You have a great job. Your coworkers are awesome. Your friends are literally the greatest. Your family loves you. You travel. You just bought a new car. You go on vacations. You spend a lot of money at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. You go to the gym a lot. You love church. You enjoy tea and coffee any time of the day. Your closet is full.
So much to be thankful for, right?
Yet, I find myself asking the questions…
Why do I feel like something’s missing? What more could I possibly need?
Then, God pulls at my heart strings…
‘You’re missing that thing- that thing that sets your soul on fire. I know exactly what you need.’
………………..
Ever feel like you’re living life in complete routine? Day in and day out the same old, same old. Not realizing just how much you should be thankful for. Distracted by unnecessary stress, worry, fear, doubt and negativity that seems to spread rampant in this world today. Finding joy and happiness in many things- but so easily interrupted or lost amidst the chaos.
You may or may not be able to relate, but I 100% can! In fact, this is exactly how I feel. As often as I try to mix things up, find the fun, eliminate distractions, stay busy, be positive, seek adventure- I have found that none of these things can satisfy my soul quite like another. That’s where God comes in. He’s quite the game-changer. No thing and no one can satisfy my soul like the love of Jesus can (and that is the REAL truth)!
So much to be thankful for, right?
Yes, but more importantly, so much more to thank God for.
Thank you God for all of the beautiful things in my life.
Thank you God for all of the messes in my life (yes, there are a lot of them).
Thank you God for helping me to realize there is more to this life than my life.
Thank you God for making extra special room in my heart to love children.
Thank you God for showing me exactly what I needed- exactly what I was missing
You may be asking yourself what exactly is the thing that I needed. What exactly was I missing? Well it took me a while to figure out. But boy oh boy did God know!
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20
Back in September I came across a post while scrolling through Facebook that led me to a blog and the opening question of the blog was…
“If the size of the vision for your life isn’t intimidating you, do you believe God is who He says He is?”
holy moly was that a loaded question!
holy moly did that light a fire in my soul!
I started asking myself were the plans I was trying to make for myself part of God’s plan for me? No plan of my own was adding up to all that He wanted to show me. Plans of moving, moving farther away and finding a new job, going back to school- these were all too reachable, and not big enough. God didn’t want me to dream of something I was simply capable of doing. He wanted me to find something that required me to give completely up to Him.
And just like that the opportunity I needed, what I had been missing- showed up on the screen right in front of me.
It was the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, share my faith, live in a community of real and raw relationships, show the hopeless what hope looks like, help the sick find healing, tell the lonely that their never alone, give up all that I had to be more like Him and ultimately love people the way Jesus loves me.
It was the World Race!
You see, reading that post I was reminded I’m not meant to do life on my own, I can’t do it on my own (John 5:30). My strength comes from Him (Psalm 28:7). His ways are far better than anything I could imagine (Isaiah 55:8).
“Set a fire down in my soul
That I can’t contain
That I can’t control
I want more of you God”
The fire was set. He said go! I just needed to say Yes!
After 3 months of prayer, pondering the what if’s, lists of pros and cons, considering all aspects of my career, preparing to ask my family, and the list could go on and on…
One day I found an old journal entry, and what was written said…
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”
Fearless huh? Was I ready to fearlessly pursue the opportunity that sparked a fire in my soul. To know God more, and make Him known! I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. I needed all of Him and less of me to say it…. But oh man did I say it.
YES!!
No more routine, no more job, distance between family and friends, No gym, No Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, Less distractions.
Sounds crazy right?
But oh I couldn’t begin to list the expectant MORES…
More friends. More family. More hope.
More freedom. More me. More grace.
More spirit. More prayer.
More love, More God!
(and did I mention more love!!!!)
…………………………………………………………………….. fearlessly,
Taylor
