GOD WANTS TO LEAD YOU

“A PRUDENT MAN GIVES THOUGHT TO HIS STEPS.”

Proverbs 14:15

When I get excited about something, I tend to jump into it. I throw caution to the wind and go for it. It isn’t until a couple days later that I pause and remember that I forgot to check in with God about the desires and the direction of my heart.

Like the time, I seriously considered auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. Yep, I seriously considered it. I choreographed a piece in my living room, practiced it…in my living room, and got all gung-ho at the thought of it. My heart was a ball of excitement, emotions, and stress! It was stressful to think about preparing for it. It was stressful to think about the “what if’s” if I actually made the cut…I was a young mom to a little one…how in the world would I leave little one at home so I could go and dance on live television. I didn’t really think things through. And I felt simply stressed inside. I didn’t tell anybody about my gung-ho dancing plans…I just went with it. But looking back, I remember feeling this uneasiness about it.

One month later, I was pregnant with my second son. I like to imagine God was smiling down on me thinking, “You thought you knew my plans for you…but my plans are far better than your plans….daughter, look to me. Daughter, rest from all your strategizing. Rest from all your rushing. Rest from all your planning.”

So as morning sickness took over, I let go of that desire to audition for So You Think You Can Dance, so grateful to have another precious little one in tow. :)

Do you ever find yourself stressed from jumping into things? The thing I am realizing is that it’s not the “things” that stress us out…a lot of times those “things” are new and exciting endeavors, leaps of faith that stretch us outside of our comfort zone. No, the stress comes from jumping before praying.

Jumping in before consulting the One who knows us best.

Jumping in before praying to the One who has our best interests in mind,

Jumping in before asking Him what He wants us to do.

Because more and more and more and more I learn again and again and again…

He knows our hearts. He knows our desires. He knows where He is trying to get us. And so He knows how to lead us. If we will just let Him lead. If we will check in with Him before we jump. If we will talk to Him before we step into new territory.

But this is where I get all hung up…

Sometimes I check in with God, I pray, and I ask for direction, and I still don’t know if it’s something He wants me to do. Sometimes I still feel unsure. Sometimes I still feel unclear. But I realize that stepping out in faith in something new after talking to God about it is different from jumping into something without asking for God’s guidance.

When we check in with Him first, then we can truly jump into something in faith.

Or after we check in with Him, He may show us it’s not something He wants us to jump into right now. And then we rest in that.

Either way, our hearts CAN be at peace as we navigate life and try new things because we have checked in with our Navigator. :)

This gets me today….sometimes the things we jump into without checking in with God may actually distract us from the things He wants us to focus on. So if you are contemplating a decision today, take it to the Lord. I don’t know what the answer is for you, but bring it to Him. Note the tasks He already has you doing, and ask yourself, “Am I pouring my best into those right now?” and “Am I jumping into something new out of impatience, out of discontentment, or out of truly feeling like this is what God wants me to do?”

I want to check in with God before I jump so that when I do jump, I jump full out.

I want to check in with God before I jump so that if He shows me it’s not for me, I stay right where I am with a peaceful heart.

Am I speaking anybody’s language today?

I would love to hear from you! sarahbethmarr@gmail.com or leave a comment.