Goodbye, Nest

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Have you heard about how eagles teach their young to fly? They push them out of the nest! Good grief, that seems harsh, doesn't it?

When I reflect back on the past few years, I can see this process taking place in my own life. If my husband hadn't left, I never would've ventured forth and taken risks like I do now. I wouldn't have clung to God in faith. I wouldn't have gone on a mission trip or started this blog. I wouldn't have taken the courageous step of starting a new career at 50. All of this happened because the comfortable nest I'd relied upon was plucked away.

I can become quite stuck in my ways. It takes a stick of dynamite to make me move. I enjoy stability and comfort just as much as the next gal. But when we're comfortable, we aren't growing. We're stagnant. Boy, have I been there.

Joyce Meyer (one of my favorite teachers) wrote the following devotional. I'll copy and paste it here for easy reference, but if you're struggling in ANY area of your life, or if you're looking to be inspired or become a blessing to someone else, I highly recommend you stroll around her web site. 

From Joyce Meyer:

Nudged Out of the Nest

As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, He spread abroad His wings and He took them, He bore them on His pinions. —Deuteronomy 32:11

Baby eagles spend the first three months of their lives in the comfortable nest their parents have prepared. But the eaglets get a big surprise when they are about twelve weeks old. Their mother suddenly begins to throw all of their toys out of the nest.

Next, she begins to pull out all of the comfortable material in the nest—the feathers and the animal fur—and leaves the babies sitting on thorns and sticks. This is what the Bible means when it mentions that the mother eagle “stirs up her nest.” The reason she stirs the nest is that she wants her babies to get out and fly.

Before long, the mother eagle begins to nudge them out of the nest. The little eaglets, who have no idea how to fly, fall through the sky, probably very frightened. Soon, though, they hear a “whoooooooosh” as the mother eagle swoops up under them to catch them. At that point, the mother eagle takes the babies right back up to the nest and then nudges them out again. She keeps repeating the process, over and over again, until they finally understand that they have no choice but to fly.

The mother eagle does this because she loves them and wants them to have the best lives they can possibly have. Most eaglets won’t get out of the nest without this push. Similarly, most of us will also choose comfort over challenge unless we have no choice at all.

Do you feel God is working in your life the same way the mother eagle does with her young? Has He been pulling some of the padding out of your nest so you find yourself sitting on prickly branches? Is He saying to you, “Come on, it is time to fly”? If so, remember the mother eagle’s intentions and know that you can trust God’s good intentions for you.

If you're afraid to leave your nest, I totally understand. My hope and prayer is that you'll take that leap of faith, knowing your Heavenly Father is there to catch you and help you fly.

Until next time...

Fear Not

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Fear and worry sometimes come at me like a flash flood--an enormous wall of water with branches, rocks, and debris threatening to knock me off my feet and drown me. 

It may sound dark and melodramatic to the person who's never experienced this type of season in their lives. But if you've been through a painful season like this--or if you're in it now--you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

This morning I woke with heavy feelings of fear. That wall of water was barreling toward me, gaining momentum with every passing thought. 

Fear and worry are formidable enemies that threaten to take me down every single day.

How do we overcome fear? With faith. There's no other way. I truly don't know how people go through dark seasons in their lives without it.

As fearful thoughts raced through my head, I was reminded to ground myself back in my faith. To look up for my answers, not at my circumstances, because my circumstances appear bleak and can be all-consuming.

So, I opened up my devotionals and apps that I usually read to inspire me and strengthen me. And here's what I saw:

It was a clear message: Do not fear!

If you're going through a painful season, or if you're filled with fear and worry, I encourage you to read these over and over again. Line by line. Word by word. God provides rest for the weary. He is our refuge in a storm. He wants us to fear not.

Until next time...

Do It Afraid

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Airports used to intimidate me. Flying in airplanes used to terrify me. 

So of course it makes perfect sense that I would choose to become a flight attendant, right?

You heard that correctly. I'm now a flight attendant. In my wildest dreams, I never would've imagined I'd choose this career path. And yet, here I am. 

But it wasn't so much me choosing it as it was God placing the desire in my heart. And then He gave me the grace to do it.

I'm no longer intimidated by airports. The crowds, the confusion, and the waiting have become somewhat normal to me. And I'm no longer afraid of flying. My office is now a tube in the sky, and I'm strangely ok with that.

This is what it's been like since I fixed my eyes on God and followed His prompting. He's taken me on unpredictable paths that normally would've scared the heck out of me. 

Joyce Meyer gives wonderful advice about following God's path for you, even when it's scary: do it afraid. 

I followed that advice when I took my mission trip last year. I followed that advice when I joined my life group. And I followed that advice when I got the "yes" from my airline, welcoming me to their team. 

Sometimes our biggest enemy can be comfort. We don't like change, and resist it at all costs. Comfort feels good. It's predictable. It's easy. I've always loved and appreciated comfort and predictability.

The unknown? Now, that's scary. Fear can become crippling, if we let it. But I'm learning to trust God and where He's taking me. I'm learning that I don't always know what's best for me, but God does. He loves me so much and wants to bless me. 

Pursuing this career has been full of ups and downs, trials and triumphs. It's meant being away from my children--the very people I love and care about most.

I don't claim to know why God led me here, or why He kept these doors open while shutting other doors. I have no idea why He placed this in my heart.  But I do know I can trust Him. He's leading me where He wants me to go, and all I need to do is follow. 

I'll share more about my flying adventures later, but for now I'll leave you with this: if you're feeling led to do something, say something, or pursue something--but you're scared--I encourage you to follow Joyce Meyer's advice: do it afraid. 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Until next time...