Sometimes, amidst the typical movements of my days I feel this stirring in my soul: Oh, that my life would matter. That I would engage in this world and help exchange fear and shame for love and grace.
But how, exactly, do I step into this movement of God? How do I know what He wants me to do… how do I know which path will help me to bring the most Life to this world?
About a year ago, my husband and I were wrestling with some heavy, life-trajectory-changing questions. Through this process, our world capsized. What we thought we knew, we didn’t. Where we thought we were going, we weren’t. New life was breathed into every nook and cranny of our home and our hearts.
And this is what I learned:
– Listen to the stirring in your heart, the nudge in your soul, the thought that makes your breath catch. It shimmers amongst the rest of the thoughts in your day and it won’t be quieted.
– Sit on it. See if you can shake it.
– Get counsel from trusted, godly mentors.
– Take a day of solitude: Sit in silence. Make lists. Listen. Free-write.
– See if you can imagine not following through.
– Pay attention. Sometimes God does speak in neon signs. See if this theme, this stirring, pops up in different corners of your life: conversations, books, lives of friends, even TV shows. Sometimes God is obvious.
God just might be getting your attention. God just might be on the move.
And when you open yourself up to a new thing that He is doing, be prepared for your world to capsize. Be prepared to feel apprehensive, to feel scared, to feel like this is something bigger than you. But as soon as you allow a step out of your comfort zone, your fortified walls will come crashing down. You will find your heart breaking easier.
You might feel the need to give a gift card from a restaurant to the homeless guy on the street. Maybe you’ll toss around the idea of adoption. You will be compelled to do some things that you have never done before. Get ready to get caught up in God’s movement.
I have seen that God is in the business of making this world whole again, and He wants us to be a part of this movement. However that looks in our different cultures and communities and families, He wants us to be part of it. And that is the path to a life that matters. That is how we can tell this world that we are for them, and not against them.
We felt this movement, this stirring in our soul, so my husband and I paid attention. We listened and we talked. For us, this is how God’s movement in our world looked: nudgings both obvious and subtle for my husband to enter back into the Army as a military Chaplain. This thing that God is doing is uprooting us. But we know in the heart of our hearts that this is the right and best and good thing for us to do. We can’t imagine not doing it. We know this is how we might be able to bring the most Life to this heavy and hurting world.
And because God has a tendency to take you deeper still once you open up your heart and your world to this movement, we felt a new quickening of our hearts at the thought of adoption. A stirring nudging us to lean in and do what we can to rewrite the story of an orphan.
Military? Adoption? Neither were in our future life plans. But we opened our hearts to some new things and we paid attention and asked some questions. And our world has changed, in the very best of ways.
Take time to listen. To connect the dots. To be open to a new thing. God just might be on the move.
Do you feel a movement in your world? What do you sense Him calling you into? I would love to hear your piece of this story in the comments!
Sarah says
My movements are so similar to yours yet different enough I can see it as nudges. About 2 months ago we felt a nudge to move back closer to my family. And about 1 week ago we felt a nudge about adoption. We have two beautiful children and my husband has always boasted “two and through” but adoption came and moved us. I don’t know how all of this will happen but I am so very thankful for this post and the true and needed words you said. I pray God continues to guide and bless you through your journey!
Sarah Sandifer says
I love it when these nudges aren’t necessarily something you were “looking for”… feels very Spirit-led when they move you regardless of your life-plan. Blessings as you continue to walk this path and discern what is best, Sarah!
heather m says
oh Wow! This was so good I read it twice…! I think this is the neon sign answer to the prayer I prayed this morning asking God to just show me how to be about HIS will…even in the midst of my plans…
I have so many tugs at my heart for so many things, but I love how you wrote about God’s business being making the world whole again and how it’s our participating in that path that really makes a life that matters..
I’ve felt a nudge to use my creativity to do something that will inspire and spread HIS word for years, but it’s very hard to make that leap. I also feel a pull toward writing/mentoring young folks. Sitting on them both presently, but going to be applying your principle of seeing if I can imagine NOT doing either…
Thanks for sharing your story and glory to God for how it inspires others!
♥
Sarah Sandifer says
Wow, Heather, what a neat thing to have a heart to step into- both in the creative realm and in the mentoring realm. Take time to listen, my friend… things might just work out for you to do both. 🙂
Renee says
My husband and I are in the Autumn years of our lives but have no desire to retire to our recliners after being both healed of years of Lyme Disease. God has been beckoning us to broaden our ministry from Pastor and Pastors wife to more. Something more! Holy Spirit more, healing more and delving into teaching others……writing…..and whatever God calls us to. It is a great adventure! Love your post. God has more for us than we could ever ask or imagine as scripture tells us.
Sarah Sandifer says
I love that sense of “more”… stirring your soul to continue to look for His purposes and beyond yourselves. Blessing to you as you use these Autumn years for GOOD.
Valerie says
Sarah,
Lovely post! God does take us deeper when we open our hearts to him and give the agenda of our lives to his purposes. What wonderful opportunities you’ve opened your heart for — praying for you!
Sarah Sandifer says
Amen! Thanks so much Valerie!
Meredith Bernard says
Oh yes, Sarah, I see this in my own life right now! Today. This week. What a timely post. You are right, sometimes God IS obvious. I love that! And I love this, “I have seen that God is in the business of making this world whole again, and He wants us to be a part of this movement. “ Yes!!! Thank you for the encouragement from your own heart and story today.
Sarah Sandifer says
Blessings to you, Meredith. Grateful this resonated with you- thanks for your words of encouragement.
Tara says
Thanks!! I needed to read this. I’m a single gal who is soooo ready to start a family. I’m patiently (ok maybe impatiently) waiting for God to bring my Mr. Right into my life. A friend thinks I should do foster care or adopt. I know that it would be hard to be a single mom but that nudge is still there! I continue to pray that God leads me in the right direction!
Sarah Sandifer says
Oh, Tara- that is big life stuff you have on your radar… I just sent a prayer up for you to feel and know His peace and His directions in this path you are discerning.
Melissa Lu says
And just like that . . . your post is like a neon light to my soul. 🙂 Thank you!
Sarah Sandifer says
🙂 That made me smile. So neat.
Ruth says
I feel God nudging and I’m excited, then questions flood in, “How?” “When?” “What me?” I deny I ever felt that nudge, deny it could possibly be God. The still small voice speaks again, He cannot be muffled.
The calling is too big, too much. I am afraid, but the excitement clings.
I will lock eyes with you, my Lord and my God. Lead me on.
Sarah Sandifer says
I think you hit on such a good point, Ruth- whenever my 3-year-old is having a “moment” or can’t get a grip on her day, I tell her to “look in my eyes and take a deep breath.” Let’s do that with the Lord and He’ll guide us through the day! Beautiful thought, my friend.
Lori Jones says
Sarah, this post hit so close to home for me. As an almost empty nester, I have been experiencing these same feelings, how to make my life matter and glorify God? How can I use the time I have to help, inspire, bless and love other people? I think everyone struggles at one time or another about their purpose. I have been praying for God to show me His will for a long time. Sometimes I feel sure about what I am doing and sometimes I don’t. I just keep on praying and hoping that I am doing what He wants me to do. Thank you for writing this. It has opened my eyes that I just need to keep trying and to never give up on prayer.
Sarah Sandifer says
What a neat example you are, Lori. At a season of life that is seen and celebrated to be all about you after you have given so much of your life to people already, you are still looking for ways to be used and to make your life matter. What a beautiful heart you have.
Nancy Ruegg says
Your instruction to pay attention GOT my attention! While reading the list of ways God might be affirming a new direction (through conversations, books, lives of friends, even TV shows), I realized God HAS been obvious about what I need to be doing. It’s just that there are steps to be accomplished before the fulfillment and purposes to fulfill in this wait-time. Thank you, Sarah, for helping me to see what God has been making obvious all along!
Sarah Sandifer says
I love that. It can be so funny to look back and connect some dots that have started to pop up in your life. Just in case you’re interested in more details or possibly it will help you to see even more dots in your life, I explained the full story here- it really was one of the most crazy spiritual season I have experienced yet:
http://www.thejellyjars.com/2014/06/when-god-wrote-us-a-new-story-part-2/
Goodgame empire facebook says
Why visitors still use to read news papers when in this technological globe the whole thing
is existing on net?
Angie Helms says
Wait! What? Adoption! Awesome! God is so good.
Sarah Sandifer says
🙂 yes, Angie! We haven’t started pursuing any official roads yet as this is still a new conversation for us, but we both are really excited about these possibilities. Your family really, truly, is such an encouragement and beacon of hope for us as we look down both of these new paths.
Robin says
The very thing we had a discussion about early this morning…. Wow! God’s timing is always amazing! Waiting to see what He’s going to bring forth from the stirring I was trying to explain to my husband today. Where? What? How? Sarah, your words have ministered, encouraged and been a sweet reminder from the Lord, straight to my questioning heart!!! Blessings as you embark on the journey ahead!!
Sarah Sandifer says
Amen- He is so amazing how He can weave so many things together.
Melanie says
Unbelievably timely post. Had almost this exact conversation at noon today, then come home to this. She literally said to me, “can you imagine not doing this _______ ?”.
God is on the move and is using the lives of those for whom obedience is better than sacrifice. I’m humbled and amazed daily that a God who could do it alone chooses to use us; me- to show His love to the world- mind blown!
Sarah Sandifer says
haha~ Melanie! That is just so hilariously perfect- I don’t know why I’m surprised at how seamlessly He ties things together, like your conversation and this post. Thanks so much for this encouragement.
Alison Lehr says
Thank you for sharing your story ~
God is stiring so many dreams n my heart & new roads. Wondering what is around the bend ~ I see a BRIDGE crossing over a beautiful cool creek. Me,
kicking off my flip flops &rolling up my blue jeans
& being refreshed & laughter& my closest
girlfriends ~
Alison Lehr says
http://www.empoweredtoconnect.org
Great Resource/Adoption
Sarah Sandifer says
Thanks for sharing that resource!
Holley Gerth says
Thanks for sharing this with us, Sarah! (In)courage began as one of those God stirrings. I love the wild and mysterious ways He works! Praying He continues to bless and guide you…
Sarah says
Oh gosh, Holley- thanks so much for joining this conversation, my friend. So neat to think about y’all listening to the stirring you sensed… and just LOOK at what He did through it!
Mary Bishop says
Thanks so much .I was just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer .I am preparing for what ever God has I stored for me so thanks so much for every ones story
Mary
Sarah says
Oh, Mary. Life just threw you quite the curveball. I sense strength in you and quite the strong faith in our sweet and present Jesus.
Kelly says
Sarah,
Thank you for this post. I think something the Lord is teaching me right now is how to move from finding satisfaction in my relationship with my boyfriend and only in my relationship with Him. Sometimes I feel as though I have grown deaf to His voice, not knowing what I should do. Give up because it is too hard or stay because I love my him… Questions that the answers hold no confidence. So I definitely needed to hear this! Thank you so much! I know God is moving in my life, many things in fact. =) Thank you again!