Today, January 31st, marks 6 weeks since we landed here in Florida for good (we hope!). 6 weeks since we left Texas on a wish & a prayer, hoping for opportunity to unfold here in Tampa Bay. We didn’t know the ‘how’, we just knew the vision the Lord had laid on our hearts close to a year & a half ago. And we responded — with much prayer, counsel, consideration, and finally a leap of faith.

Taking leaps of faith can be scary. The unknown lays out before us, beckoning us into its mystery and alluring us with its adventure, but our head often declines the invite. After all, we are practical people who do practical things that make sense.

But faith & wisdom can go hand-in-hand, I’m learning. We don’t have to check our mind at the door to walk in faith. We can — carefully, with wise counsel, fasting, and prayer under our belt — decide to take a God-led risk when we sense His nudges in an area.

Abraham left all he knew for the Promised Land — and it came, bit by bit, to his people — just as God promised. But it would’ve been a much different story had Abraham said no and clung to the familiar in his life. God’s covenant may have arisen from a different man, but Abe had faith & thus changed history.

Is It Time to Leap?

We strive to be people of faith, even when it doesn’t make sense. But when you’ve done the praying, when you’ve sought advice from godly people in your life, when you & your circle of trust are in agreement, when you’ve pored through the Word, and when signs in your life point to ‘yes’… there comes a time when you must leap. You must get out of the boat and walk towards the Lord, where He’s guiding you and just don’t look back (as Lot’s wife did) or down (as poor Peter made the mistake of doing).

You leap. God initiates, you pray & seek His direction, and then eventually you go for it! You may not be 100% prepared, but you’ve done your due diligence, you’ve weighed the pros & cons, and then you dive straight in.

Our Journey into the Unknown

It hasn’t been a straightforward journey for us. We’ve had to risk finances, job security (potentially), comfort, time together, our amazing church family in Texas, and proximity to many of our best friends…. but we had a vision God gave us and a compelling reason (OK, many) for it. We waited over a year — selling our house & putting pieces into place to make it happen — and then at the right time, we both felt like It’s Time. 

So we stepped out, and God met us there.

Now, just 6 weeks in and with question marks still dotting our path, we continue to have resounding peace. We made it, and we are so thankful to be here. This risk we’ve taken — though we have yet to land on solid ground all around — is starting to look like it may be the right decision! Time will tell, but with every step of faith we’re taking, a path seems to be clearing before us.

Maybe God is stretching our faith through this journey. Maybe He wants us to trust Him step-by-step instead of seeing the whole staircase at once. Maybe He has some fun surprises up His sleeve (doesn’t He often?). Maybe this will go in an entirely different direction than imagined. All we know is that we have His PEACE, a gift we’re thankful for during these last few months when so many possibilities have been up in the air for us. We just keep trusting that He knows where He’s taking us (even when we don’t).

All we can hope for is that He’s leading us. He’s guiding us, not our flesh or our crazy hair-brained notions. We are looking to Him and hope we don’t miss what He has for us.

As of tonight, we’ve committed to a new church in South Tampa. Brian has had interviews in the Tampa Bay area and made great connections here. We’re both reconnecting with our Florida family (& welcoming his parents to their new home nearby!). We’re settling into our new community. Even Behr, our sweet & excitable puppy, seems to be thriving since we arrived. I’m looking forward to connecting with old friends & making new ones, as is Brian, and we are eager to begin serving in our church and become part of a new community of believers.

Yes, this place is starting to feel like home, a mere 6 weeks in.

Your God-Given Dream

How about you? Are you holding onto a dream God’s given you? Is it time to ‘birth’ this dream? Maybe you’ve been in such a long season of waiting that you couldn’t possibly imagine NOW could be the time. But could it? Ask the Holy Spirit for His help. Seek counsel from those who know you & love the Lord & seek to follow Him. Pray and fast, if need be. But always walk through the open doors before you.

Who knows — maybe 2016 will be the year God births His dream in your life! Maybe He wants to do something new through you, and He’s been preparing your heart all this time to take a leap of faith for such a time as this 🙂

I pray He guides you with His peace, through His word, & through the people and opportunities around you. And I pray that when the time is ripe, you will take that leap — because if He wants you to go, there must be good fruit on the other side! 

Has God ever asked you to take a leap of faith? What were the results in your life?