Lord, What Do You Want Next? The Year I Didn't Plan

I'm not an emotional person by nature. But I have learned to pay attention to the markers God places in my life (those moments that serve as reminders of God's faithful direction). As I prepare to head to the Christian Product Expo and launch the new book, Entrusted: Women in God’s Redemptive Plan, this week has reminded me of a few of those markers. I'm amazed—and honestly, a little emotional—at what God has done over the last year.

About a year ago, my friend Julia said, "Hey! You need to turn Esteemed  into a book!" (If you know her, you just heard her saying that in your head!)

About a month later, Athena Dean Holtz, president of Redemption Press, asked me a similar question. “Have you ever thought about writing a narrative version of Esteemed?”

I responded to both in exactly the same way.

I smiled, asked a few insignificant questions, and quickly changed the subject.

There was NO WAY I was doing that. At least, that's what I thought.

At the time, I had my own plan! I was working on another Bible study—a study in Luke—and I was convinced that was what God was calling me to publish next. In my mind, the decision had already been made.

Then came Cindy.

She patiently listened as I explained my entire publishing strategy for, like, the next 5 years or something — including why I had  to publish the Luke study next. I even cited industry standards and all the research I’d done to learn about such standards!

When I finished, she simply replied, “Hmmmm…”

Then what seemed like an eternity later, she added, "You know, It's been my experience that God isn't really concerned with the world's timelines or strategies."

Ouch.

I couldn't stop thinking about that conversation, along with the others—including an important one with my friend Meredith, who strongly "encouraged" me to stay faithful to the message God had placed on my heart. Those conversations with trusted friends reminded me to ask a better question.

Instead of, “What am I supposed to do next?” I started asking:

"Lord, what do You want next?"

And when He answered, “Entrusted “ (rather than my original Luke plan, in case you missed that! ), it was nothing I’d ever thought about or expected.

Looking back a year later,.I've realized some things.

·      Not one of those friends tried to make the decision for me or claimed to know God's will for my life.

·      None of them pressured or manipulated me into doing what they thought was best.

·      They simply asked thoughtful questions (sometimes repeatedly, over and over…and over! You know who you are!).

·      They noticed something I hadn't considered. And then they encouraged me to take it back to the Lord.

That's what faithful, godly friends do.

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

I've often thought about that verse in terms of accountability or speaking truth to another. Those things certainly matter. But over the past year, I've come to appreciate other ways that iron sharpens iron.

·      Sometimes it’s through a well-timed question.

·      Sometimes it’s through someone who offers a simple, "Hmmm…” Then asks, “Have you prayed about that?"

·      Sometimes it happens when a trusted friend challenges our assumptions—or points us to the better question — because they want us to seek the One who knows the answers.

Fast forward one year.

Entrusted: Women in God's Redemptive Plan is the book that came from all those questions and, let's say, encouragement! And I am anxiously awaiting its release on August 11.

Over the past few days, I've been looking at the boxes of books stacked in my house. As I pray over them, I keep thinking about where each copy will end up...whose hands God will place it in... whose heart He already knows He intends to encourage, challenge, or draw closer to Himself.

And I've also been thinking about Julia, Athena, Cindy, Meredith, and all the others who pointed me to the question that needed asking: Lord, what do You want next?

God used them to help ensure those copies would be here in my office today.

I don't know what conversations God may use in your life over the next year or has used in the past to point you towards His will.

But I do know this: Never underestimate what God is doing through faithful friends who are honest and who encourage you to ask the better question!

We all need friends like that. And when we listen to them, God marks our lives!

 How About You?

·      Who has been that kind of friend in your life?

·      And who is God calling you to be that kind of friend to as they seek Him about their next step?