Should Have Been

June 5, 2025

From Jackie Payne

Today has been an exciting day in the Payne household. Lucas got his official acceptance letter from Georgia-Cumberland Academy, and we are all smiles!! As I’ve been praying for the last several months for all the things to fall into place if God wanted Lucas at GCA, He has reminded me step by step to keep praying and to follow Him. And as Greg and I were looking at our finances and trying to figure things out, we were reminded about how much we’ve sacrificed to keep our kids in a place where we feel God has called them to be.

Following Him isn’t always easy; actually, it’s rarely easy. Doing what He wants is often against what we naturally want to do and sometimes doesn’t make sense.

As I’ve been reading through the Bible this year, I am reminded how much of what happened was opposite of what was wanted or what it should have been.

Jonathan should have been king next. David’s older brothers, any of them, should have been anointed as the next king over their baby brother. Solomon’s oldest brother should have been king next.

There were a lot of should haves that didn’t happen because God’s way is not our way. And when we don’t lean into His way and we push our own agenda, thinking that we understand better or what we want is best, things don’t usually turn out so great for us.

So, what is God calling you to lean into today? What is He asking you to sacrifice today, big or small, to turn your thinking upside down? How can His name be glorified with your sacrifice of time, habits, money, comfort or thoughts? May He remind you today that His way is better…it always is.