Author: Rachel Crawford
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the LORD directs his steps and establishes them.” Proverbs 16:9 (Amp)
Hey y’all! I’ve got a personal story to share with you today. A few years ago God prompted me to start sharing my art process and knowledge online through the medium of video. It was something I wanted to do and felt excited about and yet the thought of it was overwhelming. It was bigger than me, out of my wheelhouse and I didn’t have knowledge or experience in the area of video. Not to mention the vulnerably of putting yourself out there.
So what did I do? I sat on it. I let fear in. I let doubt and lack of confidence in. And I put it off.
But God didn’t give up on me. He persisted. He lovingly nudged. And I continued to sit like a bump on a log doing everything else but what God was asking of me.
I busied myself with other things. Not bad things, but they weren’t the things for me to do. And I was stuck in ruts that I had dug for myself.
Then one day an accomplished artist friend asked me to collaborate on a video project with her. The very thing God had been asking me to do. I was nervous and still felt ill equipped but I said YES because you don’t pass up an opportunity with a person with such influence.
It was a very successful collaboration and I know God sent that project to me to help me see that I could do it. I felt God nudging me to continue on my own. But I didn’t. I fell back into the pattern of fear, doubt and zero action.
And again, God didn’t give up on me. He kept sending me signs and hints, like in neon, and this time I began to lean in and listen.
He told me to get off the lil’ hamster wheel I had created for myself and quit all the things I had busied myself with. Y’all, that was hard. Cause it meant saying no to others and feathers got ruffled. But I was beginning to obey and lean into trusting Jesus with what He was asking me to do and focus on with my talent and business.
Then one day God really got a hold of me. Someone asked me what it was like to work with my accomplished artist friend. So I began to tell them the story. And that’s when I heard it. I told them that when “so and so” calls and asks you to do something, you say yes! And that statement, right out of my own mouth, hit me like a ton of bricks. I then realized that I had valued a person over God. A human over my Creator. And I was heartbroken at what I had done.
In my evening quiet time I had a conversation with God.
He quietly asked me, “Is “so and so” more important than me?”
Through tears, I replied “NO! Of course not!”
“Then can I get a resounding yes from you too?”
I repented. And I gave Him a YES that came from the depths of my heart. In that moment, I committed and chose to fully trust and obey His asking and ideas for my talent and business. Even the bigger than me, vulnerable, scary ones! My answer is YES Jesus!
Since I got off my hampster wheel to join Him and His ideas, I have been blown away with incredible opportunities and blessings that I wasn’t even looking for! Doors are opening and I’m moving forward with Him as my CEO.
Y’all, collaborate with Jesus! Give Him a resounding YES! Let Him be CEO of your life and watch what the Lord will do with your gifts, talents and business to shine His light and further His kingdom. It’s an amazing adventure that you don’t want to miss!
Just say YES!
