Sabbatical Surrender

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve kind of been on sabbatical from writing. The LORD has been pretty adamant I not write much for quite some time now. Since December 1, 2018, I’ve written a total of three blog posts. Friends, this has been intentional as the LORD has been working in and on my heart. From my heart to yours, today is a good day to break the sabbatical silence.

True Story Ahead

It’s written in the Bible that there is a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The last 17 months has been a season. Who knew a season could last 17 months? And I thought suffering through one of Minnesota’s six-month winters was challenging. As Norwegians may say, “Uff Da!” 

But a 17-month season, I double that, “Uff Da! Uff Da!” Yet, here I am today rejoicing. God is letting me write. I rejoice because I’ve been waiting for the day when He would say, “Write.” I have a hunch, this is a sneak peek into a new beginning for me, but this remains to be seen. 

I’ve decided my 17-month season has been a change season. That’s the big picture. Lots of change. The things that have produced the change: loss, wilderness, rest, trust, waiting, joy, and sorrow, etc. Oh, and “Be still Michelle.” 

Wait. What? Be still? Me?

Bookends

In February, my last blog post, I shared about bookends. Today, I have another bookend story. Between these significant bookends change has happened. Lots of change. My heart included.

On February 24, 2018, my mother died ending her life with us here on earth, but beginning her life in heaven. On May 24, 2019, my youngest daughter got married! Hence her single life ended and her new life with her husband began. These two events alone have produced change in my life. 

The multitude of other events between these bookends have also produced change in my life. 

Today, all I want to really say to you is when we surrender our lives to Jesus, He will lead us in challenging ways sometimes. Changing ways. Changing us.  He’s leading me and changing me. There’s not been one day in the last 17 months where I haven’t experienced His leadership or His changing me. 

I know what you’re probably thinking. She likes change. While I’m not as opposed to change as some may be, too much change can overwhelm me. And it depends on what the change is as to whether or not I like it.

I’ll ease your minds. Of course, I’ve protested some days. I’m no different than anyone else. I have NOT liked all the change. Let me repeat that. I have NOT liked all the change.

But I’m writing at this moment with a smile on my face to let you know, change is good. God knows I’ve needed to change. He knew exactly what, how, when, where, and why to change me.

There is a time for every activity under heaven.

I’ve learned big time, there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. God has had me being silent for many good reasons. Today, He’s letting me speak. 

I put up a fight about this sabbatical that He chose for me. (Hence the three blog posts since December 2018.) But eventually, I surrendered.

I’m sorry I gave no warning to you, but that’s the way God wanted it. No competition from the outside world for choosing to listen to His direction. He just had me stop blogging and writing. 

Occasionally I’ve posted on Facebook or my Instagram, but those were mostly about my daughter’s wedding or my grandson.

All that to say, I think my sabbatical silence is coming to an end in regards to my blog and writing. I hope each week, I will have something insightful to share with you regarding Jesus and His ways to encourage your hearts, lend my faith, and inspire grit. 

I’m not promising this, but likely you’ll begin hearing from me again on a more regular basis.

With that said, here’s to surrendering to a sabbatical silence and a time to begin speaking again.

As always, may the joy of the Lord be our strength.

Michelle

P.S. Looks like a few technical things have changed too during my sabbatical. Thank goodness for grace because I’ll need lots of it to figure out the new techie stuff behind the scenes. Yeah, you all don’t see what I see, but I see all sorts of new content management technical stuff. Uff Da!