Trusting God in Life Changing Decisions
Isn’t the God who sees the end from the beginning worthy of our trust?
Hi Love,
It was such a beautiful sunny day today, and we took a little walk this afternoon. The view was so wonderful, I had to stop and take a photo to share with you. As we were walking, the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost popped into my mind. I haven’t thought about it in years, probably since I remember studying it in middle school, but for some reason it came back to me so clearly today.
In the poem, Frost describes standing at a fork in the woods, trying to decide which path to take. Both look pretty similar, but he ends up picking the one that felt a little less worn. And later reflects that his decision to do so made all the difference in his life. He reflects on the kind of choices that shape who we become, and how in the end, it’s often less about the path itself and more about the meaning we give it when we look back. Sometimes the path God leads us down isn’t the most obvious or admired, but it’s the one that leads to life and purpose. And even if we don’t fully understand it in the moment, we often look back and realize it was exactly where we were meant to be.
It reminded me of Matthew 7:14, where Jesus says, “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” God gives us free will, and every day we’re faced with choices about which path to take. The narrow road doesn’t always look like the obvious choice. It’s not the easiest, and honestly it doesn’t always feel appealing at first. But it’s the one that’s built on truth, surrender, and trusting God, and the one that leads to true life.
This evening I submitted a proposal for the book series I’ve been working on inspired by my story. I’m really excited about it, and I got a little emotional thinking about everything that’s led me to this point. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and it brought me back to a moment over ten years ago — sitting in a coffee shop in Palo Alto, journaling my thoughts while listening to George Winston’s Summer album. (Still one of my favorites. You should give it a listen! I think you'd really enjoy it.)
I had just graduated from Stanford and was working as a designer at a tech startup, but deep down I knew I wasn’t walking in my true purpose. What I really wanted was to write. I dreamed of writing books and sharing stories that would inspire others and touch their hearts. And I remember praying and asking God to help me do so. Looking back over the past ten years, I know a lot of people probably wouldn’t understand the choices I made. Some might even think they were foolish. And it’s true that I haven’t always gotten everything right. But my heart’s desire has always been to follow God’s leading, even when it didn’t make sense.
The decisions I made in the previous season that shifted the course of my life were terrifying. I knew it would cost me everything. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but something deep in my spirit knew that it was the right step. And now I can see how God used that season to shape me into who I am today. Through it all, He never left my side. And He equipped me with the experience, wisdom, and strength I didn’t even know I’d need to step into all the dreams He placed on my heart.
Sometimes the weight of what I feel God is calling me to do feels really overwhelming, almost like standing in front of my own personal Jericho. But in those moments, I remind myself that my confidence comes from Him. And if He’s the one who called me, then I can trust He’ll also give me the strength to see it through. If He believes in me, that’s more than enough to keep moving forward, even when the walls look impossible. I hold onto the promise that the best days are still yet to come — because with Him, they always are.
I hope your Sunday gave you a chance to rest and recover before the week ahead. Just wanted to remind you that you’re not alone. And praying God surrounds you with His peace and strength for whatever lies ahead.
I love you.
Jeanie
P.S. It felt really special to wish my dad a happy Father’s Day today after all these years. I’m so thankful to have him back in my life. I also watched this today, and I thought you might find it interesting too.
