"But, if we’re going to go where we’ve never gone before, we’ll need signs to get there. These signs will restore the wonder.”
Bill Johnson
Once again, John and I are embarking on a new era: retirement. Just like when we first got married, became parents, and moved to a new city, we had no clue what we were doing, so too we have no idea how to best navigate John’s retirement. Thankfully, God knows what He’s doing. We trust that God knows the plans He has for us – plans for our welfare and to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
When we first moved to Wichita, we paid attention to the “breadcrumbs” God placed right in front of us. With anticipation, we watched for our masterful Guide to lead the way. We had no idea who He wanted us to connect with and how He wanted us to minister. But He did. He divinely orchestrated the church we would attend, the people we met, and the opportunities that opened to us. One breadcrumb led to another and another. Deep friendships that fed our souls were formed, not by random coincidences, but by divine guidance.
As retirement came on the horizon, God kindly reminded me of when our daughter was born, I thoroughly enjoyed and delighted in each stage she was in. It seemed I enjoyed the next phase more than the prior one. So too, He promised we will enjoy retirement more than the years John worked. I've grieved the loss of what was, but now I look ahead to what will be.
God gave Isaiah 43:18-19 as my verses for the year 2021, before He divinely directed John to retire. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Even though we have no idea what this “new thing” will look like, we have childlike expectancy. We are keeping our eyes and ears attentive to follow God’s breadcrumbs. We have no doubt we will love what He has for us next because our Father is good, and He loves to give His children good gifts.
“We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the divine guidance of God being exhibited through childlike people who were ‘foolish’ enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment.”
Oswald Chambers
Relevant Reflections:
Describe a time when you followed God’s “breadcrumbs.”
Prayerfully ask God for a scripture verse for 2021.
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