When God gives you an assignment, do you ever want to say, “Um…No, thanks.”?
When we moved back into our overseas apartment, I got in a snit about closets, about the lack of closets, to be specific. It wasn’t just the closets, it was the whole, small, cluttered house. After nine months of living stateside in a large home with plenty of storage space, everything in me wanted to shout, “NO” to our apartment with leaky bathrooms, mismatched furniture, and no closets. (See how much I need Jesus?)
In fact, I was sitting on my living room couch ranting at God when I saw this:
(This is from the most life-changing book I’ve read this year: Come with Me by Suzanne Eller. You’ll find more about Suzie’s book below.)
I may suffer frequently from spiritual amnesia, but I know God’s voice when I hear it.
He spoke loud and clear: “Will you come with me? Will you follow me?”
You see, for me, living in this leaky-bathroom apartment with mismatched furniture and no closets goes along with my calling. Jesus called my family to live overseas for Him.
Friend, Jesus may not call you overseas, but He has a call on your life:
The longer I live, the more I discover that life is not all about me. Our lives are not just about us. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and put Him in the center. He calls us to follow wherever He leads and to impact our world by loving and serving those around us.
Where is Jesus leading you today?
Maybe He’s calling you to be faithful in the small.
Focus on following Him as you do one more load of laundry. Work hard one more day at your job. Play one more game of Monopoly with the kids. Remember Jesus while you take your special needs child to one more therapy session or drop your husband off at the airport one more time.
Maybe He’s calling you to deeper waters.
Is Jesus leading you to venture out into deeper waters of faith as you undergo trials? Stand firm on His Word, believe His promises, and trust Him one more day. Lift one more prayer for your marriage. Offer forgiveness to that difficult person once more.
Maybe He’s calling you to uncharted territory.
Is God calling you to a new ministry? Trust Him. Reach out to that woman at your church. Start that prayer group or new business. Put in one more hour of work on your God-sized dream. Put yourself out there one more time, and trust Jesus with the results.
Maybe you’re at the point where I was in my leaky bathroom apartment.
You want to shout NO to God’s assignment. Friend, no matter what He’s calling you to today, there’s beauty to be discovered.
How about whispering “yes” where “no” wants to take root? Then do the next thing in front of you.
Focus on following Jesus today. Stick close to him. Lean in and listen as you follow His example by loving and serving those around you. He’ll surprise you with joy, and your life will have more impact than you can imagine.
Now it’s your turn: Where is Jesus calling you? What’s on your plate for today?
Suzanne Eller’s Come with Me is not just a book; it’s a life-changing message about following Jesus more closely and letting Him change you. Suzie has inspired a movement of women willing to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus and discover the beauty of following where He leads.
A great story teller, Suzie weaves real life stories with Bible teaching and takes us on a journey with the 12 disciples. Each chapter focuses on one disciple: what it was like for him to follow Jesus and what his example means for us.
Come With Me is easy to read, yet has a deep message. I just finished this book, and I want to read it again. It encourages me to follow God more closely, and to love and serve others.
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I’m linking up with Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday, Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory, Suzie Eller’s #livefreeThursday, Lyli Dunbar’s Thought-Provoking Thursday, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
Betsy, like you, I found Come With Me to be a challenging book. I loved every page. Thank you for the sweet push to follow Him in the next thing He has placed in front of me. I needed the reminder this morning! Blessings!
Blessings to you too, Joanne. I know God has so many plans to use you to bless others.
I know for certain that God wanted me to read these words this morning.
“As for God, His way is perfect . . .”
Thanks for the sweet reminder.
Oh yes, His way is perfect. Praying for you now, friend. His ways are perfect.
LOVED this review Betsy! You said everything perfectly!
Thank you, Shannon.
Betsy, thank you for this message today! I am on vacation, and had a few minutes this morning without my husband and daughter. I thought would spend a little time with God, but glanced through my email first. Your post became my devotional today. I can relate to it, for I have bucked assignments from God many times, usually when my own picture of what i would like to do for Him doesn’t match up with what HE would like me to do for Him! And you’re right, sometimes it’s staying in a place that’s hard or uncomfortable. Yet, each and every time, I have found that God had a blessing in each situation. When I worked through those tough marriage issues. When I paid off debt my ex left me with. When I stayed in a job I wanted to quit. When I loved members even when they were at their most unlovable. God knows so much more what He needs, and what I need! I just have to trust and obey, something easier said than done sometimes. Thank you for your encouragement, Betsy. I am praying for you in your new assignment. 🙂 – Linda
Thanks for this heartfelt comment, Linda. I’m praying for God’s purposes in you to unfold and bring Him even more glory. You’re right! Sometimes His plans don’t look much like ours. Thanks for your prayer, friend. I appreciate you.
Thanks for this reminder! I view things from my own perspective so often. I forget that raising my kids is my calling right now in this season. I’m searching for other things, but He has me where he wants me to be.
I enjoyed your post!
Julie
You are so right, Julie. Raising kids is such a noble ministry. It’s my first calling too. I notice that my teens seem to need me as much as or more than they did when they were toddlers!
I have not read Come with Me but am hearing such good things about it that I have added it to my life. There is so much power in saying “yes”. We forget that releasing ourselves to the “yes” allows God to step in and do what He does best- lead us. Even though “no” seems to roll off of the tongue easier than “yes” I am praying that my yeses outweigh my noes. Thank you for this reminder today. I am praying for you as you transition back into your life in Turkey.
Thanks so much, Mary. You would love this book. I was surprised by how much it impacted me! I received it for review, and it ended up really capturing my heart!
A snit about closets, eh? That made me smile. But I must admit, I’m glad you’re adjusting to life back “home” now. I agree with you ~ this book is quite impactful! It led me to thoughts and places I had yet to visit. Well worth the read ~ both the book and your post. 😉 #testimonyTuesday
Thanks so much, Kristi! I know you’re a “whisper yes” girl yourself!
Betsy, I so need to read, Come With Me. I need to stop and listen and follow where He leads. Trying to tromp on ahead of Him is so exhausting!
I found it to be an easy read and relate to. Fairly “entertaining” yet also thought-provoking. It impacted me a lot. For sure more than any other book I’ve read this year!
Betsy, thank you for your transparency and for encouraging us. I’m stopping by from RaRalinkup. Blessings
Thanks for reading today, Stacey.
Betsy, God is calling me out to deeper waters of being vulnerable. And we’re not on a speedboat. But I don’t want to fight or flee. But it’s not comfortable.
Enjoyed your post.
Not on a speedboat! I love that Terri. We don’t have one of those around in these deep waters either. Praying for you right now, friend. May God take you deeper with Himself.
This was just what I needed today, Betsy. A combination of stressful events and situations have really left me feeling ragged these past few days — overwhelmed and tempted to just “quit” (whatever that would look like!). But this helps shift the focus: to be faithful in the moment, in the small things, trusting that doing so is part of following God’s calling. Thanks.
Oh Jeannie, I’m so sorry you’re feeling overwhelmed. Our lives are very different, but I’ve been there too. I’m praying for you now, that God would lighten your load, give you His rest, and pour out His peace and joy over you as you seek to be faithful in the moments.
Spiritual amensia – love it, Betsy. So glad that even when we forget that His path is sure, we always have Him to come to, and lean into. Even in our snits and complaints, He receives us still.
Oh yes, Tiffany. He receives us still, amnesia and all. 🙂
Oh, Betsy! I just love you and this post! Praying God’s blessings over you. I am with shaking hands and a nervous heart preparing to step into previously I chart d waters about sharing a portion of my story publicly. And it is hard. So hard. But I know He will be with me every step of the way! xo
Praying for you now, Liz, that God will use your story with power to touch hearts.
I loved these sections:
“Maybe He’s calling you to be faithful in the small.
Focus on following Him as you do one more load of laundry. Work hard one more day at your job. Play one more game of Monopoly with the kids. Remember Jesus while you take your special needs child to one more therapy session or drop your husband off at the airport one more time.
Maybe He’s calling you to deeper waters.
Is Jesus leading you to venture out into deeper waters of faith as you undergo trials? Stand firm on His Word, believe His promises, and trust Him one more day. Lift one more prayer for your marriage. Offer forgiveness to that difficult person once more.”
The concept of “one more” or “once more” really spoke to me.
So much of our lives, our faithfulness consists of showing up one more time, doesn’t it? It’s hard to connect cooking with our calling, but it’s a ministry! So is laundry! So is sticking in that marriage through hard times!
Sometimes it is our hardest things that wind up having the greatest impact, and not just on ourselves. Wish I remembered this when I’m in the middle of something God is nudging me on and I drag my feet. lol Your words pour grace and honesty onto this struggle of allowing Him to lead fully! Thank you Betsy! (P.S. Loved Suzie’s book too!)
I just found you through Ginger On Twitter to your article on Crosswalk and finally your blog. I’m subscribing. I love your voice and heart. I’m a retired Army wife, fellow blogger, and lover of Jesus. God wants me to encourage you today to keep on keepin on. He loves you.
Suzie’s book was such a game changer for me! Love it! Thanks for sharing the message. Hope you are doing well, dear friend.
I am doing well, hanging in there, being changed from glory to glory, I want to hope!
I’ve heard so many good things about this book, I really must read it! My first response, unfortunately, is usually to tell God, “no.” Especially when something is hard or I don’t see how it could possibly work out. Thankfully He is very patient and gives me space and time to work my way around to a, “yes.” It’s slow obedience that I’m trying to get better at.
I know what you mean, Alecia. I often say “NO” as well, at least at the beginning. I also rationalize how now is not convenient, this is impossible, blah blah blah. But He convinces me too. He’s patient that way.
Betsy, unintentionally, you humble me. Thank you.
Roni, I don’t know how I do that? But I’m honored that you read my words today. Love you so much, cousin.
Ugh. I have an event I volunteered for today, and I’m really wanting to change my yes to a no! ha. But you’re encouraging me to get out of bed with a cheerful heart instead and head out there. Thanks, Betsy.
Oh Lisa, I know how you feel, BELIEVE me! I’m praying for you now, that God will use you to splash some of His love around today!
Such a ringing endorsement for the book Betsy but your post peaks to me today. I must admit when my father told me at a young age that God had called him to be a home missionary, my first thought was okay… you and mom have fun with that! Even now as an adult there are those moments of really God? Is it you or am I just “hearing things?” I admit I am thrilled now that God speaks to me and I ask Him for wisdom and courage when I do not understand. I will pray for you and your family as you readjust to everything. I know that many will be blessed and come to know Christ as you and family share your faith. Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts and frustrations here. i know God will bless you for serving Him! Have a wonderful weeknd friend. Blessings.
You and mom have fun with that! You’re cracking me up, Horace. I sometimes wonder if we’re totally messing our kids up by raising them here, but I know God is in control Thanks so much for your encouragement, it means a lot. It really does.
Betsy,
With my work with Redeemer Christian Foundation, God has definitely been calling me out into uncharted waters. I may not know what lies 10 steps ahead, but like you said, I just need to do the next best thing. I tend to get like the deer in the headlights…that’s when God reminds me to just keep putting one foot in front of the other into His “yes”.
Blessings to you as you get reoriented,
Bev
Oh Bev, I KNOW He’s leading you out to uncharted waters with your school project. Thanks for being faithful to follow. You inspire me.
I am so grateful that Suzie came into my life, and that I was able to read this book. It is such a powerful message and communicated with much love.
I thought so too, Sarah. I missed seeing you at the #livefree retreat in April. Suzie is the real deal. She’s walking the talk. I’ve been touched powerfully by her message.
You leave His joy and grace wherever you go, in whatever you write, Betsy.
;-}
Thank you, Betsy. <3
Love you and your message, Suzie.
Besty, I loved reading this encouragement to say yes to Jesus. I just finished reading the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which was so inspiring…and this trusting God and saying yes business seemed to be a theme in his life. Now I’m interested in reading the book you mentioned.
Thank you for linking with Grace and Truth last week. I would love to feature this post tomorrow.
Thanks so much for featuring this post, Dawn. I appreciate it. I’ll bet that Dietrich Bonhoeffer biography WAS inspiring. My husband and I watched a movie about him recently. It was so convicting.
Your post was like a life preserver in my ‘leaky’ life today! Gosh we all need Jesus like the air we breathe. And I think I suffer from “spiritual amnesia” a little too!! God is calling me to surrender- I’m pretty sure… to be faithful in the small, in the mundane 9 to 5 and to speak love and grace in my family. Gosh some days sure are easier than others… but we’re never exempt. So glad I was led back around to your post ♥
Oh Heather, I’m sorry you’re feeling like life is “leaky.” May the Lord give you grace each day, sister, just like you say to be faithful in the small. Praying for you now. Thanks so much for reading today.