By Sheree Craig
Recently I closed a chapter of my life and opened a clean page of a new one. The following pages of this chapter remain blank and the title unknown. The pen remains in the hand of God. I am walking one step at a time and completing one day at a time without a clue how this will turn out.
Just a year ago, I would have run in the opposite direction of such uncertainty. The unknown sent anxiety racing through every fiber of my being. I like having a plan. I like to know the outcome. I like to strategically follow the plan to a T and see the results I had predicted come to fruition.
Over the past year, I shed multiple layers of my “old self.” Life threw situations into the path I walked that hurt deeply. This hurt turned into positive change and growth in spirit. I realized that life is more than outward appearance, approval from others, accomplishments posted on social media, or money in the bank. Life is about shining the Light of Jesus in every place you enter. Life is about loving others as they are in that moment. Life is about grace, forgiveness, and standing strong on God’s Word.
But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:20-24).
I cannot explain in words what changed, but I can tell you my God-Confidence continues to rise. I hold a strong passion to leave this world better than I entered it. Okay, so I may not change the world in a big way, but I want to change every place I enter for the better. This new chapter in life gives great opportunity to spread His Light. I feel I finished the previous chapter in life successful. I believe I planted all seeds possible in the situations faced. A door has opened for opportunity to plant more.
I walk through the open door with confidence. Not because I believe success is guaranteed. I walk through with confidence knowing that God is holding my hand. He has proven time and time again to remain by my side. He is asking that I walk confidently with Him, putting old ways behind. Old ways of fear, failure, demeaning self, and living safe. A recent quote I read on Pinterest (Don’t judge. I love Pinterest.) said, “Don’t fear failure, fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” ~anonymous
Life is challenging. Failure is inevitable. We are not perfect. These facts do not mean we need to play it safe. Take that leap of faith. Try that new adventure. Grow in spirit. Above all else, walk in God-Confidence. If He leads you to an open door, He will provide all you need along the path. Knowing if He is the one who opened the door is the difficult part. Prayer, listening, prayer, and listening some more must come before walking through an open door. Opportunities happen every single day, but Satan may be the one opening a door to the opportunity. The world could be the one pressuring you to walk through a door of opportunity. Proceed with prayer through any open door.
God will provide discernment. God will lead you down a path He paved for you. He holds a mighty purpose along your journey in this life. Listen closely to hear the direction He chooses. It may mean walking forward without a plan, seeing blank pages in this chapter of life and with uncertainty of outcome. I can guarantee you that if God guides you to a new chapter/opportunity in life, He knows the plan, what to write on the pages each day, and the outcome. He will see you through dear friend.
