Women at the Well: God's Work in 'Uneventful' Seasons
Editor’s Note: Women at the Well is an ongoing blog series. Each month, a different woman shares how God is meeting her in her current season of life. Today, we’re excited to have Ava Robicheaux joining us to talk about her walk with God as a young professional seeking to discern God’s voice while finding peace in the present moment.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your vocation, and normal daily routine.
Living as a young professional, even a single one, can be a hectic time. After the time I spent growing in my faith in college, I naively believed that pursuing my faith in the working world wouldn’t be too difficult of a transition.
Since then, I’ve learned a lot about myself, and the ways that I can make little sacrifices to make my faith more of a priority. These include waking up 30 minutes earlier to carve out intentional time to read a devotional, or meditate with the Bible and finding one day a week that I can spend time in adoration, or even attend daily mass (if I get extra lucky).
I’ve also been blessed to have a strong community of women close to my age that have a weekly Bible study. This has been the greatest gift for my faith to recognize that everyone struggles in their different seasons to grow in relationship with the Lord, but also to know that we are all cheering each other on and supporting one another on this walk with God.
If we look closely, we see the hand of God working in our lives. How is Jesus reaching out to you right now, in your current season of life?
Truthfully, I’m in a relatively uneventful season in terms of major life changes. In this time of settling into my current job and discerning my vocation, I’ve had a chance to go through past journals and see so clearly how God has answered my prayers, even from years ago.
In doing this, I am reminded that even when I think that “nothing is happening” in my current season, He is still working. It’s a solid reminder to pay more attention to the world around me, but also to slow down and take time to reflect more regularly on what is currently going on in my own life, so that in a few more years I can again take time to see what God was doing in this season.
What truths about yourself has the Lord been revealing in prayer? How does acknowledging these truths in your heart affect your vocation in life?
Lately, the Lord has been teaching me so much about mercy and compassion. He has shown me through some honest work in prayer that I have let bitterness become a stronger influence on my heart than I imagined. In light of that, I have had to humbly ask God to grant me the grace to let go of petty desires for my idea of justice.
Seeing Him work in my heart despite my own shortcomings with His perfect love and mercy has been so redeeming. It isn’t easy to lay my hurt down, but He makes me new and gives me a chance to try again and do better alongside Him with each new day. It’s a good reminder that as I go through my day, I’m trying to do my best, but so are the people around me.
How has encountering Jesus in prayer radically changed your life? What fruits do you see manifested in your day-to-day that flow from your encounters with Him?
I am a super emotional person. It’s the way the Lord made me, and I completely accept that reality. However, the Lord has had to help me in not letting my emotions be my guide. While what I’m feeling can still tell me something true about what is happening in my own heart, it speaks nothing of what others are thinking or feeling. The devil loves to step in with his lies to try to convince me that I am not worthy or that others are not what they seem.
Asking to receive His grace in those moments has helped me to take a step back when I feel overwhelmed by my own heart to see things clearly and rebuke the lies that the devil tries so hard to convince me of. In those moments now, I can draw nearer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus instead of pulling away. It helps me to honestly encounter others and choose how I show up in my daily life.
Mary Beth Keenan, @mb_keenan.15.
It can often be easy to fall into the trap of discontent in our specific vocations. What has been bringing you peace lately? Do you have any habits, hobbies, or self care practices which fill your heart with peace?
I love to pour myself into poetry, painting, music, or a good book. Those things help me to reconnect with myself away from screens, noise, and the need to people-please.
However, if inspiration isn’t striking or the Texas weather is having a rare good day, I love to take walks. I’ll put my phone on Do Not Disturb, leave my headphones at home, and enjoy the silence. If it’s nighttime, I make a point to look up at the sky and remind myself that God is so much bigger than I am. Sometimes I even speak aloud to Him, knowing that He is listening. Times that I can step away allow me to put everything into perspective and still my often restless heart.
What words of encouragement would you like to pass on to a sister facing the same choices and challenges as you?
As a young woman who has been single for several years, I know that it can be hard watching your friends get engaged, married, start families, or even discern religious life while your life stays relatively the same. It’s very easy to become cynical, get distracted, or start to see the world in a distorted way with social media influencing how we feel about ourselves or making us think we’re running out of time.
I want to encourage others like me to step away from the screen and keep pursuing the things you are passionate about. How can you reconnect to your younger self? What is one thing you’ve always told yourself you would do?
Is there a trip you’ve been meaning to take? A hobby you’ve wanted to learn?
Lean into who God created you to be, and trust in His perfect timing. You are His beloved daughter, and you’re doing just fine.
Meet Ava Robicheaux
Ava Robicheaux is a twenty-something born and raised in Dallas, Texas. As the oldest and only girl out of four younger brothers, she learned early on how to use her voice. When she isn't working as a public engagement coordinator, you can find her grabbing food with friends, reading a good book, jamming to music, planning her next adventure, or tripping over her roller skates. Ava currently volunteers with her local parish's high school ministry and loves to pray with praise and worship and a journal. You can find her @ava.writes.things or keep up with her blog.