At the beginning of the year, the word “follow” was constantly at the top of my mind. The concept of what it means to really follow Jesus. He leads; we follow – both in principle and in practice. I began to pray with a sense of urgency that I would follow Jesus, in every decision, step by step, down the path He’s already commanded.

I think it’s easy to get caught up in our own great ideas and ask God to bless them. We’re smart people with good ideas. Sometimes we get it backwards though – We lead and ask Him to follow. We all have ideas that aren’t His ideas. God began to really bend my heart towards not just asking him to bless what I wanted Him to bless, but simply ask to follow His lead in every step.

If you’re anything like me, you kind of have a thought in mind of what the next step might be…and, like me, sometimes you’re wrong. Sometimes, God plans a turn in your path that you didn’t see coming, at least not in the timing He brought it.

When that turn comes you can keep walking down the path, taking the step that you thought made sense, asking Him to bless it. Or you can follow Him into the turn of the unknown.

Today marks 4 1/2 weeks since my last day on staff at Passion. This was a turn in the path. A day I had never actually thought about until it came. Leaving Passion is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s far too complex for words and a process that could only be experienced day by day with just a few people. It was gut wrenching, yes, but there was a thread of peace through it all. God was leading me, albeit away from a thing and a place and people that I love more deeply than I can begin to articulate here. That is painful…what I’ve come to know as painful obedience. I never ever want to know the pain of disobedience.

God will continue to teach me things from the last 8 weeks, probably for the rest of my life, but one thing I’ve learned for sure is that when God is the one who creates a gap, He fills the gap. He fills the gap. He fills it in a way we never could have or would have on our own.

You know, God speaks to people in many different ways. One thing He clearly said to me was to put my staff in the water & only then would He part the waters. True to His character, He’s done that. He’s still doing that. And He’ll keep doing it. He’s filling what He parted in every way. I’m watching Him create opportunities and fill gaps at Passion City that wouldn’t have been there had I not put down what He asked me to lay down. And one day I’ll fill a book with how He’s filled the gap for me. I’m daily astonished at His timing and how He’s made Himself so clearly known. There’s significance in moments and days like I have never known. He is faithful. He is moving. He is clear. He’s blowing my mind. And in the unknown, there is a divine certainty.

I am thankful. And still learning to follow. Lead us on.

I run in the path of Your commands for You have broadened my understanding. Psalm 119:32

He is the Wind.