I can’t tell you how many times I think I know something one minute, and the next I have no idea what I was just thinking of. In some ways its similar to what many of us deal with as we get older, as we become parents, and as life just gets busy. However, this kind of sudden brain disruption goes further than anything I’d experienced prior to a few years ago.
Even when in the middle of doing something intentional, for a few scary seconds I don’t recall what happened minutes prior or what’s supposed to happen in the minutes to come. I find myself suspended in thought while my brain plays catch up. It’s frustrating at best. Whether accurate or not, I call it trauma brain.
At this point, I start asking myself questions and try to remember what’s supposed to happen next. Sometimes this does little to generate movement so I simply choose to move my body. I get up, or start walking or driving. I move forward even when I’m not sure where I’m headed. As I do, the gears in my brain move too and things become a little clearer.
When I get caught up in the minutia of all the foggy particles clogging my brain, I get stuck. Instead, I chose one movement. One step towards one goal.
Sometimes stepping forward in faith is less about achieving great things and more about choosing to look forward rather than dwell in the muck.
Momentum in some direction helps even if it’s potentially the wrong direction. When we are open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can alter course once we’ve started. But staying on the dock doesn’t get me anywhere.
Similarly, when I feel stuck in life, paralyzed by fear or indecision, I choose to take one step forward even if it might be in the wrong direction. As long as it’s not in opposition to God, I can give it a try. In faith.
We hear this phrase often, “walk in faith.” I wonder, do we really know what it means?
God often speaks to me in images which help me understand vague concepts at a deeper level. Join me as we imagine standing on the shore. Could be a lake, an ocean, or a river. Whatever water-side image God brings to mind. There you are, standing on the edge. Summoned to cross over. The water is too deep to walk through and you have no boat. Still, you sense this nudge in your spirit to take a step forward.
You wonder how this could happen. Jesus walked on water, but that’s not what he’s asking you to do. Or is it? Unsure of how to cross. Unsure if He’s going to provide for you, or how in the world he possibly could. And unsure of staying above water, the call you hear is either gently nudging, or all out tugging.
So, you lift your leg. At first you just raise it up while your body shakes and tries to stay balanced. Will you move forward? Will you stay like this? Will you set your foot right back where it was?
He beckons you, keep going.
You make the movement of setting your foot upon the water despite unknowns. Just as you set your foot down, a piling raises up. It is sturdy and it provides just the space you need to bear the weight of your body as you lean forward and bring over your other foot.
God reveals what you’ll stand on. The foundation was really there all along, but it took an active movement forward, in faith, to see it and make use of it. By trusting His provision, you are given new visibility. By moving forward with Him, you saw Him provide what you needed, when you needed it.
We often face challenging situations in life where we wish someone could just tell us what to do and how to do it. We look for a path already taken. We want assurance that we will reach the destination ahead of us. When we don’t get it, we could stay stuck while hoping something just miraculously changes.
Instead, God works in ways we don’t understand. He asks us to trust and step forward regardless of what we cannot see. He provides what we need, not what we want.
Choose today, to move towards the voice of God. He will set your foot on the rock.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud & mire; he set my foot on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” ~ Psalm 40:2
CULTIVATE: What is one small step of faith you can take today? You don’t need to charge up the whole mountain. Just choose one step. Then another. Then another.
[tweetthis]The foundation was really there all along, but it took an active movement forward to see it and make use of it.[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]What does it mean to “walk in faith”? What if it’s taking one step into the unknown, towards Jesus.[/tweetthis]
I am intrigued by your articles. One of your recent articles, “6 Ways to Seek Wise Counsel in Your Life” mentions wise counsel and blocks to it.
Section #5 talks about the blocks to wise counsel . . . perhaps one of the hardest parts is also trusting the person providing the counsel enough it to know that Biblical precepts are at the base of the information being shared.
My question to those that provide counsel, knowing the tremendous responsibility God places on those that do (Luke 17:2), what compels you to help others walk through the dark shadows of life?
Hi, Stephanie,
My apologies for the long delay in responding to your comment. I’m catching up on comments in this space today and wanted to reply so I hope you’ll see this.
You brought up a good point and asked a great question.
The process of trusting someone includes a lot of factors. Sometimes we don’t feel safe trusting anyone because of a history where we’ve experienced unsafe people and circumstances. Sometimes we have high expectations of what another person that keep us from trusting them in the role they play in our lives, and trusting ourselves to navigate through where we disagree or see differently from another person. Sometimes we need someone in our lives who offers good qualities, even though they are not exactly all we are looking for.
And we need time and interaction with others to know how safe they are. Can they hold our stories well? Can they help us explore what God is doing in our lives without telling us what to do? A good coach or counselor does this. They help you find a safe space to explore and to connect with what’s going on inside of you so you can connect well with God and others. That’s what I am to do with my coaching and counseling clients.
I do feel tremendous responsibility in the care and guidance I offer to others. I have also learned that the best I can do is use the gifts God has given me and steward them well. I steward my thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions so I remain responsible for my part without carrying the weight of what is not mine to own, like another person’s choices. This helps me feel at peace with God that I am doing what I’m asked to do and leaving God in his role to do what only he can do.
What compels me to walk with others through the dark shadows of their life? Many things. I’ve known several dark places myself, and I’ve experienced tremendous healing over the years. I believe God has given me a high capacity for this space with others. Also, I am overjoyed when I see people receive comfort, hope, joy, and healing.
Thanks for asking the question, Stephanie. I hope this reply reaches you and is helpful.