Sometimes when God gives us instructions we think that we know what should logically be the next step but God is in control. Earlier this year I was obedient in resigning from my job to follow what I thought was a full time writing career. I had no idea what that phrase meant or understood how I would accomplish that goal. I left a job with a regular paycheck for no paycheck. I must have had faith like Abram when he left his home without knowing the next steps.
People who understood what I was doing on an intellectual level commented on my level of faith because they knew that I had bills. Truthfully, if it weren’t for the fact that I understood that I had to be obedient; I would have run back to that job. It’s been more than six months since I left and I still have not received a paycheck. I have had offers to write for free but didn’t see the value of simple exposure.
Admittedly, I wondered for a brief moment if God had told me to write but when I reread some of my favorite posts it reminded me that writing is a part of His plan for me. During this waiting period I considered helping God just like Sarah and Abraham did with their promised child. I wrote things that were outside of my comfort zone for the purpose of getting “noticed.” I considered writing a gossip blog or a soap box blog that focused on anything other than why my readers enjoy my work.
Although the pieces that I wrote may have gotten views, it is not the reason that my faithful readers join me on my journey. It is not why I choose to share my gift free or for desired pay. I want my readers to feel empowered, moved to action, or changed in some way when they finish reading whatever I have shared. That is exactly what inspired my post from two weeks ago. Just because I can write about certain topics does not mean that God intended for me to use my gift for that purpose. That is not me.
My pastor said to the congregation at the end of the service on Sunday that some of you may need to take a different perspective on what you are doing. He used the illustration of one of the disciples who was fishing on one side of the boat that caught nothing. Jesus told him to change sides of the boat. He was reluctant at first but in the end was obedient. It was not until he changed direction on the boat did he catch a net full of fish. Do you need to change direction? I know that I do.
Out of everything that I heard that day, that message stuck with me. I haven’t caught any fish since I left my job but I also didn’t change my perspective about how to catch them either. I was stuck doing things the way I thought that I should to achieve my goal. My expectations along with my perspective had to change.
I decided last week, before I heard those words from my pastor that I needed to do something different if I wanted different results. My pastor’s words were confirmation of the actions that I took. I cannot explain why God chose this path for me any more than I can explain Sarah and Abraham’s long path to parenthood, David’s volatile path to kingship, or Jesus’ tumultuous path to promise and fulfilled prophecy. The only thing that I know for sure is that it is for His glory.
I don’t know what my next steps are but I know that I must trust God with all of my heart and not lean on my understanding. I understand that I have to acknowledge Him in all my ways and He shall direct my path. (ref. Proverbs 3:5-6)
Do you need to change your direction in your journey?
Just Another Day's Journey 