This post, too, is a month later than I intended; such is moving. On the topic of discernment, I wanted to share one quick little story from this summer that confirmed my relocation for me.
But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9
For some context, I had been sensing a big shift for the longest time: a few years. I’ve written before in this space about some of the other options I was considering, but nothing had coalesced. I went away to Maine hoping for clarity and came back with more questions and no direction, and it was sheer grace that I felt the Lord had given the greenlight to make a move towards the end of June. (June 24th! Won’t forget that date anytime soon!) I received confirmations almost every day in the three weeks that followed. By July 4th, I was telling people I was leaving NYC. Furthermore, as I contemplated what a Sabbatical year might look like, four areas of focus came to mind, one of which was writing.
In the second week of July, I was sharing with a friend how I was getting to be a Camp GOTR coach for the summer after years of wanting to and the timing not working out. A few days later, by the grace of God, an online faith-based women’s magazine emailed me out of the blue about writing a piece (even more incredible because I’d been around this magazine for two years!). The following day, before I informed my friend that yet another opportunity had come my way, he responded with a phrase I found so striking, that “the opening and closing of doors is an unmistakable marker” and that “He will confirm where He wants you through opportunities”.
In general, I would qualify that (see 2 Corinthians 2:12-13), but for that moment, it was absolutely true: the day after he spoke it out was the magazine’s next deadline: I felt inspired, hammered out a piece, and was accepted for publication before I had time to doubt or question (if you like, you can read it here!). I dissolved in holy tears in the middle of Bryant Park at how kind and encouraging Father God felt to me in that moment, how true it is that He “directs our steps” (Proverbs 16:9). I’ve since received several words about the abundance fruitfulness of this next season, summed up in John 15:8 in a kind of vision statement:
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:8
I invite you to join me in prayer that, in this next season, I would glorify the Father, I would bear much fruit, and as ever, I would show myself to be His disciple. Excited and expectant, amen!
What word or promise are you holding this season?
Fire and Whisper 