There is this beautiful space of honesty, clarity and belief we are someone of value. It’s called vulnerability. Somewhere in the middle of trying to be someone we are not and finding the gumption to be who we really are is where our desire for obscurity meets the craving to be known. This unknown middle blooms into a place of prominence when we open our hearts and let our vulnerability spill out. In the act of opening wide, we make room for God’s faithfulness. We honor God when we make space for Him in our lives.
This past weekend I found that sitting in the middle would keep me stagnant. The unknown middle was not where God was calling me. Instead, I had a beautiful opportunity to embrace the chance to be known. I took this chance and the result made room for God’s faithfulness to intertwine with my own.
I spoke at a women’s retreat about brave faith. A journey I began walking in earnest several years ago, but one that continues to unfold in this place of opening up emotionally. As I prepared for the weekend, God assured me that He would fill in any of the gaps. Preparation was slow and as an outline emerged details were not following suit. I sat in prayer wondering if my first speaking opportunity would also be my last. As a planner, I wasn’t sure if there was enough material to fill Friday evening as well as Saturday morning. But God entered my prayers and spoke peace over me. A gentle whisper of letting go of my fears and getting out of the way. A chance to let God do what He does best and believe that He will give me more than I ever imagined.
[Tweet “Reveal your messiness, make space for God and He will give you more than you imagined. “]
I found myself opening my heart to God’s possibilities and trusting in His promises to seek the best for me. I made myself small so He could show up big and that is exactly what happened. The more I opened my heart, exposing the real me-broken and messy, the more the women opened their hearts to God and each other. The succession of one story of God’s redemption led to multiple stories. The women began to show each other the power of God’s faithfulness through their vulnerability.
I said “yes” to speaking this past weekend but if you have been part of my journey in anyway this past year, you know multiple “yeses” led me to this women’s retreat. God’s faithfulness showed up in the power of a series of “yeses”. Each one depended on the one before and the bookmark saving the pages of this chapter was only possible because of God.
God took each “yes” as a sign of readiness. As I honored His call for me, He came alongside with strength, love and His undeserving provision.
To all the women of Dayspring Church who joined me last weekend, thank you! The weekend was a beautiful gift of God’s faithfulness and an important part of my own brave journey. To all of my faithful readers, thank you! Your willingness to walk with me even when the path looks like it is going nowhere is a gift of friendship.
Together we are stronger and with God the way is always clear when we ask Him to walk this journey with us.
Walking bravely one step at a time!
Linking today with:
and Dawn for Grace Moments
I love what God is doing in and through you Mary. I’ve witness you blossoming in this space, growing as a writer and influencing others. I am so proud of you.
Your words mean so much to me. I love how you have encouraged and guided me in this online writing world. Thank you for being my mentor and cheerleader. Love you Barbie!
I’m so proud of you, friend! Thankful to God and all He did through you – what an amazing testimony!
Thank you June! God is so good to us and I am humbled how one “yes” brings so much fruit. I was blown away the retreat weekend in a good way. I hope you have a beautiful Sabbath.
I’m so glad you didn’t shrink back from what God was calling you to, Mary. And because of it, not only you, but other women were blessed as well! All to God’s glory.
I am glad I didn’t shrink back either. God taught me so much but the lessons he had for me could only happen when I said “yes” and then moved out of the way for God to do what He does best. Blessings on your Sabbath!
Thanks for letting us know what God did through you! I was praying, friend …
Sure! I appreciate how you check in and have faithfully encouraged me throughout this journey. Blessings on your weekend friend!
Hi Mary! Oh my gosh, I’m so proud of you! It’s awesome that you were able to share your story and your encouragement with others. I bet they loved you too. How did you feel when you were done?
I hope this opens the door to many more opportunities to speak and encourage. Just keep those ‘yeses’ coming 🙂
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil!
I felt great after the retreat. I was in awe of how God works and faithfully steps in with what we need when we need it. I am praying that God will continue to use me in this way and bless those around me. Thank you for affirming this for me and for walking this journey with me.
I’m sure you did an awesome job speaking, Mary. May God continue to bless your courage. It’s hard to step out and be brave, but thankfully God shows up every time we do.
Thank you Lisa! God shows up big when we step out of the way and let Him do what He does best. I am grateful for your encouragement and even more so that God chooses us over and over again to do His work. Blessings on your weekend.
Way to go Mary! I love speaking at retreats, it’s such a treat to do so and I am sure that you were an encouragement to the women around you. Way to go being brave and trusting in the Lord. He is always faithful! 🙂
I love knowing that you speak at retreats. It was an experience I would love to do again. As for being brave-well that’s all God. Blessed you joined me today.
You go, girl! I know that must’ve been scary, but you know what they say . . . courage isn’t the absence of fear but the belief that something is more important than fear! Your words of encouragement straight from God not only encouraged those women to be brave, but it seems to have given you greater courage as well. Hugs and cheers!
It is interesting to know that it wasn’t as scary as I imagined. God guided me and provided for me throughout the preparation and the retreat itself. God was so good to honor my “yes” with His beautiful provision. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit works through you and in you. Thank you for always encouraging me and cheering me on.
Mary, Thank you for sharing your experience and experiences with such grace and humility.
I can see how the Lord is blessing you abundantly through your obedience.
Thanks for sharing this edifying post.
Blessings,
Thank you Karen! There are times that walking in obedience seems so easy and others times it is difficult. I am learning when I get out of the way and let God do what He does best, my faith is strengthened. Your encouragement has blessed me today. I pray you have a wonderful weekend.
Well done! I’m so glad you saw God’s faithfulness as you stepped out in faith. It takes a lot of courage to keep saying yes, especially when we’re called to come out of our comfort zone, but I love that as we do, God can fill in the gaps and work through us.
Your words are such a beautiful gift today. God loves to show us His faithfulness but we have to be willing to say “yes”. I pray you have many brave moments in your life too, Lesley! God will show up to fill in the gaps with His amazing provision. Blessings!
Congratulations on taking such a brave step, Mary. I’m so happy for you and for the listeners. This really touches me – “The more I opened my heart, exposing the real me-broken and messy, the more the women opened their hearts to God and each other. ” Amazing. Blessings and hugs!
God showed up big at the retreat. My mind was officially blown at how good He is. I am only brave because of God and He is working hard on me to know that about myself. Thank you for cheering me on and for walking this brave journey with me.
Good for you! I’m so glad you let God fill the empty spaces. All too often we think we need to organize every moment and we forget that God just needs us to show up in a receptive mood so he can do the stuff he needs to do.
The beautiful thing is that God does fill in the empty spaces. I am learning that I need to get out of the way of myself and when I do God does what He does best. Thank you for cheering me on Anita! I love when you stop by.
Mary, I wish I could have heard you speak! 🙂 I love how, as you took one step of obedience, God opened doors for you to step through. And what a beautiful confirmation that He let you see how He worked in women’s hearts through your messages. I love that you said that brave yes!!
I wish you could have been there too, Jeanne. God has honored my “yeses” with more than I could have ever imagined. I realize that this past year has been a series of “yeses”. God loves how we step out of our comfort zones a little more each time we answer Him and then follow Him.
My retreat experience was amazing and I am looking forward to all God has planned for my future. I pray you find your own brave “yeses” and answer them with the faith and trust only God can provide.
Congratulations Mary! I’m guessing it was a mixture of nervousness and excitement to in that bravery where you experienced something new. I wonder at times if I am saying ‘yes’ to the right things. Your testimony of where your ‘yeses’ took you is inspiring! Thank you!
There was nervousness as I prepared for the retreat but once it started I felt God’s peace. I find it interesting that you wonder if you are saying “yes” to the right things. There are times I question that too but am learning that God seeks our “yeses”. The truth is that He will take it from there and either take you in the direction of that “yes” or close the door requiring another “yes”. There is power in saying “yes” to God because He is going to walk through the open doors with you. I love how you process out loud here. It always helps me too.
I know you experienced the blessing of a brave yes in the midst of speaking at the retreat. Our brave yes can open the way for God to work, both in our hearts, and in the hearts around us. Loved this post. Happily visiting from Testimony Tuesday. I’ll share your post and follow you on social media:) Have a great day.
What a treat to see you today! I know our paths have crossed before but not for a very long time. Thank you for seeing and understanding what my brave “yes” was like and affirming that today. I’m so glad you stopped by and appreciate you sharing these words.
I’ve loved watching this story unfold. In my opinion, speaking at a retreat is a huge confirmation of God’s working in your life to build bravery.
Thank you for speaking these words of truth into me, Michele. When I was first asked to speak back in March, I was in the middle of everything my dad was going through. The beautiful thing is seeing the power of God through it all as well as how His timing is always perfect. I would not have been able to speak in the way God was calling me to even week before I actually did.
Mary,
Yes: ” God’s faithfulness showed up in the power of a series of “yeses”. Each one depended on the one before and the bookmark saving the pages of this chapter was only possible because of God.”
So true. Congrats on being brave 🙂 and for allowing God to use you to bless the women at the retreat. Cheering for you 🙂
Thank you Dolly! God is in our “yeses” and loves nothing more than to show us what He can do when we stop to honor Him. I can hear the cheering over here so keep it up! 🙂
What a lovely story of faith and courage, Mary! You certainly live up to ‘brave’.
Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you Andrew! I think those times we don’t feel brave are when we actually are bravest of all. God has a way to redeeming and teaching us who we really are. Blessings and prayers!