Is the Ball In Your Court?

Something important shifted during our summer vacay on the Oregon coast. Actually, it started before that. My life rhythm had gotten out of whack; looking different than what God would shape it.  My body was confirming the same thing.  Before we left I had my annual physical taking two concerns to ask the doctor about. I had been struggling to sleep more than 4-6 hours a night and my digestion had been messed up for 2 years;  critical and telling indicators of my overall health and well-being.

Listen … menopause is real!  Insomnia and digestive changes can be definite symptoms of aging.  As my doctor and I discussed options, she was happy to prescribe for both and even run brain scans to determine what areas of my brain were over active and stimulate those to stop firing so much.

“No.” I said.  “I know what I need to do.”  I didn’t need a brain scan.  The things keeping me awake were wonderful but there were too many of them. Juggling too many things, even good ones, is not where God’s perfect will is found.

Then we flew away for 2 weeks.  First time in 2 years neither my husband or I took any work and completely unplugged.. yah.. went on vacation.  We visited with family, soaked in the sun, hiked, enjoyed the sights, sat around campfires and in mountain streams.

Guess what? I slept and my digestion straightened out.

God filled my heart with a knowing.  Some things needed to change. He had a better way and was giving me a glimpse of what He was offering.

But what did that look like in black and white? What did I need to cut? He hadn’t given the whole revelation. I knew if I didn’t get clarity the treasure he had revealed would slip away and life would resume just as it was before I left.

He had made His move and the ball was in my court.

When I got home with mail piled to the ceiling and life ready to swoop back in, I investigated what the next step looked like.

Emailing a good friend and passionate fellow retreater I asked, with uncomfortably short notice, if I could possibly use her house 2 days from now.  Miracle of miracles, she said “Yes!”  (now, that’s a good friend!)

I went and enjoyed rich hours with God.  I wrote, sat, prayed and ate cherry tomatoes just ripening in their backyard. The Lord faithfully answered my prayer revealing my 3 top priorities over the next few months.  I needed to make a few painful changes but was excited to say “yes” to the beautiful life He was inviting me to instead.

I know my Father holds the answers to all the mysteries of my life.  He wants to show me the keys to the abundant life He would shape for me on His potter’s wheel, if I let Him.  He drops little “wisps” of His will, like puffs of smoke here for a moment and then gone.  Then waits for me to take hold.  To fight for them.  To take the actions needed when the ball is in my court and watch as the blessings overflow from there.

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Is there something the Lord has revealed to you and He's waiting for you to make the next move?