Proverbs 16:9 “ The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
When I was growing up I used to fret about what to be, or which next step to take. There were so many choices in the world. What if I picked the wrong one?! In my youth, I cried out to the Lord, “What do you want me to do? Who have you created me to be??”
His answer was simple, “Pick a path; the choice is up to you. I’ve given you many gifts. You choose which ones to use for now and the ones to save for later. Just pick one! There is no right or wrong choice. There’s only learning and purpose in the journey.”
I find solace in that simple answer – JUST PICK ONE. If plans change or circumstances are different, I can redirect and choose again. We are created as complex and intricate beings. Each one of us is multi-faceted and incredibly gifted. How we use those gifts for our Creator is our daily offering. Our highest calling is to worship the One Who Made Us, our gifts for His glory. He has a plan.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
CURVEBALL
In the midst of our packing, purging, planning, and preparations, angst began to settle in where excitement once resided. I excused these feelings as a normal part of the process of letting go – the bubble we created was comfortable. Much time, thought, prayer, and contemplation went into creating this safe and cozy life. It’s only normal to have big feelings about leaving our sheltered home for a new land.
Unbeknownst to any of us, the feelings were mutual. In a span of a week, the Lord spoke to all of us – my husband, my grown sons and daughter, and myself. His words were the same. We must WAIT.
What?! WAIT?!! We’re packing and purging. We’re sprucing and fixing our home to sell. We’re looking at new homes to move into. Now, we’re waiting??
Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”
Enter more BIG feelings. I didn’t want to wait. I was ready to GO. Struggle and discontentment settled in. The Lord used the voice of my dear sister to pierce my heart like a beam of sunlight escaping the cover of darkness, “Congratulations! Obviously you are directed to a slightly different path. You must still have great work to do right where you’re at.”
HUH?
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
WOW!
Congratulations wasn’t what I was experiencing. I was feeling stagnant, discouraged, maybe even a little irritated. I felt as if the rug had been ripped out from under me and my sight was muddled. What an amazing gift to have it refocused for me, to discover beauty in the pivot. It was a detour to our feet on the path, a shift of attitude, a redirection of purpose. I’m incredibly grateful to her for reminding me that every season under God is a reason to celebrate His providence.
Isaiah 40:31 “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
So, we stopped. We stopped packing and preparing. We’re still purging because that’s always a good idea and a hard one for me. We rested for a bit to catch our breaths and to refocus our minds. Wherever we are, we’re ALL IN. If the Lord keeps us planted, we’ll bloom right here. If He moves us, we’ll pick up our feet and move. He has a plan for our lives. We will wait on Him.
Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Life as we know it will carry on as usual. We’ll pick up our batons and run the race set before us. Our move is not off the table. The Lord didn’t say no, He said wait. We’re seeking Him and His perfect plan. Nevertheless, we have hope for future adventures. Until He sends us, we’ll settle in where He’s placed us. There’s still work here yet to do. In the meantime, we’re waiting well.
Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.”
