define epiphany

I just had one of those moments where my brain thinks "epiphany." Just to be sure that this is really what I was experiencing, I decided to look up the definition of epiphany. According to the Google Dictionary (oh, I always "google" it.. google being a verb, naturally), the definition of epiphany is "the sudden realization or comprehension of the larger essence of something." Why, yes, I would say that is EXACTLY what I just experienced.
In case you don't know too much about me, I'm a senior this year and will be headed to Auburn in the fall. My plan as of a few moments ago was to major in Nursing. I can't necessarily say I was 100% sure about that at any point in time, but I did spend major (whoops...pun intended) amounts of time praying about whether or not this was God's plan for my life. I love helping people, and I feel like I would really enjoy getting to help people get well. But I also have many other traits and interests that have influenced my thoughts about majors in the past, but I kind of decided to do away with. For instance, I LOVE English. Seriously. Anyone who knows me well can back me up that I am a book worm, a spelling and grammar freak, and enjoy writing (for the most part...I'm not going to lie and say that I've enjoyed EVERY paper I've had to write for school). So a while back, I had considered majoring in English. I think I began to consider what a major in English would lead to in a career and all I could think of was an English teacher. And I just really can't see myself being an English teacher. I don't enjoy speaking in front of people unless I REALLY know them and I don't know that I'd ever feel comfortable actually teaching classes. I mean maybe that is something to still consider, I don't know. But as I was sitting here a few moments ago, reading a short story for my AP Literature class, I was making notes in the margins of the story and I stopped for a moment. I realized something. I really love doing this. I love reading a story, looking for the deeper meaning, making notes about the possibilities of what the author could be trying to tell the reader, all of it. It's something that I could see myself doing. I immediately stopped and began to pray that God would give me the wisdom to realize whether or not this was really something I needed to reconsider. I will still be praying about this for a while (probably until I graduate college...and I would be happy if you would pray for me as well) because I want to be sure that whatever I do...college major, career, life goals...always has God's will at the center. Always.
So what if I'm one of those people who changes majors in college (which I never wanted to be). If that's what God wants for me, so that I can learn why He doesn't want me to do one thing and why He does want me to do another, then I am completely alright with that.
I just wanted to share this because I feel like often times a really small thought can become an epiphany moment if you allowed God to really lay some thoughts on your heart. If you would just pause and listen. So I hope this is an encouragement to you that God can speak to you, even (and especially) when you're not expecting it. And if you just take a moment to listen, it can change your life.

*"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does....Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:6-8,12*

Grace and Peace.