and you wonder why.
Maybe God is trying to tell you something...
-TaTa Vega, Quincy Jones
The Color Purple
Lately I've been living my life like it's stolen! I've been running around here and there, robbing Peter to pay Paul & working my butt off for multiple jobs (which I am happy to have by the way) but with no real goals or direction. The government is deciding whether or not to raise the debt ceiling while I've crashed into mine and tore an artery; I'm bleeding money, energy and faith. Realizing that my "wound" could be the "death" of me, I feverishly work to stop the bleeding, I mean the spending, I mean the sinning, I mean the running, I mean...well, you know what I mean. I'm noticing that the more I try to fix stuff the more it goes wrong. Time to let go and let God...but how do you do that?
Just last week I had a very inspirational conversation with a couple from Philly but now live in Florida. They told me some key things that have helped me navigate through my current storm, gain clarity and establish a spiritual action plan. Their words were an inspiration to me so I thought I would share the lesson I learned from the conversation. So here are my Three Ways to Know God is Trying to Tell You Something...and What To Do About It (CAUTION: this list was not created with love relationships in mind. some of the suggestions may not be appropriate for matters of the heart):
1.) What Once Worked for You, Doesn't Anymore- This is the first sign that maybe the time for that job, that friendship, that look, that living situation has run it's course and it's time to move on.
What To Do: Pray & be still, observe what's happening, begin to open your mind and heart to other options.
2.) Confirmation Comes From Everywhere- So you've had THAT talk with God, got your marching orders BUT you second guess everything including what He told you. After a while God will speak to you through other people telling you what God has already told you, you will see random TV shows related to your situation, the Pastor will talk about YOUR situation during service (even if he doesn't know you) and so on
What To Do: Listen then act on your marching orders.
3.) The Perfect Storm- Out of nowhere you're life resembles a" made for Lifetime movie" with lots of drama, tragedy and misfortune. In this instance your strength, patience, health, character and faith are tested but know that all the drama serves a greater purpose. My pastor, Pastor Waller of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, says that the storms have to come to clean out the mess and give us a fresh start. This storm had to come so that you would stop doing what was keeping you from the will of God.
What To Do: Get a spiritual umbrella...ella...ella...ay and ride it out.
Ain't no use in worrying
what tonight is gonna bring
It will be all over
in the morning...
-The Winans and Anita Baker
And remember, this too shall pass. God has a way of working things out for the best, and we maybe going through a test, but at the end of the test, is the testimony that we can can share with someone else that maybe going through something similar.
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