I ❤️ this reminder…

We are not too old.

It’s not too late.

We haven’t missed our chance.  

Sure, we could have done it 20 years ago.

But that was then.

And this is now.

And the present time is perfect.

Make a difference.

Make a change.

Reignite your passions.

Plant your “trees.”

What option do you find yourself choosing most in any given moment?

Option 1: Stepping forward into growth

Option 2: Stepping back into safety

If you and I really want to live our best life it’s going to require getting uncomfortable. For some of us, myself included, that word alone can make us cringe. I can talk myself into taking a step forward into growth and just as quickly talk myself out of it. Can you relate? Sometimes I am my own worst enemy. What we tell ourselves has the potential to impact which option we choose, doesn’t it.

Some days it’s going to get messy. Stepping forward into growth rarely comes with a detailed road map for the journey. Rather, i’s usually full of uncertainty. Well, I take that back. There is one thing we can count on when we step forward into growth. Everything will not go according to plan. And there will be times when we feel like we are being pruned and broken down. But stepping forward into growth is where each of us will bear the best fruit and discover our purpose.

Is there a certain area of your life where you feel like you’ve been stepping back into safety? Are you willing to ask yourself why you’re refusing to take a step forward? If so, what are the reasons saying about your beliefs? What would it take for you to choose option 1 instead of option 2? Check out my answers to these questions in the comment section below.

Do you ever feel like you’re kind of a natural when it comes to getting in your way? It’s not anything I’m proud to be good at, but I’ve pretty much nailed it over the years. I’m a “doer” and I love making a list and getting stuff done so that I can check the box or run my highlighter over the tasks I wrote down. Let’s face it. A to-do list feels best when it’s done, right? It’s kind of like we’re saying to ourselves, “Look at me and all that I accomplished on my own today.”  

But what about those things, those situations, those outcomes you and I are desperately hoping and praying for that simply can’t be placed on a list and crossed off no matter how much action we try to take or how hard we insist on attempting to control the outcome? A lesson I’ve had to learn over and over again, and that I am in the midst of working through once again, is that we need to give God room to show himself faithful. And one of the most challenging things I’ve found in walking this out is that we must decrease and God must increase. In other words, we need to get out of our own way, so that God can show us THE way. We must remember that His way is guaranteed to lead to a more beautiful destination/outcome than our way. More of God and less of us. I know this can be a tough pill to swallow, especially for us “doers” who find great joy in seeing what we can do more of to make a difference.  God wants to use our circumstances to change as from the inside out. But He can’t do that critical inside work without our willingness and commitment to let go. He is faithful and He wants to show us this over and over and over again if we would just free up some space for Him.

Are you walking through a challenging season right now? Do you have more questions than answers? Is your hope tank almost empty? Are you wondering how much longer you’ll need to wait until some relief comes? Lean in, on, and toward others, and God, especially when reaching out is the last thing you may feel like doing. You matter. And people care and want to support and encourage you. Don’t hide behind phrases such as “it’s all good” and “I’m fine.” The mountain you see in front of you isn’t meant to be tackled on your own. By opening up your heart and being transparent with others, you’ll learn very quickly that you’re not alone in your struggles. Each of us have giants we are facing that seem impossible. We must remind ourselves that God is in control of every detail even when everything feels as though it’s coming unglued. We can’t forget that there’s something significant that God is trying to show us and/or teach us during the stormy seasons. He wants you and me to grow through what we go through. There is strength to be gained and faith to be stretched if we allow the journey to make us better, not bitter. And there’s no giant we’ll ever encounter that’s too big for God.