Doors are opening around here. Change is in the air. New seasons are beginning.
I am venturing back to work. Dates are changing constantly *sigh*, so I'm not actually sure if I am starting in 2 days time or 2 weeks time, but thats another story. :-)
I've been thinking about the fact that EVERY time a major change happens in my life, you can almost put money on it, that stuff in other areas will go wrong in a big way. And this time has been no exception. The amount of STUFF that has come and piled itself up against me since I have decided to take this job is just bizarre. But because I almost 'expect' it, because its actually a recurring theme, I don't let it get the better of me anymore. Someone very wise once told me that quite often just before God does something BIG in your life, the devil will have a go at you with everything he's got. He'll distract you, make you second-guess yourself, and generally have a dig at your self-esteem so that you talk yourself out of it. And that makes sense in my little head.
Anyway I digress.
My 'point' is this.
I know that I know that I know I am doing the right thing in taking this job. I could sit down and make a list of 'pros and cons'. I could get all worked up, ask everyone and anyone for their opinions and then mull over it for weeks. I could talk myself out of it based on all the crazy stuff thats happened in the past fortnight alone. Its a sign. Etc. Or speaking of signs, I could just sit back and wait for God to write one in the sky (seriously wouldn't that be great!).
"Do I have a peace in my heart about it?"
Do I feel calm when I imagine myself stepping into this new thing?
Is there an overwhelming feeling that the timing is perfect, regardless of everything else?
I guess I just want to encourage anyone reading this. If you have 'big decisions' to make right now try looking at it purely from a 'peace' perspective. Its easy to get caught up in everything being 'just so' before you say YES to something that challenges you. We think all the stars have to be aligned perfectly or it won't work.
That thinking is flawed. Life hardly ever works like that! When you step out into a new season, new job, new challenge, there is almost always an element of faith; a what if this doesn't work? moment.
Call me crazy, but I get excited about stepping out of my comfort zone. Sure its hard when you relinquish control and just step out, but the more you do it the less you rely on that control, and the more fun it becomes because you're not putting your life in a box. Over the years I've had major changes in career more times than I can count. So I know what fear feels like. But one of the good things about that is...I have learned to trust that feeling of peace, because I know it comes from God, and its His way of telling me it will be ok.
I've realised that in life there are open doors, and shut doors. When opportunities come along or I am prompted to do something, its like there's just an open door in front of me. I don't need to 'make it open', or run around like a crazy woman trying to find the keys. I can just walk through it and see where it leads. Nor do I have to worry whether its the right door.
And when it comes to the shut doors? Even though its often frustrating, we need to simply trust in the fact that for some reason, that door is shut. Trust me when I say there's no point trying to push a door open! Its like thinking you have the right key in the set but its just NOT working in the lock. Sometimes we don't understand why its shut til months or years down the track.
Footnote: I am not a preacher, a psychologist, or life coach. But I'm sure you've figured that out already...haha. So take from it what you will, and biff out the rest. I won't be offended - these are just my thoughts as a mum, and this is my place for chewing the fat.
Speaking of fat...I went to the gym today for the first time in over a fortnight. YAY me.
Lyn
