Cole & Sav: Put God In The Center Of RelationshipsSample
God Has Great Plans for Your Life
Cole
Shortly after meeting Savannah and Everleigh, I sat on the beach alone, just trying to take it all in. Looking out at the waves rolling in, I felt incredibly blessed. I praised God and told Him how good He is. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was maybe some bigger purpose in God’s plan in bringing us to this place. “I’m listening, God,” I said. “Please show me.”
I don’t know how long I sat there, but there was no giant wave or shooting star or dancing dolphin or any other sign from God. Seeking a sign from God and drawing close to Him was nothing out of the ordinary for me. God has always been a part of my life. But after that, God started to use circumstances to show me He had a plan for me, Savannah, and Everleigh. Was it possible that God might have bigger plans than anything we could ever come up with?
As our relationship progressed and we announced we were officially dating, we continued our social media adventures by posting YouTube videos each week. I never thought anyone would care to watch my life, but I believe people watch because they genuinely want to see a good, wholesome, unique family. I don’t know why God picked us to have our little family get noticed, but since He did, I figured we should see how far it might go. We don’t just want to show people our family; we want them to see Jesus in our family. We want them to see what God is doing.
Savannah
For the longest time, I had prayed for a guy who would love and respect me and treat Everleigh as his own. By the time Cole and I had known each other only a couple of days, he was already being that guy. After he talked about being a virgin and making a commitment to God not to have sex until after marriage, I worried about what he might think of my past. But Cole made it so easy for me to share. He never made me feel guilty or like he was judging me. Instead he was supportive, and I felt better after I told him everything.
I felt like God was showing me, through Cole’s example, what I deserve—a sneak peek at what I had prayed for and what I was waiting for. I also saw that God could send me a godly guy who would not only love and respect me but who’d also treat Everleigh as his own and keep his promises. When Cole and I agreed to begin an exclusive relationship, I told my mom everything that had happened. I explained why I liked Cole, how he loved the Lord so much, and how I could see him completely changing my life. She started crying, and she reminded me that she’d been praying I’d meet a guy just like this and that I’d give him a chance.
Today when I tell my story, a lot of girls come up to me and tell me how my sharing helped them confess their pasts to God and receive His forgiveness. Do I wish I’d walked with God my whole life and not messed up? Of course. But God was able to take my mistakes and turn them into something beautiful. He gave me my incredible daughter, who helped me meet Cole. God loves us so much, and He is so amazing. He can take the things that we are ashamed of and use them for our good. Only God can do that!
Respond
What are you passionate about?
Who can pray with you as you ask God to use your passions for His plan for your life?
How can God use your story to help someone else see Jesus in you?
Scripture
About this Plan
When we allow God fully into our lives, He can turn our messes into something beautiful and unexpected—just like He did for YouTube stars Cole & Savannah LaBrant. In this 5-day devotional from Cole & Sav, explore God’s desire for a relationship with you and the importance of keeping God in the center of all your relationships.
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We would like to thank HarperCollins/Zondervan/Thomas Nelson for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://www.coleandsavbook.com/