[pinit count=”horizontal”]“I want to go, but what if I’m the only girl?” my sweet eight year old asks me. She is debating going hunting – pink duck boots and all – with Daddy.
“Well, you’ll be a trailblazer.” I offer.
I can tell she doesn’t quite understand, so I explain, “You’ll be the one to lead the way. Cutting out a trail for those who come after. Who knows? Maybe other girls are waiting for someone to go first.”
(And I try to muffle my sigh. Because I never thought I’d be encouraging my daughter to go hunting. Oh, the things we do.)
And weeks later, I still can’t get the word out of my mind…
Trailblazer.
Every time the word comes up, I think of this community of dreamers. And those who are going first.
Risking it all to say, “Yes,” to God’s call. Getting sideways glances, because it’s OK to love Jesus, but not OK to talk about Him.
Perhaps the first one in their family to take God at His word and truly trust He can do anything.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26 (NIV)
And those who are blazing trails among their non-believing friends.
You, friend, are a game changer. (<==== Click to tweet)
The girl who often feels misunderstood in her God-sized dream. So different.
Brave trailblazer, you might not be imagining it.
You could simply be different. Given a different spirit, even.
A lot like Caleb.
Back in the days of Moses, after God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He had them send twelve men to check out the land of Canaan and report back. It was discovered the land was plentiful – milk and honey flowed, and there was fruit. But it was well protected by a group of people so large, they made the spies look like grasshoppers.
Caleb believed they should still go in and take possession of the land. He felt they could, “certainly do it.”
The other spies didn’t agree.
Caleb didn’t just have a different view, Numbers 14:24 says this:
“But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows Me wholeheartedly,
I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
Numbers 14:24 (NIV, emphasis mine)
A different spirit.
Not one that follows the world, but one that trusts in the unseen power of God. To believe Him and to take Him at His word. Knowing that when He says you can go against giants, you move forward. Having faith the world would call crazy.
You have a different spirit as well – you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you, friend. (<==== Click to tweet)
Carve that path. Keep moving forward and listening to His voice. Keep praying.
One day you’ll look behind and see an amazing sight, on the very trail you blazed. God will use it to lead others to Christ.
“ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
How can I be in prayer for you this weekend, trailblazer?
Shared by: Christine Wright
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Patricia says
February 28, 2014 at 7:04 amThank you so much for this. I can so easily see my “different” faith walk as a negative and not as being a trailblazer! You have lifted my spirits today and helped me to walk on in hope. May God bless your day as you have blessed mine by being faithful.
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 9:47 amPatricia, it’s not easy to go first. I live in Florida, and I look at the swampy forests, with scary bugs, sharp palmetto bushes, and alligators, and I think of the explorers long ago. I’m so glad it was them and not me!! I don’t think I would have made it two feet before turning back. But when God calls, we go forward, no matter what the land looks like, trusting Him to take down the obstacles before us. Glad you’re here with us, friend!
Ashley Fields says
February 28, 2014 at 7:49 amThank you so much Christine! This is a wonderful and much needed post. I have varying people in my life who don’t say much but instead look askance at my God-size dream and my trust in God in general. My family is going through a tough situation right now and it would be very easy for me to literally sit in the middle of the floor and bawl my eyes out over it while eating half a pint of cookies and cream ice cream, but I’m not going to do that because my God is greater and he has commanded me not to allow anxiety to move in and take residence. That is a hard task for me as fear has been my constant companion since I was a child but as a strong Christian woman, I have a choice. I can either trust God with this situation or I can allow my anxiety to take over my life. I’m not willing to allow the latter to happen; it’s not always easy but I have peace in the midst of the storm. God is my rock and my refuge; he is on my side so who can defeat me?
As for my dream, despite the naysayers and the negative yet passive overtones of some of what they say, God is continuing to shape this seemingly impossible dream! I now know that when I do write my book, I want to write it for an audience that could and would easily pick it up at Lifeway or Barnes and Noble in the Christian Living section of the store. There are days when I wonder if I have enough to write about but God is showing me that he will give me words when I can find none. I don’t know this yet, but my career may be one that I have to carve out for myself rather than being something that is already in place. It’s been an exciting journey and I’m excited to see what else is in store, both the ups and the downs.
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 9:59 amOh, friend, your trust in God – even in the difficult, icky times – is simply beautiful. God is guiding you through all of this, so you can pour out what you’re learning into others one day. I firmly believe that. I heard this song, by Rend Collective, for the first time this morning – and thought of you as I read your comment. http://youtu.be/49x_h4CbZxs
Ashley Fields says
February 28, 2014 at 10:23 amThank you Christine! I just listened to the song twice and it made me smile both times. I could feel God’s presence with me as I listened. 🙂
Alecia says
February 28, 2014 at 9:09 amBeautiful, needed reminder today! I love reading your God-breathed words.
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 10:06 amThank you girl! I, too, need a frequent reminder. 🙂
Mandy says
February 28, 2014 at 10:07 amLove it! Yes, that little factor called the Holy Spirit, it can do some mighty things!!!
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 3:22 pmYES!!! So true!!
Olivia says
February 28, 2014 at 10:14 amMuch needed reminder! I’m off to blaze some trails–sort of–many errands to run for family. Thank you, Christine, for your words!
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 3:23 pmTrails can take many different shapes! {And sometimes errands are the most exhausting ones!}
Tina Evans says
February 28, 2014 at 10:28 amThis was a major source of encouragement to me today. Thank you so much for writing this post. Throughout it I kept getting the “chills” like the words you wrote were wrote for me. <3
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 3:25 pmTina, that means more to me than I can say. Thank you. God is so good!!
Charlotte Hammer says
February 28, 2014 at 10:47 amThank you so much for this encouragement. Earlier this week I was so discouraged and questioning God’s call on my life. How can I be sure? Maybe I was wrong. What was I thinking? I even went so far as to calculate the cost of that call and begin planning to eliminate those costs and just settle in where I am. I thought about just making the best of my situation, my life now instead of waiting for what God has for me. It’s so hard waiting. Because I don’t really KNOW.
I dusted myself off, laid it all out to God. And then this blog post! Phew. Thanks.
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 3:27 pmI love how when I come to the end of myself and lay it all out to God, He sends me just what I need to take the next steps. Keep going…keep blazing that trail, friend.
Colleen says
February 28, 2014 at 3:11 pmI just read that portion of scripture regarding Caleb’s Spirit, last eve, and have been pondering it. Wonderful post. Thank you!
Christine Wright says
February 28, 2014 at 3:28 pmWow. That is such amazing timing. All God. Grateful for your comment.
Denise says
February 28, 2014 at 7:33 pmWonderful post.
Christine Wright says
March 2, 2014 at 8:12 amThanks, Denise!
Edwina Cowgill says
March 1, 2014 at 11:28 amChristine,
I would ask that you pray for me and my family this weekend as my dad went to be with Jesus and my mom earlier this week.
My “trailblazer adventure” is to write my memoir, which is controversial, to say the least. On more than one occasion, God has said, “Now is the time…” but I’ve always found a very good “excuse” to put off finishing the book. Please pray that I will not allow anything or anyone else to stop me from finishing this book.
Thank you!
Christine Wright says
March 2, 2014 at 8:17 amI’m so sorry, Edwina. I’ve been praying for you and your family since reading this yesterday…that you would feel Jesus hold you close. And for the strength for move forward with your book. Please keep me updated.
Amy says
March 1, 2014 at 6:05 pmBeautiful words, Christine. Thank you.
I learned today that my mother has breast cancer. I would be so thankful if you would keep her and our family in your prayers as we move through the weeks ahead.
Amy
Christine Wright says
March 2, 2014 at 8:21 amOh, Amy. Absolutely – I will be praying for peace, healing, and direction for your mom, for you, and your family. Please keep me updated.
Holley Gerth says
March 3, 2014 at 9:27 pmI’m so grateful to be a trailblazer with you! I love you, friend!
Elise Daly Parker says
March 5, 2014 at 9:43 pmAwesome! I don’t really like being different…but I like the kind of different you’re talking about here. Yes, may I be different enough to go forward for God no matter what. You my friend are indeed a trailblazer. WooHoo!
Tiffany says
August 1, 2014 at 11:30 amI’m in transition. I have been for nearly a year and moving again. Before I left Los Angeles, it felt like something touched my feet for a period of time and they were ablazed. I came to Virginia, but this isn’t where God would have me to be…so I’m going again, now to Atlanta & right now as I type my feet feel the same. I don’t know what God has next but I do know that it’s my utmost desire to stay focused on His path. Now, I move forward as a spiritual trailblazer!!!
Tory Trenton says
January 22, 2016 at 10:45 amBeautiful. Love the depth of understanding on the topic. God bless you.