April 11, 2018

Step Out In Faith

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. – Lamentations 3:21-25

I sometimes wish life was a straight path with clear instructions along the way. It would just be so much easier. Life isn’t that way at all. It is filled with peaks and valleys, twists and turns, joy and sorrow. And sometimes it all seems to happen at once.

Life comes with many options. Choices. It’s not just about right and wrong. Some things are black and white that way. But many choices aren’t so clear. Is one way really better than another? What is God’s plan? Does He even care which road we take?

A few years ago a sweet friend was offered a teaching job at the high school. She already had a wonderful job with great benefits and regular hours. Working at the high school, well, there’s no such thing as regular hours.

Administrators had noticed her because she moonlighted at the school as a sports trainer. The kids loved her and she loved them. Her face would light up when she talked about those teens. They were her heart.

But then there was that job. The secure job. The steady paycheck with good benefits. She said no to the school’s offer. And life continued on – until the next time the offer came. She finally gave in to the nudge of the Holy Spirit and accepted the job at the high school.

She loves it! The kids love her. Her students are among the top-ranked in the state. It’s a win-win for everyone. It’s a choice she resisted. It’s a road she almost didn’t take.

Was there anything wrong with her other job? Absolutely not. She could have stayed on that path and, likely, occasionally touched lives with her faith and her abilities. But, oh, the lives she is changing now! Teens respond to those who genuinely care for them. We all do, really. And it has made all the difference. She has made all the difference.

I don’t know where God is leading you. I don’t know if the Holy Spirit is nudging you out of your comfort zone, to a place you never thought to go. Pay attention. There’s nothing wrong with steady and true – except when God is calling you to so much more. The LORD is good to those who seek Him and depend on Him. His love never ends. If He’s calling you to something more, listen. He could have so much more planned for you if you will only trust Him enough to take a chance.