Last week, I was walking to a nearby waterfall during an off day with some teammates. As we were in the nature preserve, I saw a bird flying low to the ground. I asked God what He wanted to teach me through that bird. I thought for a little while and tired to put words into His thoughts. Finally I cleared my mind and heard God respond:
The bird is you. You have so much potential to soar and you will. Abide in me and I will continue to build you up because I love you.
I thought:
How cool would it be if the bird took off now, God.
And because God has a sense of humor, all of a sudden the bird lifted away, flying high into the sky.
Then a few days ago, while I was praying, I had a vision of myself climbing up a mountain. I reached the top and had the decision to jump off or climb back down. God revealed that this was a metaphor for my calling, both present and future.
I was climbing up the mountain by learning and experiencing new things.
I have seen God prepare me for my calling in many ways for a number of years through internships, leadership roles and other life events. I feel Him calling me to attend seminary in the future and continue my discernment.
Even now, however, I have been equipped with gifting and am ready to live them out on the race. I do not have to wait until I have a “Pastor” title to use the gifts God has given me.
Eventually, however, I will have to make the choice to jump and be bold.
Will I decide to live out the big things God has called me to or shrink away in fear of failure?
God then showed me soaring above the mountain. I chose to jump and was flying through the air feeling free and joyful.
Jumping takes faith.
There is the potential of failure, but we can choose to press into faith that God has us. When we have the trust that God is in control we can just rest and soar. Like a bird, we have the choice to land back on the ground from not pressing into faith, to soar higher into what God has called us to or land on the next mountain, pressing into something new, and jump again.
