“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord: “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:16-17
Over the past 100 Days, I’ve joined my girls in a guided journal devotional on bravery called, “100 Days to brave,” By Annie F. Downs. This is a BIG year for them, high school, new school, new people, more people, and a lot of unknowns. I wanted them to intentionally walk into high school with a Brave Heart, ready for anything that comes their way. Because, you see, when we walk with intentionality into the doors God opens for us, that is Brave! And in those moments we Shine for Him, we live our Best Life, the one God planned for us.
In the passage above, Jeremiah walked through the open door God gave him with bravery even when he was in his darkest moment and the future for him was unknown. Jeremiah, at this point, is imprisoned. His country and his people are taken captive by Babylon. Everything that once was at peace and beautiful in Israel is now being destroyed. But God tells Jeremiah to be an example for all the people and buy his cousins field in the land that is in an upheaval.
“so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.” Jeremiah 32:9
This act of bravery by Jeremiah was an example for all the people to believe and see that their land would once again be restored, and they shouldn’t give up living just because they couldn’t see what the future held.
“This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’
Jeremiah 32:42-43
Isn’t this what we do as well? We take a look at our current circumstances, we notice the darkness, all that’s going wrong, and think…I’ll just wait for a better time. I’ll wait until my life turns around, until the economy straightens out, until I have that job, until I find that perfect person (you’re going to be waiting forever…nobody’s perfect, but somebodies perfect for you), until, until, until that door closes and the process starts over. Yet God tells us not to wait on our own plans, only to wait on Him. He wants us to walk bravely with intentionality through the door He opens for us each day.
Over the past 100 Days, my girls and I have stepped bravely into many unknowns. We’ve set up boundaries, yet pulled walls down. Each one of us has found more bravery to do the things we were afraid to do, yet felt God had called us to. One daughter went out for something she had never even thought of and found a passion for it. Another always had a passion for one thing, but opened her eyes to see God also calling her in other directions. Each morning I pray that God allows me to Dream Dreams and that I walk bravely though whatever door He opens for me that day. And not only am I dreaming again, but I’ve seen Him open doors that have been closed for years allowing me to do what I’m passionate about, investing in and encouraging others.
When you live bravely, with intentionality, you live fully in the place God has for you no matter what your current circumstances look like. Go Live Bravely!
Running 2 Fly 