When you’re pregnant with promise, don’t turn back. God will carry your faith to completion.
I had never been on the ski slopes before.
I was a newly working twenty-something having graduated from college. I finally was earning a salary, which meant I had money to go on a ski trip with my friends.
After taking a beginner’s lesson on the green slopes, my friends met up with me for chili at the ski lodge.
“Come on up with us to the blue runs!” my friends said, as we finished up our last bites of lunch.
“Really? I don’t think I’m ready for that.” I was skeptical to say the least.
“You’ll be fine. That’s how you learn!” My friends didn’t seem the least bit concerned and started suiting back up into their marshmallow get ups.
As I sat there, legs dangling on the swinging chair lift, carrying me high above the California Sierra mountain tops into white powder blowing against my goggles, my stomach tied up and my heart started pounding in my ears.
I don’t want to go anymore! Get me off of here!
No one told me there are no U-turns on ski lifts. They just go up one way. And you have to ski down the other.
No Turning Back
That’s how I felt was pregnant with my babies.
I was nauseous from week 6 all the way until the doctor welcomed them out. Morning sickness lasted all day and all night. Things that tasted one way turned completely yucky. Nothing sounded good. I still can’t believe I gave birth to healthy baby boys who moved the scale past eight lbs surviving on basically crackers, bread and water.
I remember being so crazy-out-of-my-mind happy when the home pregnancy test showed two lines.
But, I also remember how I wish I wasn’t pregnant when it was too late. Life was growing in me. There was no turning back.
Pregnant With Promise
When I invited you to share your One Words for 2012 this month, over a 100 of you submitted your comments and blog posts to share your soul resolutions ( I have been savoring every one of your words!).
When I counted up to a hundred, less than ten words were repeated.
The #1 most selected word was: adventure.
Like any adventure of faith, we begin breathless with excitement. We discover we’re “pregnant with a promise”. We don’t know exactly how it’s all going to go. But, that is part of the thrill.
New.
Different.
Growing.
Adventure.
But, as we take steps forward on our journeys, we may run into early pregnancy signs —
Hmm… Things don’t seem to fit quite right. We’re not sure how we feel about the changes.
On second thought, hold up a minute! Maybe this was a mistake. The going gets rough. And the rough gets rougher.
What do we do? Is it too late to turn back?
A Dream and a Goliath
I know for many of us, it’s only the first month of the year. But for me, I’ve been walking through the first trimester of… writing the book-that-would-not-go-away.
I was living safe, low to the ground. My voice reached only as far as a blog post. After each publish, the words would slip back into the archives.
But, God remembered a dream I once buried. A dream to share my heart through the written word. It has been a steady companion, bringing me joy and healing my hurts.
Now, I’m three months into my manuscript. By the end of January, I will have finished a third of it. It is a big milestone because quite simply: writing this book is both my God-sized dream and my goliath in faith.
Every time I start to write, I ask myself, Do I really want to open my heart in print? My words cannot be erased after it releases. And friends, I must confess. It is scary to dangle my feet out here in mid-air.
Grow In You
Our faith adventures take us beyond our comfort zones. We have to make changes we’ve never considered before. There are no magic hours that suddenly appear. We need to let go of something things in order to explore some new ones.
The faith adventure doesn’t come with cones of silence. There are still everyday issues and you know, the not-so-everyday ones love to surface too. Family, friends, health, finances, and more. They all make up our human frailties.
Even in the face uncertainty, we cannot turn back.
This is a good thing, friends. Because…
Psst…
I have something encouraging to share with you.
When you are pregnant with a promise, it’s a seed of faith that God plants.
When the time is right, the Holy Spirit will water that seed.
The seed of faith will grow in you —
to begin,
to search out,
to take one step forward,
to rest when it’s two steps back,
to battle through,
to fall apart in the arms of Jesus,
to rest in solitude and gain comfort among safe friends,
— and complete the soul work of shaping Christ in you.
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6
Step forward.
We can’t turn back now friends.
You and I are pregnant with promise.
Some mornings, we will wake up wondering if we’re really up for this journey.
Rest easy. It’s the way of faith, dependance on God. The great thing about faith is that it doesn’t matter if we’re feeling inadequate. God is for us. We have what we need for the journey no matter what.
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32.
Jesus confidently assures us. Nothing is impossible for God. With faith as small as a mustard seed, we can say to this mountain, ‘Move.’ And it will move.” (Matthew 17:20)
Come on. Let’s keep going. God is faithful to the end.
Me mapping out the book: my heart on sticky notes.
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How are you pregnant with promise? Share your current adventure.
Pull up a chair. I love our community. Click to comment. Let’s encourage eachother.
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*This Thursday’s 1/26/12 Topic: * Share your thoughts on the One Word: Adventure. Adventure is the #1 of most selected One word in our community!
*Next Thursday’s 2/2/12 Topic: * Share your thoughts on:: “real life” community. I have a feeling this is going to be a hot topic! Can’t wait to swap stories…
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58 Comments
[…] over at Bonnie’s place, we are discussing this One […]
Oh friend, this touches me today. When I want to deny what He’s placed in me and run far and wide because it doesn’t make any sense, returning to His promise and truth that miracles simply don’t make sense, it’s a perspective that changes everything. Your words are tasty, sweet and filling this morning. I so much appreciate what you were led to say, and in just the way you said it.
Blessings, sweet friend. Rich blessings.
Amy, it’s always refreshing to sit with you virtually in early morning air. Blessings to you, sweet friend!
Thank you for this good word today, Bonnie. I needed it. Truly NEEDED it. Thank you for your beautiful insight and encouragement to keep going on the adventure.
Kris, it’s been such a treat to swap notes on how God speaks to us in our everyday adventure.
First of all, I totally understand how you felt on your first ski trip. I went skiing in Colorado for the first time on my honeymoon. Simply going on the ski lift was a challenge for me as I am scared of heights. But once I committed to try this I did manage to get back down to the bottom of the mountain. For me, that’s a story in itself though. 🙂
My word for 2012 is ADVENTURE so I guess I was one of the many.
Even though it’s only the end of January, it’s been unpredictable and challenging already. But having this new perspective of adventure has helped me. I tend to stay in my comfort zone and I’ve been cast out of it. My mother-in-law has been going through health issues and even at 86 years old she wants to remain in her own home. My husband and I may end up moving in with her to help her during this time. That’s only part of our adventure so far …
God is for me and I’m trusting Him and His guidance on this adventure.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Debbie, there is so much transition in your life — I’m so amazed by your continuing openness and transparency with God on your journey. Thank for sharing your heart and may God continue to encourage and fill you with what you need as you enter this season of caregiving.
Pregnant with promise…yep. That’s how I feel about this year. God has been peeling away the outer layerings to reveal hearts true intentions, and for that I am grateful, so I can grow up to be just like my Daddy. Well, similar anyway.
Just like your Daddy! I love getting to know Him through *you*, Nikole! 🙂
I blogged about finding adventure in the simple everyday. I was very touched by Acts 17:27, where it says we “feel after him”. What a powerful phrase! Yes, I am groping after the warmth of his presence in the dark night on earth – and yes, I feel him there! http://www.turquoisegates.com/2012/01/feeling-after-him.html
Hi Gen, it’s so poetic the way you are moved by Him. Real and heavenly. Yes, that’s you, friend.
Sometimes our adventure is completing the task in a choice we make; sometimes it’s the circumstances in the road He places us on. Either way His promises are true, and we are invited to hold on tight to Jesus!
I’m excited to see how He grows us through our journeys, knowing His desire is for us to be changed, to be more like Him in the end. Whether it’s daily drudgery, the newness of a babies cry, or a life change like empty nesting – He is there! He knows our circumstances, and allows us to grow through them to Him.
I didn’t choose my most current adventure, but I DO choose to walk with Him through it! I trust He has something to teach these middle age brain cells….
Thanks Bonnie for inspiring!!
Such encouraging words. Beautiful. Thanks, Marina!
Thank you for this blog. Its so easy to see your heart through your words. I am sure that God will touch many hearts through your words written down in your-book-that-won’t-go-away. lol
I am pregnant. Pregnant with the word HOPE. Hope that God will work something beautiful out of all my brokenness and glorify Himself & His word even in the areas where I have fallen & turn it into a testimony of His grace & love and redeeming power.
All I need to do everyday is fix my eyes on Jesus and surrender my life to Him and yield to the workings of the Holy Spirit in me.
Guided by the wind of His spirit. Not sure where He is taking me but at last I am free to follow Him.
Sure to be an ADVENTURE as well.
Pregnant with a promise. Everytime you share, it’s easy to see your heart too friend. You’re always open to share with us. Thank you, Adaykis!
Thank you for THIS post THIS morning. I got up to read it after a night of tears and crying out to God that I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this journey anymore. God used your words to break through my frustrations and despair and reminded me that I am NOT alone. That I am not doing this journey alone, He has me in His arms and is carrying me through. Even when I can’t see it.
I can totally relate to your pregnancy morning sickness. I had the same problem with both of my boys and remember being in awe that they were both born healthy. This memory has reminded me that although the journey is tough, hard and even unfriendly at times; the destination is ALWAYS beautiful and something to be in AWE of.
I’ve saved this post to reminded me along the way of WHY I can’t give up and WHO I need to keep my focus on.
Thank you again!
You are not alone. God sees you — and those of us who have shed tears through many nights see you too. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Lisa. May God bless and comfort you right where you’re at.
Can understand completely pregnant with a promise.
When i was about to deliver it was the one thing I had to go thru no turning back, no playing hooky it was do it!!! and now he is leading me in a direction that has been deep in my heart for a long time, a desire to write. To tell the story of Him in my life, How he has walked thru the fire with me sooooo many times. but like you i procrastinate, who would read it? what if? can i really do it? but the desire never goes away….He put it there. So I am learning the word and am going to take writing classes so I can be confident in what I am doing, baby steps….nice thing I know he won’t let go of my hand, My word for 2012 is Wild, because this ride with the Lord is gonna be wild gonna be crazy and gonna be full of Jesus!!!
Cathi– your babysteps are WILD in God’s eyes. I love your heart for the faith adventure you’re on. Write on, sister!
I love how you put this post Bonnie. God has been teaching me that I need to start treating my situations in life with the importance and gravity they deserve. Every word we write for blogs, magazines, or books can have such a powerful impact! The fact that you recognize this and are struggling with the process shows me that you’re in a good place. You’re taking your calling seriously and you realize that it’s so hard that only God’s help can sustain you through the process. Blessings to you as you write!
You are doing important work, Ed. It is hard work. Faith work, tilling soil of your heart to mine the words that come from Him. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. He has given you a gift. Keep blessing us with it. It’s worth gold in His kingdom, as you write with the faith that He sees.
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No turning back – that’s a message to bolster my courage today, Bonnie. Thank you for always having that word of encouragement that I need. God is so good to work through this great big family!
Lisa, I don’t know what God has for you specifically right now, as He nurtures His promise in you — but I’m cheering for you, friend! No turning back! Forward one step at a time, even on days it’s two steps back. Let’s keep encouraging each other to keep pointing forward.
A big step of faith . . committing, planning and preparing to go on a mission trip half way around the world w/a team of former small group students and to visit one of them on her field of service. . . feeling much of what was expressed today and knowing that God continues to encourage me to move forward . . take the next step . . prepare . . go . . a dream long buried in my heart and soul . . almost forgotten . . feeling it would never really happen . . willing to let it go . . as there were others who needed to go more or needed something that was more important than my desires/dreams/hopes . . and now, it is, as if ‘ it’s your turn’ ME? Do you mean it Father in Heaven? I am so grateful, humbled and somewhat amazed, but at peace that the God who ordained it, will see what He wishes accomplished! Praise His Name! Covet all of the prayers! Blessings!
Lord Jesus, please bless Freda with your presence as she looks to you for this missions trip. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the encouraging post
I needed it this morning. I’ve recently started a blog but until recently it’s been my little secret. I’ve now told 3 people and am hit with all kinds of feelings of doubt and insecurities. What r people going to think?? Will they think its stupid? Maybe i should uit now before anyone else reads it. Your post was encouraging to me! Thanks
God blesss!
Alecia, I’m so glad you shared a virtual cup of coffee with us, along with news of your blog! Your words are worth sharing. You are the only one that can show us God through your eyes and your experiences. Don’t quit, friend!
Pregnant with possibilities ~
You know how it is when you finally decide on a name for the life growing inside of you? The suggestions came from everywhere…but once decided you couldn’t wait until the baby was born!
So it was in selecting “One Word” for 2012!
Well, much like discovering there are three “Christopher’s, Andrea ‘s or Rebecca’s in that kindergarten class, is the realization that that which God has placed as our “One Word” is shared.
And for me, whose word is “Stand”, it is ‘adventure’ to discover all the places where I find itin the Bible and in my daily walk 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration.
thank you for this post today! so spoke to me, I had similar words on my heart today- i’m pregnant with a promise- literally and spiritually 😉
Wow, Charissa! I’m so happy for you — LITERALLY and spiritually ;)! I wish you were nearby, I’d cut up some yummy fresh fruit and bring it over for you (and baby) to enjoy.
Bonnie, thank you so much for this, it so touches my heart today. I know that everyday is an adventure with God and when you’re on a mission He is faithful to help us through whatever we have to do to complete it. This is such a confirmation for me today and right now. God Bless You and so looking forward to your book!
It’s that “morning after” apprehension. You take a step of faith, and then feel like you might possibly crumble under the weight of it all.
I’m so there. It’s stretching faith muscles. As scary as it is, this “adventure” with the Lord is a thrilling ride!
Thanks, Bonnie, this spoke so much encouragement to me!
Bonnie,
I have been the girl on the ski lift wanting to turn around (I was 10 and it started to snow so hard, and I was too scared to try to ski when I couldn’t see where I was going, they ended up having to send the ski patrol up to bring me down the mountain)! I have also been the girl thrilled to be pregnant while wanting to hit the brakes and say, wait, I’m not ready for this! I’m kind of there right now with the new adventure ahead of me. You have nailed it here!! Pregnant with promise!! I’ve learned to say to myself, “The only way through is through!” I love being in a place of adventure with you and this faith community!!
What a great illustration of growing faith. Once we start on our journey, there simply isn’t any turning back. No matter how long and hard it is, God is ever moving us forward. I recently started Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. Reading your words today really solidified this part of the journey within me. There is no turning back. God is taking me where He wants me to go and in Him its end is secure.
[…] up again today with Bonnie at Faith Barista, sharing my thoughts on adventure, the most chosen One Word in the Faith Jam community. Advertisement GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", […]
Bonnie, thank you so much for this encouraging post. I love it. Pregnant with promise. Every time I get discouraged, or lose my focus, or feel like giving up the adventure, I am going to remember that there are promises inside of me yet to be fulfilled!
Amen Barbie! Me too!
Oh Bonnie, I am totally getting you on this one! I’ve been away from blogs for a while because of being so busy with all God is doing. Like you said, it’s only the first month of the year, and yet I feel like there’s been so much in such a short time it can be overwhelming, even if it is all good. It’s def that point where you stop and say, “Wait, I’m not sure I can keep up with all this! Can’t we go back, or at least slow down?” But our heart tells us the truth, that we don’t want to go back or even slow down. We WANT to see the purpose fulfilled. We WANT to see the promise birthed. SO we must persevere, constantly soaking in the knowledge of who GOD is, and who we are in Him. And we celebrate, not just with the joy of expectation, but with the joy of certainty in God.
What an encouragement: persevere, for God’s adventures are always good. We don’t know always where the path leads, how hard it may be, or what that baby’s gonna be like. But we can rest in the promise. Thanks for the inspired words!
Yep, we can’t turn back now!
Perfectly pregnant here, and in the beginning when you have not felt anything yet. The time when you know you are pregnant but the world doesn’t. I too am writing my first book. I have been stuck in my own reservations lately. Walking through memories you would rather forget is hard, but I want to thank you for the reminder and encouragement as I carry this promise.
Thank you for your encouragement. I have had such a struggle lately and I appreciate your words of blessings and encouragement. my words for the new year are trust and confidence and since I claimed them I have found them to be a huge challenge to lean into and embrace. I feel like the promise I’m pregnant with has gone past it’s due date and has become stillborn. Now I once again have hope. Thank you so much for sharing.
love this post Bonnie, thanks!
Just sayin’ I love this post and it’s got me thinking about promises =)
Praying for your current adventure in writing with and for Him, Bonnie!
(And thank you for hosting us each week!)
“To fall apart in the arms of Jesus”–what glorious freedom! Why, oh why, do I keep thinking I need to put on my mask with Him? Thank you for that.
Congratulations on 3 months of manuscript work! Good for you! That baby will be born, and your labors will end in joy. Thanks for sharing the journey with your readers here.
Grace and peace to you in that same Jesus.
Adventure and pregnant with promise goes hand in hand. I chuckle at how your topics are so relevant to what I am experiencing on my new career journey at this stage of my life. There is no going back to what was no longer working in my life. My dream was planted along time ago and has taken over 20 plus years to grow and mature into reality. Even though I may be in my midlife, I believe I have finally found out what I what to be when I grow up! Thanks Bonnie for allowing us to get our dailly brew on Faith Barista!
Love this, Bonnie! Skiing was on my mind as well as I addressed this one word Faith Jam. “…soul work of shaping Christ in you”–now that’s an adventure!
Yes, there are many situations that have no “U” turn. Running a race and the ones you described so well. I had trouble linking up with you a few weeks ago, but I tried again after your last e-mail to me. Everything seems to be fine and what ever the problem was it apparently has been solved. Thank you for your reminder to not give up.
I loved linking up with you yesterday, and I kept you open all day to read your own writing after I left mine. I didn’t get through it, but it came back up when I opened Chrome this morning.
We are learning the same things about the faith, friend, about how God holds it for us even when we begin to be afraid as we walk out on that water. I love your heart, and I can’t wait to read your book. You must know that.
Love to you this morning…
WOW. Talk about divinely appointed blog posts. I love the phrase “pregnant with a promise” because that’s how I am…but it’s one of those early promises that no one can see and I’m harboring it in me wondering if it’s really there…
Yesterday God called me to try a 30 day trust adventure. 30 days of waking up every day with a prayer of “How can I rest in You today? How can I live to the fullest today?” No trying to figure out where He’s going or what stops are along the way. Just Trust.
Gulp.
Thank you, Bonnie. Pregnant… it made me think of how God forms and grows an unborn child in the natural. He surrounds it with life, with warmth, with protection, with seclusion…and yet it is fed by what the mother feeds herself. When we are pregnant with a promise, we also have to be aware of what we “take in”. We should protect our promise by being unwilling to listen to the input of the enemy…however it may come…whether doubt or fear within ourselves, well-intentioned people, or even people who would love to see our promise aborted. I believe that He wants us to protect it at all costs, until it is full term and delivered. He doesn’t want us pregnant forever, He wants that promise held in our arms.
Blessings.
Bonnie you are sooooo precious!!! Just thought you should know! God bless you abundantly always dear sister in Christ!
[…] Isn’t it beautiful — how we’re all so different and yet, we make up this community of faith, pregnant with promise? […]
so nice i found this post again today and though it might have slipped into your archive it is blessing me here and now. for some days now I’ve being notched from within as though like a baby and it’s with the thought of a “goliath” an idea that is strong in me but only God can birth. this post is encouraging me again to step into faith and release myself for birthing. God bless you for always sharing because i’m always blessed.
I am in the newborn season and have a lot of downtime. I am finally catching up on blog reading. This post spoke to me today! I needed it. It’s hard going from productive with a 5 and 3 year old to down and doing nothing but feeding a newborn and recovering from a csection. Thank you for these words! They remind me that God is in control and where He has blessed, He will work it all out in His perfect time.
Take care, Annie — during this tough time of newborn months — and taking care of two others. May you find the strength just enough for the hour — and know you are not alone, friend, eventho it feels that way. 😉