I fought God on this one. What do I know about the future? I sat quietly and wished for a different word to write about. Nothing but blank thoughts crossed my mind. Instead the word “future” looped on repeat.
As I gather my thoughts to share, I know without hesitation that God holds my future. When I try to control the outcome, I make a mess of it. If I let go of the details to God, things fall into place as beautifully as pieces of a puzzle.
I am in a season of moving forward. If I dwell too long on what this looks like, you may find me curled up in a ball in a corner. The trick is to stay steady and keep your eyes focused. Sounds easy, right?
The next few months will bring many changes to my relatively peaceful, retired life. A move across town to a new neighborhood. Selling my home that I have lived in for eleven years. Investing in my church community as an act of obedience. Saying “yes” to ministering to women by surrounding them with encouragement, vulnerability and authenticity. Letting go of my identity as a single mom and instead grasping a new identity from God – encourager, minister, disciple, leader and whatever else comes my way.
[Tweet “Being a future thinker is not for the faint of heart. You need steadfastness &perseverance.”]
Being a future thinker is not for the faint of heart. It requires steadfastness, trust, and perseverance. When God began to unfold His plan for me, I found myself giddy with excitement. As reality set in I experienced anxiousness and uncertainty. Questions came fast and furious. Am I equipped? Will I be enough for the role God is creating for me? How will I handle the ups and downs that are sure to happen? Will I persevere and know that God always provides?
Whew! it’s a good thing I’m not stopping with the questions. God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan and a future for us. In Psalm 139, we are reminded that all are days were ordained in the story He has written for each of us even before we were born. And Paul shares this in Romans 8:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
I can reach for my future when I allow God to take my hand and lead the way. When I grasp these principles I am better equipped for the bumpy ride ahead.
Setting your stakes on future possibilities brings success when you keep your eyes focused on God.
Future thinking involves looking forward and letting go of the regrets of the past.
Believing in God strengthens your belief in yourself as you strive to fulfill the purpose God has written for you.
Your future is secure when your hope rests in God and the beautiful story He has written for you.
Our future has always been part of God’s beautiful plan. He lovingly created every hill and valley, nook and cranny along the way. God adores our yeses and works with us to create purpose, achieve goals and reach for the future.
I pray you take sometime to face the hard work of reaching for your own future. Scatter a few yeses in between and watch what God does. Hold fast to His promises and the hope of all He has in store for you.
***As an aside, it just so happens that “future” is the prompt for the Five Minute Friday weekly gathering of writers. When I heard what the prompt was going to be, I could not shake the thought I needed to write about my future. The usual drill when writing one of these posts is to set a timer for five minutes. I went way beyond five minutes and then some. I am sharing this post with the Five Minute Friday community as well as all of you. Please extend grace since I did not follow the rules this week! 🙂
Sabbath Blessings,
To find out more about the Five Minute Friday community, click here.
God has got your future, Mary! And it’s a bright one! Thanks for sharing about your journey and encouraging the rest of us to never give up on trusting God and pursuing our passion for Him as well.
Sounds exciting, and scary, Mary! A good opportunity for you to exhibit brave faith! and share it with all of us! Praying for you as you obey His call, my friend!
How exciting! God has big plans for you, Mary. It’s wonderful that you are receptive to his voice and to obeying. May he bless you richly in the months and years to come as you walk out this new calling! I know you’ll bless everyone in your path.
Thank you for this sweet affirmation. I am blessed by this community who knows me well and who continues to cheer me on. Blessings on your week.
Oh friend, this post spoke straight to my heart and soul. So much THIS: “I pray you take sometime to face the hard work of reaching for your own future. Scatter a few yeses in between and watch what God does. Hold fast to His promises and the hope of all He has in store for you.” Praying for us both. I’m in the 96 spot this week.
Whew! Those are powerful words aren’t they. I was preaching to myself because my desire is that my heart is open to saying “yes” to God even when it’s hard. I am praying that you open wide to all God has next for you.
Yes your future in secure when your hope is in God. I know I can struggle with what God sees as prospering and what I see what is prospering. He’s been working on my in this! It continues to be an act of surrender, trust, and taking those steps. You’re taking those steps, Mary, quite physically even with a move across town, and a new way of defining your titles, so to speak. Those are prospering steps, I’d say!
I am nothing without hope in God. He loves to take our yeses, tweak them and make them His own. I am working to honor God in how and where I live. I still have days filled with doubt but then God shows up and reminds me it is all good. I know you are reaching for the next step. I will be praying for you too.
Mary,
I have loved seeing how God is unfolding things for you. You seem to have your eyes firmly focused on the future, with the faithfulness of God in your rear view mirror. Thank you for the reminder that if God calls us to it, He will give us the grace to follow through. Can’t wait to hear your tales of success…and glory being brought to God!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you for always encouraging me. I am so glad I chose today to respond to your comment. Reading your words again helped me as some doubts crept in today. God hasn’t gone anywhere and He is guiding the process. I just don’t see the end as clearly as He always does. I appreciate your willingness to cheer me on.
Loved this, Mary! Thank you so much for sharing your heart. It’s so true that God always makes the pieces come together, even when we can’t see how or when it will happen. I so appreciate your testimony and example, and look forward to hearing how the Lord continues to guide you on this journey of obedience!
I love how this community cheers each other on through the good and the bad. The fact that I can share more openly is all because of God doing a new thing. Writing has helped me to heal, understand God more deeply and create a safe place where people gather. I love that you are here to recognize how the Lord is working in me. Thank you sweet friend!
So glad that you burst through the time boundaries this week — and it sounds as if some other boundaries are going to be stretched as well! Can’t wait to read about it as it all unfolds.
Ha! Ha! I guess I’m glad I took more time too to write these words but I did not officially follow the five minute Friday rules! I am looking forward to stretching boundaries and am excited about new beginnings. God is just beginning to do more in me and I can’t wait to see what this will look like. Blessed you stopped by even after such a busy weekend.
Mary,
Extending prayers as you move into this new endeavor and a new home. I may not comment often, but know I feel our friendship remains intact through your words. Lynne
I love that we taught together and still have a connection of friendship. I appreciate your prayers and know that God is blessed that I am making this new start. I am praying for you too. I saw you are recovering from foot surgery. Love you friend!