by Mindy Obenhaus
Did you ever get growing pains
when you were a child? My youngest son sure did. He’d have a hard time getting
to sleep because his legs always hurt. He’s now 6’2”, so that could explain
things.
What about spiritual growing
pains? You know, when God decides He wants to grow us.
That’s where I find myself right
now.
While I’m walking the path, I
believe, God has set before me, He’s recently suggested a slight deviation from the course I had planned.
Not verbally, mind you, but through a series of events. This amended route I feel
He’s pointing me to is going to be more challenging than what I’m used to. It’s
going to require some adjustments in the routine I’ve grown comfortable with.
I’m going to have to work at it.
Kind of like weight training. I enjoy
weight training. But when I become accustomed to a certain weight and start
thinking it’s easy, that’s when it’s time for me step things up a notch. Which
means increasing the amount of weight I’m lifting. And it’s not easy. Matter of
fact, it’s downright hard. For a while. Then, as I build more muscle, it gets
easier.
And so it is with our spiritual
life. God doesn’t want us to be comfortable. On the contrary, He wants to push
us out of our comfort zones.
How we respond is up to us.
We can…
Fight it – Been there,
done that. When I was writing my fourth book, there was something God wanted in
that story, but I knew it was going to be very emotional to write. So I ignored
it. Bottom line, I had to rewrite that book three times. The third time, I did
what God had been telling me to do all along. Not only did my editor love it, I
had no revisions. If I would have listened and done it God’s way the first
time, I could’ve saved myself a whole lot of time and stress.
Carefully consider – This
is my modus operandi. I want to be certain that what I’m sensing truly is from
God and not my own foolish desires. And having an honest discussion with Him is
the only way I’m going to know. Expressing my concerns and fears. He already knows
them anyway. Then I have to be willing to listen and remain watchful for those
little signposts He puts in my path, pointing me in the way I should go.
Jump right in – I rarely
do this unless I know beyond a shadow of a doubt. Which, most often, doesn’t
come until I’ve carefully considered. But occasionally, I just know God is
saying, “Go!.” For some with more faith,
though, this may be right where they start. They’re so in tune with God, they don’t
even stop to think about self, they just do. I don’t know about you, but that’s
what I aspire to.
After nearly colliding with more
than one signpost, I know where God is leading me. And while I know it’s not
going to be easy, He’s already confirming my decision. Letting me know that He’s
got me right where He wants me. And that’s always a good place to be.
Mindy, this is deep, and so welcome after two years of, well, trying times. None of us emerged unscathed from the COVID years, and many of us came out with new directions, or new priorities. I know after the past two years God has said "that's enough" to some things I was doing or being. It IS tempting to fight because I don't know what will take the place of those things in my life. We just have to trust Him, don't we?
ReplyDeleteBusy spring and crazy summer. I will have two books out in two weeks and change. "Redemption's Hope," 'the last of the Western Dreams stories, out from Pelican/White Rose July 22; and my nonfiction local history book, "New Hampshire War Monuments: The Stories Behind the Stones" out with Arcadia Publishing Aug. 8. But it's a good problem to have, and as Ruthy says, this is the Best Job in the World.
we have had some decent weather here in NH and I actually got out and raked some of the yard. Boy did that feel good -- and look good.
Aha! Gotta go, my husband and I are doing TAXES today.
Kathy Bailey
Your Kaybee
Praying for an IRS Miracle in New Hampshire
Kathy, congrats on the upcoming releases! So exciting. And definitely a good problem. Taxes...not so much.
DeleteSeems like we are always meant to stretch and grow but leaving our comfort zone especially for introverts is hard but with God all things….Thank you for sharing your heart. Blessings
ReplyDeleteLucy, you hit the nail on the head. Our comfort zones are so, well, comfortable. But God doesn't want us to be comfortable. When we're comfortable, we get lazy and tend to rely on ourselves. And that's when things tend to go wrong, right?
DeleteWise advice. I wish being comfortable was a spiritual gift, because I excel at being comfortable, and I resist being pushed out of that comfortable nest I've built...
ReplyDeleteErica, I think too many of us are that way.
DeleteGreat thoughts, Mindy!
ReplyDeleteNobody likes change, even though we know we have to change in order to grow. Like Kaybee said, the last two years have brought some big changes - VERY unwelcome when they came, but now I'm beginning to see the reasons behind them. I love watching God work. :-)
Jan, you are so right. These last two years have been full of change. But yes, God is at work.
DeleteGreat post, Mindy. It is hard to change and I know I have to really listen for God's leading.
ReplyDeleteListening is key, Sandy. Though listening is easier when He's saying what we want to hear. When it's contrary, well, then He has to get my attention. ;)
DeleteHi Mindy, I've been known to be a jump-right-iner a lot in my life. Actually, I've been known to do all three at times. As I grow older, I've learned to pray and wait and see what God wants me to do. I'm so guilty of forging ahead, though. I should have known that in my 20s and 30s. It probably has a lot to do with my job as a preschool teacher with my plate overflowing. I'll blame it on that. I always enjoy what you have to say and love your books!
ReplyDeleteKaren, when teaching preschoolers, you don't often have time to think, you simply have to act. Or react. ;) I have no doubt that you are a blessing to those children.
DeleteI usally take a long time to "get it" when God is telling me to move in some way. I know He knows that it will take many signs and a lot of considering, so I can only assume He builds that into His timeline for me so everything always goes the way it's supposed to. I know His directions for us are always best and I pray that you find that in whatever He's leading to you today, Mindy. Thanks for another great post!
ReplyDeleteGlynis, I often find that when God is leading me to do something, He uses repetition. Generally, by the third or fourth time I hear a specific word or message, I stop and ask God what He's trying to tell me. I always imagine Him saying, "Now that I've got your attention..." ;) Thank you for your prayers.
DeleteThanks for posting this it really encouraged me. I think I hear or see the signs and sometimes I still like to control the direction, but I am learning to trust and its getting easier.
ReplyDeleteJeri, we humans do tend to be a selfish lot. Especially in today's world where we're used to instant gratification. Thankfully, God is patient with us. I know I may not always be quick to trust, but I've learned that life is much better when I do.
DeleteGreat post, Mindy! I have responded in all three ways, but one thing I struggle with is what comes after that. I tend to doubt and second guess my decisions. Remember playing on the monkey bars as a kid? In order to swing over to the next bar, you had to let go of the last one. That's the part that's scary for me, letting go of one thing to make room for another. Because what if I'm wrong and misunderstood what God was trying to tell me? What if I lose my grip on both things and fall off the monkey bars and break my arm? What if the new thing is too . . . well . . . hard? But I've learned over the years that you might as well follow through and swing to that next bar because otherwise you just get stuck - one hand before, one hand behind, and no momentum to move either way. And if God promised to work ALL things together for my good, wouldn't that include the mistakes I might make as well? Best wishes on your new challenges, Mindy. Hope you have fun playing on the monkey bars!
ReplyDeleteTerri, that's a great analogy! And as I read it, I kept thinking that even if we fall, God will be there to catch us. :)
DeleteJust when you get comfortable... I know the feeling!
ReplyDeleteWe do, indeed, Dana. ;)
DeleteGreat post, Mindy! It's a good reminder to listen to God's prompting and to be willing to change direction at a moment's notice.
ReplyDeleteI recently asked God to confirm my writing direction as I've been focusing on one genre and wondered if that was the one He wanted me to keep writing. I've had a story on my heart for a couple of years in a completely different genre and started writing it on and off last Fall. For whatever reason I couldn't write it. God confirmed this story in so many different ways recently that it was obvious I needed to get over my apprehension (and make myself step aside). And this genre change is definitely out of my writing comfort zone!
Lee-Ann, nothing like a challenge, huh? But then, those challenges force us to rely on Him more. Once we get "self" out of the way. God will never leave us nor forsake us. Just keep clinging.
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