Do Something New

I believe God is up to something. Always at work in the world – and in us.

And I believe that He invites us to join him in this work of making new things – making things new.

But I wonder sometimes if I’m not more interested in keeping the status quo. Maintaining life as it is. Finding a place of relative comfort and security – and hoping that nothing will come along and disturb me from my peaceful place.

And when I do this, when we do this, what do we miss out on? When we choose comfort and security over following God into new adventures, what kind of life are we actually living?

I’m in a season of significant transition. I sense the finger of God stirring the waters of change – and it excites me. I don’t know exactly where God is leading my family, but we’ve experienced this kind of leading in the past. It’s what led me from MN to FL – where I would take my first full-time job and meet my lovely bride of 15 years. From FL to KY – where we would begin a life together and eventually begin our family. From KY to CA – where we would have some wonderful adventures, including the birth of our first child. And from CA to TN – where we would spend more than a decade growing a family and living life as fully as we know how.

I have long loved change. And I’ve learned, especially during our time in TN, that change can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. In fact, if we’re paying attention, there are opportunities for it – new, change, adventure – every single day. Sometimes it means saying “Yes” and sometimes it means saying “No.” Sometimes it means taking initiative and sometimes it requires patient waiting. Sometimes it means doing things we are great at or comfortable with, and sometimes it means learning something new or trying something different. Sometimes the risk seems beyond the bounds of or comfort. Sometimes it involves chasing after a dream, dreaming a new dream, or even giving up on a dream long-held.

Seasons like this can produce feelings of anxiety and stress – even if we trust that God is with us, even leading us. And I’m sure those days of feeling overwhelmed by it all will find me. But today I feel a surprising sense of peace, confidence, and assurance living into this season of new. I’m excited for this new space – Made For This – to think and write about some new things. I’m excited about a couple of projects that I’ll have the chance to focus on over the next few months – making new things and making things new. I’m excited to have some extra time to spend at home with family. And I’m also curious, hopeful and expectant about where our family will be come this time next year.

I don’t have all the answers. In fact, I seem to only have a few. But I think that’s more true to life than we often realize. Whatever answers we think we have are likely a lot less firm than we allow ourselves to believe. It’s what makes faith, well, faith. And what makes faith necessary. And ultimately, what makes life worth living – because we’ve not yet reached the end. We don’t know what’s around the corner. And with that, and with God, the possibility to explore and help create what comes next is a big part of living life to its fullest – at least in my opinion.

So what about you?

How do you feel about doing new things? Do you struggle with the idea of transition or change? And what are you willing to face or overcome in order to join God on the adventure he is calling you to?

I believe we get one chance to live this life – so what will you choose to do with it?