I remember a conversation I had with my officemate Pam right before I quit my job. I’d been mired in indecision, torn over whether or not I should take the leap from the security of a job I’d held for ten years to the risky unknown of freelance writing. “It’s like you’re at the end of a long, dark hallway,” Pam said to me one morning as we sat at our desks, the sun slanting through the blinds. “You just have to take the first step.”
“Yeah, but I’d like to see a couple of doors down that hallway first,” I replied, laughing. “They don’t even have to be wide open, a sliver of light would be fine. I just want to know the doors are actually there first.”
When I read today’s story about Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12:1-17), I wondered if perhaps he had felt a bit like me as he stood on the cusp of freedom. Despite any reservations he may have had, though, Peter reacted immediately to the angel’s call. He didn’t weigh his options. He didn’t hem and haw. He didn’t scratch out a list of pros and cons. When the angel called, Peter obeyed and followed.
Later in the story we learn that Peter hadn’t even realized the angel was real. He’d assumed it was a vision. Yet he had still followed, no questions asked. And when Peter took that first step in obedience, when he slipped on his sandals and followed that angelic vision out of the prison cell, a miraculous thing happened. Every door opened along the way:
They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. (Acts 12:10)
Only after Peter acted in obedience did he realize it had been an angel of the Lord who had been guiding him to freedom all along.
Walking in faith, trust and obedience is scary. It’s difficult to take that first step, not knowing for sure if the gates will swing open or if the doors will even appear. But sometimes I think God simply wants us to trust him enough to take that first, tentative step, without the signed-on-the-dotted-line guarantee that everything will work out. Sometimes I think God wants us to step out in faith, trusting that he will brighten the dark hallway and open doors along the way.
A year ago this week I took that first step. I quit my job and leaped (or perhaps tiptoed is a better word) into my new life as a writer. Although I hadn’t seen them when I stood at the end of that long, dark hallway, the doors were indeed there. Some of them appeared when I least expected it. Some of the doors had been there all along, and I simply hadn’t seen them until I stepped closer.
Can you think back to a time in your life when you stepped out in faith, not sure the doors would open, or even if the doors were there at all? What happened as a result?
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i have never regretted a step-out-in-faith decision….and you’re right, we don’t always see those doors at first, but they are there!
Yep, I have a few of those stories myself. You’d think they’d have made me braver for future ones. 🙂 Maybe they have…
I remember twenty years ago when I was a modern-day Abraham, going not knowing. God told me to leave a full-time career when our daughter was five months old. Frankly, I wasn’t just going, but leaping–and I did so with great trepidation. And I had no idea where I’d land. Writing and speaking were not really even much on the radar, but a little. And as with you, God began to open doors. I think the key is, Michelle, walking through them when God opens them. And while that seems simple, sometimes crossing a threshold ushers you into a whole other universe. I’m glad that you said yes
I love this especially, Lynn: “sometimes crossing a threshold ushers you in a whole other universe.” Needed that nugget of wisdom today, friend.
Yes, I can think back to a time like that where I stepped out in faith not knowing if it would work. It was when I quit my job to homeschool my children over 25 years ago. Good for you, stepping out in faith to free-lance write!! Thanks for hosting the linkup today. Have a sweet day my friend.
I’ve been thinking about this as we prepare to sell our house and hope to find our “dream house” for sale at just the right timw and price. I like, in the Acts story, that God isn’t confined to doors, isn’t there one story where God sends an earthquake and simply knocks down all of the walls? So even if that hallway looks long, dark and never-ending, God can do something wonderful and unexpected with it. I’m trying to remember to stop looking so far ahead and I’m startin to think of obedience as being like moving along the monkeybars at the playground, get some momentum going and start swinging from bar to bar, blessing to blessing, letting go of one in order to reach for another.
That is totally key for me, Kelly – to stop looking so far ahead and start simply concentrating on the right now. That’s what I’ve been focusing on lately, too. Wishing and hoping for the best for you in your house search, friend.
I needed this encouragement today to keep walking 🙂 My favorite story is Abraham going to sacrifice Isaac. Same thing as Peter – no committee, no lists, no prayer groups, no “see-able” provision…just God’s call & Abraham’s obedience. May I know HIS voice so clearly I will obey quickly without having to see the end. Thanks again! Hugs to you.
Another Michelle 🙂
I have a framed quote on my desk “Sometimes the only available transportation is a leap of faith” (Margaret Shephard).
You never have to leap for sure things. Big risk = Big reward. Put it out there and just see what happens next!
m.
I quit my job as an act of faith, too…let’s see…four years ago. I still look back on that time with so much excitement, and use it as a private example of how to properly hear the voice of God. Of course, it hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would, but it did turn out the way it was supposed to. I am still breathless with the thought that God would take the time to talk to me…
I like your point: that just because it doesn’t turn out the way we think it will doesn’t mean it hasn’t turned out the way He meant it to – love that! My leap hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would either … but it’s all good, and I am grateful.
So glad you took that walk into the dark hallway, Michelle. And such lovely doorways you’ve discovered. Congrats, my friend. You are truly one brave lady.
Quitting my job to stay home with my kids without another source of income lined-up. Big step of faith. Within two months an online job fell in my lap. God doesn’t always move so quickly for me. Sometimes He lets me trust him a little longer, but that time was super fast and confirmed all my ideas about his will for my life right then. I’m glad you are home writing. That’s what you were meant to do 🙂
Dear Michele
Your words remind me of Abraham who truky had no idea where he was going after God called him out of Ur. To leave everything behind to step out in faith can be a scary business!
Blessings
Mia
Oh the Abraham story, so true, so true, Mia. Thanks for reminding me of that one.
Totally stepping out in faith right now. I didn’t expect this much hatred, nor did I expect this much support. I do think God is up to something bigger than me & mine.
Yes you are, Megan — and yes He is. I believe that, too.
The year has gone by so quickly Michelle, and you have done so well. You encourage me – your faith gives me faith. I seem to be one who hems and haws waiting for the writing on the wall or the audible voice. It doesn’t work very well – that sort of thing. I know you’ve taken the right steps, and I’m so proud of you.
Well of course the story behind the story here is that it took my husband Brad basically telling me, “Honey! Wake up – this is your moment to leap!” I was like, “Really? Now? Are you sure?” So yeah, I often miss the writing on the wall, but thank God I have people around me with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Thank you for your sweet words, Linda – I love you.
But you took that leap and look at you now! I’m so proud to call you a friend!
I can think of a time I stepped out in faith because everything was pulled out from underneath me…I had no choice but to go forward with my hand in His. It was scary, gut-wrenching…but in an odd way, it was wonderful!
Yup, I’ve had those times, too – so very scary. That’s when my prayer life goes into overdrive!
I remember when you were making that decision! Has it really been a year?!?! Wow! Look at all the doors God has flung wide open for you! Crazy, huh? And I could not be more proud and excited!
I’m familiar with that dark hallway of faith. What an intimidating spectacle…all that darkness stretching out before you with you not even a hint of what might be beyond the first step. Is it a step into an abyss with no end in sight, or will there actually be a door that opens? The way you describe Peter’s “release” from prison sums it up so very well — one door opening up after another. And only after stepping through, do we realize that door was there all along. Happy one year anniversary, Michelle!
We made the leap into the dark hallway together and that made it so much less scary! Happy anniversary to you, too, dear friend. We celebrated with pretty toes today!
I’m all brave about transitions — as long as know what’s on the other side. But just stepping out with no direction–that’s brave
I’m laughing, David, because that’s totally me — all brave when I can clearly see the other side. I thank God that my husband and Deidra encouraged me so much during that scary, dark hallway time. If it hadn’t been for then, I probably wouldn’t have stepped.
So excited for you now that your manuscript is completed! It’s amazing how life changes in one short year when we are willing to put feet to our faith….. Can’t wait to see what else you and God are going to do. 🙂
I just realized I read this right after I linked up but never commented. I can relate Michelle. I stepped out in faith and quit my job too, to write from passion and blog. (Just writing that sounds ridiculous.) But you know, just a few short weeks after I took the leap of faith, we got an unexpected financial surprise that was the exact amount I was bringing home monthly in my pay check. It was God’s way of saying, “Yeah, this was me telling you to do it, now trust me.”
Very good, i like you.And say and say ………. It’s greatttttttttttt……..