened to accidentally catch an episode of “Fixer Upper.” I was instantly addicted and am now moderately obsessed with all things Joanna Gaines and Magnolia Market. Everything about her is perfection. She can do no wrong. If she and Jen Hatmaker were to combine themselves into one person, I am convinced this would be the very best, most ideal version of myself. So ladies, if– by some great miracle of God– you are reading this, could we be besties? Because I sort of want to be your friend… in the least stalker-ish way possible, of course.

Most recently, social media is trending with Joanna’s personal backstory. Her show, her market, her brand have all exploded in the last year, but it’s sort of like she came out of no where. If you have not seen this video, do yourself a favor, take five minutes and watch it. I was moved to tears.

There are a few (few being a relative term…) things I love about Joanna and her story. First of all, I love that by watching her show, you are simply drawn to who she is. Drawn to the way she supports her husband, the way she mothers her kids, the way she prioritizes her family, the way she treats her clients with humble compassion, the way she walks boldly and confidently in her career. It just makes you sort of want to be her. Watching her story, you see that all of these things are a result of her faith. While the show really does little to exhibit the actual faith of the Gaines family, there is a light that shines that is clearly evident. Something that just makes you want to know more about who they are.

Friends, this is quite simply, in my opinion, one of the most effective forms of sharing the light of Jesus. When we reflect His character, people are drawn to who we are… which should be an example of who He is. This opens a door for us, creates a platform, and allows us to share His love with those around us.

The second thing I absolutely love about what Joanna shares is the way she talks about how freely she communicates with God. She shares with Him her fears, her doubts, her confidences and EXPECTS His reply. When we communicate in an attitude of expectation, there is no limit to the things we can hear from God, to the things we can sit back and watch Him do.

Lastly, do you know my favorite part of Joanna’s story? My absolute favorite part. It was when she said that she closed her shop. She CLOSED her shop. After years of dreaming, after years of planning, after finally working up the courage to step out and do what she felt God had called her to do, she closed shop. She probably wondered how she missed it. How could she have failed at what was surely her purpose? She likely wanted to doubt and be angry and feel embarrassed that it had all gone seemingly wrong. But God said trust. TRUST.

And look where she is today. It never ceases to amaze me the bigger picture that God has in store for us. It is beyond the reaching of my feeble understanding how God can intricately work every detail of our lives together for our good. But we must trust. If Joanna had tried to fight, tried to work it out on her own, tried to stay in for the sake of selfishness or pride, she might have truly missed it.

Sometimes, God asks us to do things that in the moment simply do not make sense. But don’t hesitate to close up shop. Don’t hesitate to trust in Him. Surely, His plans for you are great, His love for you is sure, and His promise to see you prosper will not return void…