Written By: Tayler Burcham
What did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be a teacher until I worked with a classroom of 5-year-olds. Teachers are true heroes. Then I thought about being a Psychologist/counselor and owning a practice. I had quite the game plan: Finish school early, have no debt, be a practicing psychologist by mid/late twenties. Then at around 28, I would start thinking about marriage, and in my thirties, kids could come.
Well, at the ripe old age of 19, I met my husband. We had a rough year or two due to my lack of commitment. I thought if I settled down in a relationship, the plan I had set for my life couldn’t happen.
I have met so many military wives who are highly educated, who have dreams of their own. But because of the consequences of military marriage, things don’t always go according to plan. Maybe you dreamt of being a wife and mother, but having children has been difficult. Maybe you were a nurse, or a teacher, or worked for a corporation, or even had your own business, and then… military life happened.
I feel many of us have heard the phrase, “Well, you knew what you were marrying into.” That may be true, but can we be real? When my husband and I planned on having kids, we thought we knew what we were getting ourselves into, but you never really know until you are going through it. Deployments, moves, loneliness, children, schooling, life, finances: the list can go on. You don’t know until you are going through it.
God gave me a huge vision the same year my marriage completely crumbled. God, do you not see what is happening?!? How could I ever teach or speak when I am barely holding on in my own life? Do you ever question what God is doing with your life? Do you feel like your dreams are lost and you’ll never see them come into fruition? Do you feel like you chose a path that means you will always have to put your husband’s career first?
I had moments of thinking like this, but there was no way I was going to let go of the clear and direct vision God gave me. I clung to the promise He gave me. There were times it seemed the candle was so dim; it was going to go out at any second. Other times God’s grace and glory had my candle shining brighter than ever. For five years, I remained faithful as I grew in my walk, repairing my marriage, raising my kids, receiving training, and practicing in my gifting and schooling. I helped and started many groups for women and military wives.
Some days it seemed like I wasn’t doing much; all I was doing were small and insignificant tasks. And then, fast-forward to the end of last year, God lifted the gate and said, “Go! It’s time!” What?!? I’m not ready! Ahh… this is scary!!
God placed instrumental people in my life within the last ten years, who are now a part of the Women Soaring team. When Women Soaring began earlier this year, we all walked in blind faith toward the vision cast into my heart. It was amazing to see how God had developed each of us with gifts and strengths that made it possible to get Women Soaring launched. WOW! God has been orchestrating things for so long and weaving all of us together before we ever knew it.
So, if you feel like you don’t have a vision, or you lost sight of it, or that it’s just not possible in your circumstances, I challenge you to have focused prayer time about it with God. God has created every one of us for a purpose.
Dear God, I pray that You will reveal the purpose and plans for my life. That I will be faithful by taking each step and trusting You. I pray that You use me as You have chosen and designed. Keep my heart open, my ears listening, and a fire burning for You! Amen.
Written By: Tayler Cathrine
