Have you ever felt like you were banging your head against a brick wall?

I know I have. You want to step out in faith and follow your dreams, but keep resorting to doing the same things. Perhaps, retreating in fear.

Before I go any further though, let me say this. Often, when I am writing these emails and blog posts, God is teaching me the same lesson that I am communicating to you. Funny how that works.

Birds In The House

Now back to what I was saying. My husband and I recently had a lesson in this. We are currently renovating a house and temporarily living in an RV just outside. It was early in the morning and I went inside and heard a banging in the front bedroom. At first I didn’t think anything about it and thought that the contractor was there early and I just didn’t see him come it.

However, I took a look and there were two birds- a red cardinal and a sparrow that were scared and desperately trying to get out. They kept running into the closed windows. The front door was open as well as several windows in the living room. However, they couldn’t seem to find their way out.

We tried to direct them to the open door, but they were too frightened. The red cardinal finally made his way into the kitchen and out one of the windows. However, the sparrow didn’t. My husband finally got a blanket and put it over him and was able to help him outside.

God’s Lessons

We thought about this incident for a while and realized, first of all, that nothing happens by accident. So, what was God trying to teach us?

Often, when we are trying to make changes in our lives and step out in faith, we still go back to old habits. We continue to try to go through the same windows and doors. We’re still looking backwards, but God has an opportunity for us- it’s just in a different direction.

Where Are You Looking?

Just like those birds. They keep trying to go through the closed window. But, there’s a large open door in a different direction.

God is waiting for you with open arms. I hear His voice asking me:

“Are you asking me for directions?”
“Are you going to let Me lead?”
“Come this way.”
“Hey, Trish, I’m over here. Can you see me?”
“Are you going to let Me speak to you?”

Listen For His Voice

These are some of the questions that God was asking us. Following God isn’t always easy. You can have your plans, but need to be flexible and listen for His voice. Learning to hear His voice and drown out all those other voices in your head is key, but it isn’t always easy.

I don’t know about you, but, oftentimes, I think I need to go one direction but God has something much better around the corner.

You look at the job opportunity and say “I can make a lot of money doing that.”, but God knows you wouldn’t really be happy there and has something different.

Or, you believe that you’re in love with someone but God has someone much better for you and knows that it wouldn’t work out.

Many times, we keep trying to go through the closed doors telling ourselves that “if we just try a little harder we’ll make it.” When, just maybe, God has something better for you in a totally different direction or even just around the corner.

God Size Dreams

Also, I find that sometimes our dreams are bigger than we can imagine. As a result, we get scared and tend to delay or retreat back into our comfort zone. God has bigger plans for our lives than anything we can ever see or imagine for ourselves.

If your dream isn’t big enough, is it really from God? Can you do it on your own? Or do you need some help from Him?

Do you have God sized dreams?

Are you ready to take that step of faith?

Conclusion

Don’t retreat. Take that step of faith one day and one step at a time. God will catch you.

I am challenging myself and I challenge you as well to stop banging your head against the brick wall. If what you are doing isn’t working, take a look around you. Look deep within and listen for the still small voice of Jesus.

He’s waiting for you and can’t wait to show you the way He wants you to go.

The Bible says:

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Psalms 139:16

God knows all and sees all and has the answers you need so stop striving in your own strength and let Him lead. That is my challenge to you as well as to myself.

If you liked this post, you may want to check out my post “Step Out In Faith” and “You Don’t Have To Be Perfect”

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