Two Reflection Questions, Two Attempted Answers

Post #8 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

These are two reflection questions that I believe all of us can at this moment say “yes,” to, or at least can think of a time when we could have. I thought I would keep this post simple and reflective. Here are two reflection questions, and my “attempted” answers (or more so, my advice) to go along with them.

Are you stuck in the “ordinary” and wondering how God is leading you in the every-day, mundane tasks?

Here’s a BIG secret: it’s all about the little things. So pay attention to them.

Often in today’s society, we have this idea that “bigger is better.” For example, in the business world, bigger companies = more money = more success = more happiness. Sure, this might be true in some cases, but when did we forget the idea of less is more? Just to throw out another example, could it be true that smaller organizations = less money = less success (maybe just more impactful success) = more happiness. Could it be true that you don’t always have to be big to be effective? I think so. And I think we can all apply this idea of less is more and bigger is not always better to a certain aspect of our lives.  

Not only do I believe that bigger is not always better, but I believe that God can teach us in the little things. Often times I find myself learning the most in the smallest situations, whether it is a conversation with a friend over coffee, or a meeting with a co-worker. For me, many times it is through these small interactions with people that really make a difference. So, I guess my advice for you if you feel stuck in the day-to-day tasks is to seek out those moments of conversation with people, new and old, and see what you can learn. Also, seek out those quiet moments where you are able to spend time with God. It is in these interactions, these small moments, where if we really pay attention, we can take away a ton.  

I have been on great adventures where I have learned so much in a short amount of time. I have also had periods of my life where I feel I am “stuck in the ordinary.” By having the privilege to experience both of these, and being able to compare the two, I can honestly say that you don’t always have to be on a great adventure to feel like you are learning so much.

Are you in the midst of trying to accomplish one of your short-term or even long-term goals?

Follow His plan (not your plan), and

Never leave your faith behind

I believe that I drive my own education, my own career, my own life. However, I also believe that God has a plan for me, and I want to follow it. Finding this balance of God ultimately being in charge, but me still needing to put the work in and make the decisions is something I struggle with, and I am often unsure of how exactly it should play out in certain situations. So, maybe “drive” isn’t the right word to use here, because although I am in the vehicle, ultimately, God is the one in the driver’s seat.

So with that, on our journey of life, I believe that we shouldn't try to put God in the passenger’s seat, or put our blinders on and not look to see where God is taking us. Yet these are actions we so often do without even realizing it, especially when we want to take control in accomplishing our goals.

Nonetheless, I know that the best thing I can do when I am working hard to accomplish something is to keep going back to God with it and ultimately pray for His will to be done. I believe that it is important to seek to follow His plan, and I can do this by continually praying about what it is I am trying to accomplish. By doing this, I believe that His plans will become my plans. This takes awareness, and often times, willingness to let go of our own plans for His. Although this is difficult and we will often times get it wrong, I believe by always going back to God, by not leaving our faith in Him behind, and by being willing to let go of control, we can avoid putting God in the passenger seat. And by staying awake to where He is calling us and seeking to follow His plan, we can avoid putting our blinders on during our journey.