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May 20, 2019
Tiny Steps of Faith |
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
Ever feel like you’re the only one with “unfigured-out” dreams? As if you’ll never figure out God’s plan or what you’re supposed to do with your life?
I’ve been there, sister.
According to my degree, I “should” be working in insurance or managing a hospital.
I’m sure that would be a fine career path, but I ended up with a very different career than I had planned.
Everything I do now began in a discouraging moment in college. After interviewing for a job in health insurance, I realized I wasn’t sure if that was the right path for me. Suddenly, I had zero peace about pursuing a degree in health administration.
Unfortunately, I only had two semesters left, and it was too late to change majors. To say I felt stuck would be an understatement.
When I told my mom how I was feeling, she gave me wise advice — to explore and experiment with new interests, including starting my own small business. So I did … while I was still in college.
My friends and I would sit on the floor, eat pizza, package products we would then ship for my business and talk about life — from our faith and dreams to supporting one another through our struggles.
The packaging circle became a safe place, which inspired a brand tagline: “Your brokenness is welcome here.”
I felt the tagline not only captured the experience with my friends on the floor, but also God’s love. He doesn’t say “Pull yourself together, and get it all figured out before you come to Me.” Instead, He gently reminds us: “Come as you are, completely a mess and un-figured out.”
My life today wasn’t my plan. But it was God’s.
As Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
And it all started with teeny, tiny steps. Doodling. Learning new skills. Experimenting, creating, and exploring ideas outside my comfort zone, one thing at a time.
I hope this challenges you, because I believe we put ourselves in boxes far too often. We think because of our education (or the lack of it), the role we currently serve,or the job we’ve always done, that we’re perpetually stuck there.
We label and trap ourselves in comfort zones based on our qualifications, and as a result, we don’t trust God to move us where He made us to go.
We don’t want to be seen “starting small,” and we don’t want to risk looking like a failure. It’s almost as if we want to skip directly from point A to point Z because all those tiny steps and points in between often involve struggle, uncertainty, and a whole lot of trial and error, along with mundane, seemingly insignificant tasks.
What we fail to see, though, is the growth that happens in the small, unseen, ordinary steps we take. In that space, we learn, our skills are strengthened, and we are refined.
We can plan and dream all we want, but until we learn to put our egos aside and take one little step of faith at a time, we’ll never find our God-given purpose. We’ll overlook it by focusing on some future ideal.
So, yes, sister, I hope you do big things and go after your wildest dreams. But guess what? You cannot do big and extraordinary things until you learn to show up and be faithful with the small, not-so-cool, everyday things.
Let go of the pressure to prove yourself, and press into being present where He has you. I promise, He’s got it all planned out. You just need to show up and own your everyday … because your ordinary, real, everyday is the best gift you have. Don’t miss it.
Dear God, sometimes I’m not entirely sure where You’re leading me or what Your plan is. I’m battling fear of the future, and I worry about what others will think. But, I trust that You gave me gifts I am meant to use, even if that means starting small, where I am, with what I have. I trust You have a plan for how my gifts will unfold and serve the world. I’m here, with hands wide open, ready to show up with what You’ve given me, right now, right here, in my own unglamorous, totally divine, everyday life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
James 1:4, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Pairing her relatable voice with a unique perspective, powerful truths and practical tools, Jordan Lee Dooley’s new book, Own Your Everyday: Overcome the Pressure to Prove and Show Up For What You Were Made to Do, equips you to overcome the lie that you can’t live your God-given purpose until you reach a certain milestone. Rooted in faith and jam-packed with tangible takeaways, this book is a girlfriend’s guide to a purpose-driven life. Get your copy here.
CONNECT:
Stop by Jordan’s website to learn how you can connect with her on social media. And, subscribe to the SHE Podcast.
Enter to WIN a copy of Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley. To celebrate this book, Jordan’s publisher is giving away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify each one in the comments section by Tuesday, May 28, 2019.}
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
How might you be overlooking divine opportunities to take small steps of faith because you’re so focused on determining future plans? What are a few action steps you can take to trust God with the future, right where you are?
© 2019 by Jordan Lee Dooley. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks WaterBrook & Multnomah for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
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