Now that I have made it through three years of seminary and have graduated with my Masters in Theological Studies, many of you have been asking me what my next step will be. It’s a valid question and one that my husband would like the answer to as well!
The spiritual answer is: I’ll do whatever the Lord tells me to do. But the more accurate answer is: I don’t exactly know yet.
When I began this journey several years ago, I felt a calling on my life to be a Bible teacher to women. That call was confirmed by the Lord through people who I respect in the faith. I had already been leading a Women’s Bible Study at my church, but I felt the Lord calling me to go deeper. I felt that I needed to be better equipped if I was going to be a professional Bible teacher, which led to seminary training.
And now that I am trained and equipped, I am ready to hit the ground running and produce a little ROI (that’s a financial term meaning Return On Investment) for all those tuition expenses I incurred for our family. Yet, there is no job waiting for me.
Instead, my future is a wide open space with several different paths that could be taken. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. There are endless possibilities and opportunities, but knowing when and how to start is a little daunting.
It’s going to require (dare I say it?!) FAITH.
But isn’t that what walking with the Lord is all about? Taking that next step in faith, and then another, and then another. Sometimes we’ll stumble a bit, and other times we may fall flat on our face, but we’ll let our Savior pick us back up, dust us off, and set us back on the right path. And other times we will see so clearly the victories He has supplied us with and we will rejoice and celebrate. Step by step we’ll just keep exercising our faith until we’ve done all we can in this lifetime and then we’ll walk straight into His loving arms.
So for now, I’ll just keep putting one foot in front of the other by writing that next blog post for Reflecting Light, sending devotionals to Lifeway Women and other venues for publication consideration, speaking at Women’s Conferences (contact me!), asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate the path I’m supposed to take. Knowing that with each step taken I can stand on His promise with confidence that He who began this good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
What next step is the Lord asking you to take in faith? I’d love for us to walk together. We can encourage each other to press on in this walk of faith knowing that there is strength in numbers and that our faith is grown when we step out of our comfort zone.
Will you join me? Yes?! Then let’s go!
Do it, Lord. Illuminate the path You would have us take today. Keep us moving ahead, taking those next steps in FAITH knowing that You are faithful to complete that good work in us that You began all those years ago. Let us reflect Your light to the world and may You always be glorified with each step we take. Amen.
Precious words April. I’m certain the Lord is going to open some big doors for you as you continue to trust Him. The waiting can be difficult but sounds as though you are certainly using your time wisely. Blessings abundant and may you and yours be richly blessed at PC next week.
Thank you, Mrs. Lea!
April, I can’t wait to see what your destiny will “look” like! It will be a glorious unfolding!
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
Psalms 139:16 NLT
Ps. 139:16
Thank you so much, Mrs. Sonya!