Recently I was listening to a podcast titled “The Chubby Kid Mentality,” on iTunes.

The guest speaker was mentioning as a child she was taller and bigger-boned than her naturally short and petite sisters. Despite eating the same foods as her family, metabolically her body didn’t burn it off the way theirs did. So she found herself heavier than them as well.

Because she felt self-conscience about her size, she found herself complaining to her dad one night. He wisely gave her this advice: “If it bothers you then it’s time to do something about it. ‘The lazy person wants it all but has nothing, while an energetic person works hard and has everything.’ ”

Too often I can relate to the lazy person who wants it all but doesn’t want to work hard to make it happen (<====Click to Tweet). I want to sit back and pray, but do nothing on my part.

Can you relate?

After her father quoted this wise piece of scripture to her from Proverbs 13:4, she realized she had been doing a whole lot of praying but not a lot of doing, it was time to do her part. She started exercising, joined Weight Watchers, and lost the weight that had been holding her back from doing things she wanted, like going out for the cheerleading team.

This podcast struck a chord with me on many levels. Regardless if I want to lose weight or move forward with my dreams, I have to do my part.

Stuck is a state of mind I know all too well.  It seems to be one I am in more times than not. Really I think it is fear of moving forward when I don’t know where I will end up that is the roadblock.

I can relate to this quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

It reminds me to take action even in uncertainty.

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Very few things in my life have turned out the way I planned. I think because of this it makes me weary to work so hard toward a goal just to have it not turn out the way I prayed and planned for.

We make our plans, but the Lord directs our steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

How very true are the words in the Bible, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” (Proverbs 13:12)

Fifteen years ago I got serious with God and promised to trust Him no matter what.  I was tired of me and knew my ways weren’t working out so well. I thought, I’m following God, life is going to be so much easier, and it wasn’t long before I realized this was not the case. No, people in my life still did and said things that hurt me. I would still get very angry. Prayers went unanswered and dreams were just that, dreams.

The difference with God is now I have peace when life goes awry instead of rage. I have trust instead of doubt when I’m not sure how things will work out.

It’s been a long personal refining journey for me to realize I have a choice. I can choose to obey and believe that the plans God has for me are good and allow Him to work in me. Or take back control and do things my way.

I wish each time I could say I chose the former, but too many times I chose the latter. It took many times of getting up, brushing myself off, and starting over. Rebellion hurts, this I know.

But the times I wisely choose to trust, obey, and do my part I realize I don’t have to go through hard times alone (<====Click to Tweet). God is always there to give me peace, guidance, and wisdom.

I just have to choose to accept it.

I have to choose to move forward even when I’m unsure of the bigger picture.

I have to choose trust my “unknown future to a known God.” (Corrie Ten Boom)

What about you? Are you taking steps forward? If not, what is one choice you can make in obedience today?

Shared by: Alecia Simersky