Life is changing-
an ending of a career,
a passion fulfilled for 30 years,
a sense of accomplishment all coming together into one word-retirement.
It is the end of 30 years of teaching but the beginning of a new normal with multiple possibilities.
As I have begun the downhill slide to June 5, when my teaching career will be officially over, I have been asked multiple times “what’s next?”. Well meaning coworkers, friends and family feel obligated to ask the question, which feels like the obligatory elephant in the room to me. I mumble some coherent words and inside hope they don’t question me further. So far my plan has worked and the questioner has left satisfied or so I think!
“What’s next?” has felt like a sucker punch to my gut and sometimes has left me breathless and sweaty. Yes, I am exaggerating a little, but overall I feel pressured to have an answer – the answer! Let me assure you, I do not have any answers for “what’s next” in June and in the last several weeks, God has gently reminded me that I don’t need to have the answers because He does. He is calling me to allow Him to fill my uncertainty with His truths. God’s sweet whispers of promise speak to my unknowing and provide a peace in what the future will hold. All He asks is that I gift Him with my time – the time to be still, to listen and to be open to His possibilities. God is stepping in with His answers and giving me a choice in how to proceed. So the question becomes…
When God steps into our lives, do we step around or step into His arms laden with all the possibilities that He has planned for us?
[Tweet “How will you respond when God steps in laden with possibilities for your life?”]
I am in a season of busyness, of the last of many firsts, a race to finish well the work that was begun thirty years ago. In the middle of all of it, God beckons me to look within myself to better prepare for the future. Worldly busyness is not God’s concern-heart business is His specialty. The answer is intentional time set aside each day just for God. Time to lean in, listen and learn. Time for the reading of His word and embracing His truths. That is the answer to the question-“what’s next?”
[Tweet “Worldly busyness is not God’s concern. Heart business is His specialty.”]
So I turn to God in silence and prayer and find these words on my lips…
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:4-5 NLTYet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 NLT
If you stop me and ask me now “what’s next?”, chances are you will get a smile and a knowing look along with “God’s working on it”.
Praying for all that we follow God’s lead and let Him decide in His time the plans for our future.
Blessings,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
#DancewithJesus linkup @ susanbmead.com
CLICK your heels, honey! I retired 2.5 years ago and I call it FREEDOM! May God make sure you love and cherish every moment He gives you…to relish TIME to spend with others, to do what He would have you do, to spend with someone, to do something you have longed to do.
SO, click those heels together in delight and EXPECT BLESSINGS! That’s what I received…
Thanks for joining the dance this week, Gayl, see you Friday.
Now I definitely can’t wait for retirement after you spoke so highly of it. I truly believe that my sequel is going to be amazing. I feel God’s Hands will be all over it. Thank you for blessing me with your encouragement and for hosting such a beautiful linkup!
“If you stop me and ask me now “what’s next?”, chances are you will get a smile and a knowing look along with “God’s working on it”.” I love this! It brought a smile to my face. You don’t have to know what is the next step. Take it a day at a time. Think about what dreams you have and what God may be calling you to. It may even be a time of rest and exploration of different things…. Have fun! Stopping by from #DanceWithJesus. Thanks for commenting on my blog 🙂
I am excited and nervous about the future but I know God’s got this. I think the scary part will be all that God asks me to do. So glad you stopped by Gayl! Have a beautiful weekend!
I’m learning to kindof love that we don’t need to have that answers but that we can instead lean in and trust in Him . . . the One who does has the answers and the One who only has good plans for us. A sigh of relief.
Praying for you as you prepare to enter a new season.
Much love.
xoxo
I love watching how you have stepped back to let God lead the way. Your journey has been an inspiration for mine. It is also very freeing that this is God’s plan and He can take care of the details and we do not need to worry ourselves with them.
I loved seeing the joyful reunion of your family. What a blessing! So glad you stopped by! Have a beautiful weekend!
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Mary – God’s plans will be filled with joy, grace and love!
Can’t wait to watch them unfold.
Love,
Karen
Thank you Karen! It is so exciting to know that the time is there and that it is God’s time for me to shine! I am so glad that you will be part of this journey with me! Happy weekend friend! Love you!
I hear you. When my last child graduated from our homeschool, everyone asked me “What’s next?” too. And I didn’t have “the” answer either. But that was two years ago, and what’s next seems to change weekly. 🙂 It’s been a glorious adventure of walking one day at a time with God to see what surprises he has in store for that day. Praying you have the freedom to not have to answer “what’s next”. 🙂
Lisa-I love that your last two years have been an adventure. I am looking forward to the surprises along the way and the glorious unfolding of all God has planned. I feel like this time of my life is even more important than the first half! Blessed you stopped by. Have a beautiful weekend!
So excited for you! I just know God is up to something fantastic! And perhaps there will be scrapbooking involved. :>)
Cheryl-I love your positive attitude! Yes, I know great things are on the horizon and God and His humor might throw time in there for scrapbooking too! Love you girl! Happy Weekend!
“Show me the right path, O Lord;”…beautiful prayer, beautiful release. I love how you’re trusting the Lord with life. There’s nothing sweeter. Visiting from #TellHisStory, and boy, am I glad. You’ve written an encouraging post. 🙂
Thank you Kristi! I’m glad this post blessed you and I pray that we all continue to feel God’s strength in our journeys whether we are on the same path or the path is changing. Blessings!
I love this. God doesn’t call us to have it all worked out he calls us to work it out through him – according to his timing. Cheering you from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith. Keep sharing your stories; ur words speak grace.
Your words speak encouragement into my heart and for that I am grateful. I love how God calls us to step back and let Him do what He does best. Blessed you are here and thankful you heard my heart.
Mary, my heart reaches out to yours as I am in the ‘what next’ too. I am in a period of waiting for a wound to heal and have been at a place of unemployment for many months. Your blog post answers some of my own questions – namely ‘what next?’ Thank you for sharing your heart 🙂 Blessings and praise God for His perfect plan and timing! May we always seek Him fully and surrender it all to Him!
Praying with you in your season of finding that next step. I am also praying that we can all seek God fully and say “yes” when He calls and asks if we are ready. Blessings to you in your journey and thank you for encouraging me in my own!
“God has gently reminded me that I don’t need to have the answers because He does. He is calling me to allow Him to fill my uncertainty with His truths.” Yes! We don’t always know what’s up ahead (most often we don’t ), but we can rest assured that God has a perfect plan for our lives and knows the end from the beginning. Enjoy these last few months of teaching and know the lives that have been impacted by you!
I am trying to let those students’ lives be my main focus. The politics of education threatens to interfere with what I am truly supposed to do which is to teach. Thank you for the reminder today. God does have the perfect plan and I can’t wait to see what is next. I love your encouragement and words that say exactly what I need to hear. Love you friend!
Blessings on your next steps, Mary. I hope you’ll enjoy your last semester teaching, and that you can hear Jesus’ voice: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Knowing what’s ahead on the path is not near as important as staying close by our Shepherd. He leads us on the path He has.
Your words are so precious to me and my journey. Thank you for reminding me that staying close to God is what it’s all about and that I need to embrace each day and do my best for my students for this last half of the year. I pray that on those days when I am totally freaking out (I do have those in between) I remember your words and take a deep breath. Blessings to you too!
God has me here too:
“He is calling me to allow Him to fill my uncertainty with His truths. ”
If we could only stay in that place, no matter our circumstances, we’d be better off for sure!
Praying for you as you head into this new season!
Thank you for the prayers,friend! I am trying to rest in God’s truth and let everything else unfold as He plans but there are times that uncertainty gets the best of me. I appreciate you and your continual seeking of the truth. Love you friend!
What a beautiful post: “If you stop me and ask me now “what’s next?”, chances are you will get a smile and a knowing look along with “God’s working on it”.” I love that! Thanks for your encouragement today on #raralinkup and #testimonytuesday. Have a great day!
Blessed you stopped by here Kim! Isn’t it freeing to know that God is in charge and we just need to be ready and say “yes”? Scary, perhaps, but exciting for sure! Have a blessed end to your week!
Sounds like the answer I often give for my “what’s next.” I know God’s calling me to something new, but trying to let His plan unfold instead of forging ahead and trying to make a plan myself. Letting God work it out within me – and line up the pieces I know He’s aligning to make the next step possible. Blessings to you in this transition – as you close a chapter and prepare to open a new one.
I believe that we are truly seeking is the faith to let God work out His plan in us but the world demands answers. I appreciate your prayers as I journey forward to the new, exciting and rather scary future. The blessing is that God’s got this every step of the way. I love when you stop by Kathryn! 🙂