Did I hear him right?
It was a dark and rainy night and I was driving home from a mid-week networking event. I was tired and ready to be home. It felt like the same mundane drive that I have made countless times passing by the same gas stations, Walgreens, countless mini vans, a movie theater, I could keep going, but I think you get the picture. I was making one of my final turns when I drove past an auto body shop with a lit up sign near the street. The sign caught my eye, “If you don’t put any work into your dream than it becomes only a wish.” I wasn’t expecting such a deep thought from a local auto body group, but sometimes the messages we need to hear or see the most come from unexpected places. The marketer inside of me applauds them, as I am still thinking about their shop and their poignant words. When my cute little Tiguan needs an oil change, you better believe that I’ll be making a stop.
Anyways, the words got me thinking. Lately, my passion has been dwindling when I think about pursuing my dream to become a published author and speaker. Exhaustion, impatience, lack of time, are just a few of the excuses I’ve been giving myself lately. I also have been thinking that maybe I even heard Him wrong. Have you ever felt like that? Like God has been with you putting these dreams and passions into your heart, only for you to feel alone later on? Maybe even second guessing if you heard Him right in the first place? I think it’s easy for the enemy to take root when we’re in a place of doubt. The enemy loves when we begin to doubt God’s best for us and the desires He imprints on our hearts. The enemy can take shape in so many ways. He can make us start thinking that we’re not good enough, or he’s great at giving us excuses. Excuses. I’ve been letting the enemy take root and lead me down a path of self-pity, impatience, fear, and ultimately doubt.
But, no more. I believe God put that sign in front of me for a reason. God doesn’t make mistakes when He’s talking to us. He knows exactly what He’s doing. He was using that sign to remind me that even if my desires and dreams are aligned with His, I still need to put in the work. He gave me everything that I need, but I need to take the steps to make it work. I don’t know what those steps are, but I thought that writing this tonight would be a good first one. I received a very timely message from my sister-in-law, Michelle, today, “We tend to forget that baby steps still move us forward.” Well tonight friends, this is my baby step. Sharing my dreams with all of you.
I know sometimes that it’s easier to think that we heard Him wrong, or try to convince ourselves that it’s not what we really want. Maybe sometimes that’s right, but I challenge you to sit in the quiet. Sit in stillness and just be. Listen to your spirit. How do you feel? Do you feel an unease or at peace? I can tell you when I think about giving up, I feel an unease and it’s not just the achiever in me. I believe with all of my heart that everything that I have gone through in my life has led me to this point right here. Right now. I know I have stories to tell and I know that, because I didn’t hear Him wrong.
Friends, I pray that you’ll take some time to find your place of quiet to listen and be open. Dreaming can be uncomfortable. It can bring up emotions of inferiority, fear, doubt, disappointment and the list goes on and on. I get it. I’m right there with you, but the alternative is worse. It’s said that when people look back on their lives, their biggest regrets are all of the risks they didn’t take. I’m challenging and encouraging all of us to at least take the risk to keep on dreaming and to move forward even in baby steps. You just never know when that dream may become a reality.
Blessings to you and your family,
Jenna
THREE ITEMS I’M GRATEFUL FOR:
The ability to start again.
Watching my boys interact after a day of being a part! The hugs, the giggles, all the good stuff that happens before the fighting begins.
Good friends who support me when I don’t know the next move – even if the suggestion is writing on T.P. just to get ideas rolling – thank you, Brianna