When Tom and I married we already knew that we were called to ministry...well as much as our youthful minds and hearts could understand. The map to ministry seemed to be blank, the route and destination unclear. Even in our newlywed life, we stumbled forward. Confusion has often been our companion on this journey. Many times as we moved forward on the road we were sure that God had mapped out for us, we found ourselves in the midst of detours, like a summer highway constantly under construction, our course kept shifting. 

For example, in our third year of marriage, soon after our first child was born, our beautiful, dimpled Jonathan, we felt God calling us to Bible school. We said good bye to our weeping parents, with their only grandchild at the time, and moved 1200 miles away to Florida to a school that was part of a church and missionary-sending organization. We were on the road to ministry! Or so we thought. Just a few days before our move we discovered that our second child was moving with us and would be born in Florida. A closer look at our finances made it clear that making ends meet while Tom took classes was not going to work. Not only that, but within eight weeks of our move, the pastor of the church, one of the only people we knew thanks to a newcomers class, resigned as pastor, causing a rift in the congregation that sent ripples through the school and the missions community. Had God called us to this? This confusion with a side order of pain? What were we supposed to do now?

What did we do? We just kept taking the next best step. We developed relationships that helped to shape us. We learned more life lessons than I can share in a blog. We grew in our understanding of who God is and got to know ourselves better. Our marriage solidified and we welcomed our hazel-eyed Alyssa while Jonathan stayed with our new friends, Mark and Debbie, who showed us what it means to lay down your lives for your friends in so many ways.

Did the confusion ever really go away? I can't say that it did then, but now I see how God used that time for our growth as we simply kept saying YES. I suppose that's the best lesson we learned. Because the next time confusion joined our journey, we found ourselves doing the same thing: Just keep taking the next best step and say YES.  

So, my friend, do you find yourself in a time of confusion? I can't guarantee that as you give God your YES you will understand what is happening. But I can guarantee that as you keep giving God your YES you will find yourself moving toward the destination that He has for you. Even if you can't see what it is right now. 

Key Thought: When confusion becomes your companion, give God your YES.

A Scripture to Consider:

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:16

A YES Challenge: Has confusion joined you on your journey? What is the next best step? What will it look like to give God your YES?

Prayer: 

Lord, I really don't understand what you are doing in my life right now. This is not what I expected at all! Help me to just keep taking the next best step and give You my YES. I want to know You better and end up where You want me. Amen.