Walk into the Future with Confidence
Each endless hard day and each sweet lovely day melded into one glorious period of about 14 years, when nothing seemed to change. Yet in reality, everything did. Those were the years when life swirled around my four children.
Although there were difficult moments, for the most part I treasured raising littles. I cherished those late-night feedings and splashing in the the rain, building Lego towers, and kissing skinned-up knees.
Overnight it seemed, I looked back and noticed how everything had changed. And I grieved.
I wanted to hold tight to what was and what is, hesitant to move into what will be.
Hesitant to Change
It seems I’m prone to preferring the past and present over the future.
I’ve found it hard to let go of doctors who have walked long years with our family.
I’ve held tight to the comfortable routine of therapy appointments.
I enjoy the familiarity and sense of grounding that comes from seasonal traditions.
Do you feel the same way—not really wanting to let go of things, fearful of what you will be missing in a new reality?
Maybe you are being called to a new community. Perhaps God is asking you to walk away from a much-loved position.
For everything there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Whatever it is your clinging to—the precious season of little-one cuddles or the familiarity of a beloved neighborhood—you must trust that God has something even better planned for your future.
As hard as it sometimes is to move on, we miss much more in our hesitancy.
As hard as it sometimes is to move on, we miss much more in our hesitancy. Trust God's plan for your future. Click To Tweet
Lesson from the Wilderness
Just consider the lesson from God’s chosen people so many generations ago. God provided Moses to lead His enslaved people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
Yet the Israelites refused to release their hold on the past. They met every blip in their journey with grumbling and longing for the past.
Their reluctance to trust God with their future didn’t go so well for them. They ended up wandering 40 long years in the wilderness because fear kept them from trusting God and delayed His blessings for their future (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
Walking into the Future
There’s nothing wrong with valuing those cherished memories of the past or appreciating the sweetness of the present. They are gifts too.
But when we don’t release the past and walk through the present, we can’t embrace the future.
We need to step into the future with confidence, trusting we are not stepping into a void of the great unknown, but instead into the plans of the great I AM.
As a believer, step confidently into the future, into the plans of the great I AM. Click To Tweet
Although everything changes over time, it doesn’t mean it’s worse. In fact, God is continually working in our lives to bring us nearer the Promised Land.
Now that’s a reason to step out in joy and anticipation.
“Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6
Reflection: Do you struggle with change? What strategies have you found helpful in walking into the future with gladness?
Since beginning more than 3 years ago, I’ve counted more than 3,000 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! So here we go: #3324–3344, read the entire list by clicking here.
- Waking to a glorious morning; Pine cones to decorate with; Able to write outside in November – and with this helper
- Caring doctors and good reports; Voting day; Just Dad and me hanging together for the evening (special time)
- Friendly clerks; Relaxing, productive time Christmas gift shopping; Spending the day with Mom and my sister;
- Rachel getting her special stuffed gray kitty back in the mail; Deserted campground so the dogs can be out with us; Full moon shining through the treetops
- Meds to help Rachel feel better; Arrived safely and just on time to @WheatonCollege; Start of a weekend with Zachary
- Attending Wheaton’s prayer breakfast; Opportunity to be just what my daughter needed the past 24 hrs–a comforting mama; Unstructured evening with Zach and Joey
- Worshipping at Zach’s college church – thankful for his choice; Conference Skyping w/ Dan, two of his high school buddies (so nice to chat with them) and Zach; Piled-up mending projects done (say years-old to-do list
By His grace ≈ Julie
Find hope in your real-life struggles. We'll chase it together! I am a wife; mom of 4 (including a young adult daughter with special needs); miscarriage mom of 5; author & follower of Jesus Christ. I write, edit, speak and enjoy everything outdoors.
Great post Julie, Change comes no matter what. You are so right about the Israelites. They had prayed for 400 years to be released from slavery but when the day came and their deliverance seemed risky they were ready to go pack to making bricks. In their mind they never were free. It is easy for us to do the same thing. Life gets hard and we want to run back to the safety of our old familiar ways.
Change comes – about 2 weeks ago I presided over the wedding for my 21 year old son. I still remember changing his diaper and the 10 million times I said, Matt don’t, Matt stop, Matt quit Matt go back to bed – Now in the blink of an eye he is a man
If only we could trust God more fully, Jon. We’d never want to go back, or remain.
Eight and a half years ago, our church went through a time of decision making, the decision was made to merge with a sister church and move to a neutral location, Both congregations were land-locked. Some people in both congregations chose not to merge and move. We have seen 30 new ministries be formed and grow. We are now faced with the need for more space to house awaiting ministries. Had we all not lived in the moment, we wouldn’t be the strong people of faith we have become.
When our son got a job 600 miles away, I had to keep in mind that this was the best job he could ever have. That was almost four years ago. It has worked out for him to be selected for a virtual(work-at-home) position. He got his annual rating recently and got a commendable rating. I am so proud, I didn’t hang onto our past and was joyous about his opportunity.
Wonderful examples of God’s perfect timing, Cecelia. Thanks for sharing them.