I have been reflecting recently on “what’s next?”. The reality is that in a few short months my life will change when I retire from teaching. It has been a time to reflect on all that I have been blessed to do for the last thirty years and a time of looking forward to my sequel. These moments fill my time with flashes of former students’ faces, amazing parents who supported me along the way and the dedicated colleagues that it has been my honor to work side by side. It literally makes my heart beat wildly to think that I have been given the gift of time to move onto something even better in this next step. It is an awakening of my soul – stretched wide to embrace a sequel from God like no other.
The prospects are unclear but one thing that has been made perfectly clear is that “what’s next?” could very well be more challenging than teaching. The future is uncertain but full of rich possibilities. I was sharing with friends recently my deep fears for the next steps because there is not going to be anything easy about it. God has promised me a bright future, but with it comes a willingness to leap straight into God’s arms with no safety net to catch me if I fall.
[Tweet “Leaping into the arms of God is all the safety net we will ever need.”]
I read a quote from Tony Evans recently and it reminded me that there are times we need to leap before we look. With God there is a piece called faith that is integral to all our next steps. Stretching my wings to reach farther will require a faith that only God can provide.
I believe what we are seeking is the faith to let God work out His plan for us even when the world demands answers. The blessing is God’s got this every step of the way. We just need to spread our wings and leap!
As I have been reading God’s word recently, I am reminded in John 15 that we cannot produce fruit without remaining in God and He remaining in us. This sounds to me like my future will include some moments of leaping before looking as I faithfully follow God’s calling.
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:1-5 NLT
Last week as I reflected on What’s Next?, I learned that I don’t need to have the answer to that question. I just need to have time to lean in, listen and learn from God. This week I have added the layer of faith without sight. A scary venture until we realize that it’s okay to leap before looking when we are jumping into our Father’s arms.
I am always blessed when you join me here. Please know I pray for each of you as you walk through your week.
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
     
      
     
#DanceWithJesus linkup @susanbmead.com
The best leap is one into His loving arms. He’s got this, friend. I think of the song, {“Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness
And I also can’t help to think of how your 30 years as a teacher will continue to bless you over the years. How fun it was when I discovered one of my son’s grade school teachers attended me church!!
Much love to you,
Prayers lifted as you trust God in entering a new season.
Thank you for reminding me of the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness”- one of my all time favorites. Those words are the perfect anthem to trusting God and knowing that He is all we need. I love that I have been given the gift of time to follow harder after God and all He would like me to do. I always smile when you come to visit friend. Love and hugs!
How i needed to read this today to assure me that whatever huge decision I have to make, God will keep me safe. I’m so not comfortable with where I am today that I need to make a shift.
Thanks for reminding me that no matter where I go, God will be there to meet my needs. 🙂
Have a blessed week ahead!
I am so glad that these words blessed you and I am thankful to God that who speaks loudly enough sometimes for me to catch the lesson. I pray that you feel the strength to take the leap in your own life and know that God will be there to catch you no matter what. Have a blessed week!
Praise God that He orchestrates our endings and our new beginnings! If He has called us to go, He will direct and equip us for the journey.
Many blessings to you,
Laurie
Thank you dear Laurie! I love seeing you here at my place. I appreciate your words of encouragement and am looking forward to “what’s next?” Blessings!
Such beautiful words of truth, Mary: “Leaping into the arms of God is all the safety net we will ever need.” I am excited to hear how God continues to move in your life. : )
Blessed that you stopped by to share some encouragement Crystal! I was thrilled to meet someone new at #DanceWithJesus. Have a blessed weekend!
Praying for you as you make the leap in faith! God has wonderful plans for you (and I confess to being a teensy bit jealous that you’ll be retiring ;). This is one of those weeks when I wish I could retire!).
I understand your jealousy and it is quite all right. My team at school feels the same way. The struggles we feel some weeks in the classroom are real and wearing. I will pray that your school year moves forward successfully and without too much stress. Have a blessed weekend!
I needed to hear this, Mary! And I love the connection you’ve brought to light about doing what God has called/shown us to do already before He will reveal to us His plan. I recently have felt God urging me to deal with an area that I thought I’d already worked through, but I suppose there’s more to do before He moves me to the next step. But, with your inspiring voice, Mary, I feel like I can’t wait to take that “leap!” Hugs to you!
My words are as much for me as for others. I feel retirement coming close and it leaves me a little breathless with the opportunities as well as the fear of the unknown. I need to remind myself everyday that God’s got this from morning till night and everything in between. I will pray for you as you deal with the step God is calling you to right now. Happy weekend and lots of cyber hugs coming your way.
Amen Mary. May we be brave enough to take the leap. Wise enough to ask for prayer. And strong enough to know we need God to do it! Cheering this from Purposeful Faith’s #RaRalinkup. You teach us to go for it! Love it.
The key to your encouragement is remembering that we are strong enough to let go and let God. That will be a huge lesson for me as I move into the unknown. You are a gifted encourager and your heart for cheering others on is so appreciated. Thank you for blessing me and for providing such a beautiful place for bloggers to encourage each other.
Mary, this is especially real for me as I grow older and know not much that lies ahead (as if I ever did!). There is a fear that creeps to the surface and I must remind myself that God’s arms are out and strong and ready to hold me as I jump into whatever the next thing is. I retired and took on the full-time caregiving role. I then began tutoring children privately. Then Mom took a fall and I needed to slow down on some of those extracurricular activities like tutoring for about 4 years. I am back tutoring again as God just placed it on hold while I did what He called me to do for His daughter…my mother. Now He has given me three primary-aged children whom I love and who love me. They are learning and building confidence and doing what they need to be doing in school for the most part. I am learning to wait upon Him, but I have not always done that nor always will. But I want to.
May your change be built upon the Rock..He is higher and stronger and sweeter than any and all could ever be.
Visiting from Lisa’s.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Oops…I mean visiting from Jennifer’s.
🙂
I love your story and how you know that it is God’s arms that will catch us and walk us forward. I am sure that tutoring is very rewarding and I pray that this is a step forward for you. Thank you for the reminder that God is our rock and He is stronger and sweeter. Blessings my friend!
Mary – truly understand your feelings at this transition time in your life.
Each day we stand at the edge of the “unknown” but when our lives are more structured with daily routines, we don’t see that quite so clearly for what it is – the not knowing.
But God knows and has His plans in place and your next steps ( or leaps ) will be with Him and for Him and I am excited for what He is to bring.
A couple of years ago, I did what ended up being a 4 part reflection of postings on my blog after being retired for 20 years. None of what evolved over those years is what I could have ever known but upon reflection, it became more clear that God did.
If you have time, you may appreciate another’s journey which is different than what your’s will be but with the same faith in our God – who we both know and trust!
xo Lynn
http://lynn-severance.blogspot.com/2012/08/reflections-on-retirement-after-20.html
I love that we have this teacher connection. Discovering that has been a blessing as I begin my own journey of retirement. I will look into your story more because I know that it will be helpful to me. Thank you for your willingness to share this with me and to offer support. Blessings to you friend!
Glad to share, Mary – truly this transition time is for the good in our lives.
It just take a bit of time to look at the world through “new eyes” but God is faithful and always shows up – hands us a new pair of glasses!
L.
🙂
I love your posts as you anticipate retirement and this new season that God is leading you to! It encourages me as I seek employment and I love how you describe faith as leaping before you look. It is such soul-stirring hope!
Blessings,
Ruth 🙂
Your words bless me with a sense of peace and reassurance. Thank you for sharing them to encourage me along my new journey. Have a blessed weekend!
Mary what a beautiful post. This really speaks to my heart right now – over the weekend I had a picture of being on a cliff top and having to step out into what seemed like nothingness but I knew I would not fall. Even when we know God has us it can be hard to step into the unknown. I pray you will continue in faith and know his peace x
I love your picture of faith Tania-standing on a cliff with nothing surrounding you except for God! beautiful image for me to carry as I too will be stepping out into what seems like nothing but really it will be everything. Blessed you joined me here! Blessings for a wonderful weekend!
Although my job situation is different than your retirement I too am asking “What’s next?” The unknown and the waiting is so hard yet I am seeing His beauty and grace in it all. Thank you for sharing your heart with us all.
So good to see you Amy! I have been praying for you as you walk a walk that is hard and uncertain. I pray your “what’s next?” is better than you ever imagined it would be. Blessings friend!
Congrats on retiring from teaching…30 years…what an accomplishment! May God bless you as you move into the next season of life. A prayer for guidance for you!
I treasure your prayers Amy! As I move into my sequel, I pray that the butterflies don’t take over and the strength of God infuse me instead with all I need. Blessed you stopped by!
I know whatever you end up doing you will be following God’s lead, Mary. That is the woman you are. I love visiting you and seeing the beauty and strength of your faith. It is truly inspiring. I feel as if I’m at a crossroads myself, many endings and a few new beginnings. It can be a scary and exciting time all wrapped up into one :). Many blessings to you my sweet friend!
Life is full of endings and beginnings and I pray that yours lead you even closer to God. Thank you for the blessing of your encouragement and friendship. Love that you reach out and build up. Love you friend!