Spring Into the New with Joy
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Jumping in with both feet into a new experience can be quite scary, especially when we don’t know what we are jumping into or we don’t feel equipped to handle the realities of the aftermath of our emphatic decision.
You just got married and one month into your marriage you got an amazing offer to work on a docuseries to tell the kind of stories that are important to you. If you accept the offer, you will get to tell the story of a leading anti-colonial freedom fighter who is now the first woman prime minister in one of the leading African nations.
Although nervous to share the news with your husband, because you are unsure of what he would think about the timing of the offer since you both just got married, you call him in excitement to share the news with him. As soon as he picks up the phone you yell “Guess what?” and rave about your new job offer. He is ecstatic to hear the great news! He understands how big it is for this dream of yours to finally come true, because he’s been one of your leading cheerleaders, so it’s his joy too.
You and your husband take time to intentionally consider the offer and pray for God’s direction.
After some time, you both have peace to accept the job offer and as risk takers, the both of you agree that life is short and why not kick-off your lifetime journey of marriage with an unexpected detour - or better yet, adventure.
Photo by Kevar Whilby on Unsplash
You call your close friends and family members to share the exciting update with them! They are excited for you both but pose so many questions. However, you both do your best to protect your joy for the new adventure you are embarking on and refuse to bother yourselves with the many doubting and often faithless remarks. Although you know your loved ones have good intentions, their communication evokes the contrary. You and your husband are clear on the importance of protecting and cherishing God’s word over human logic as it is always a journey of faith when believing in God and His promises.
You both agree to be intentional about protecting your hearts, minds, and spirits at all costs in this season - even if it means limiting communication with loved ones.
Now that the aroma of the new season is upon you, you have more time to process your thoughts as you transition into the new life you and your husband will be living. You are conscious that with every change in life, good and bad, your spirit, soul, and body will undergo a multi-dimensional process of managing the three phases of transition: an ending, a neutral zone, and a new beginning.
Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash
It’s okay if we can’t jump in with both feet into new situations and/or circumstances that re-present themselves in new environments, associated with new people, and new levels of growth.
Sometimes we will have to accept that walking into unchartered territories or experiences is enough and still a sign of faith of us embracing the new.
“But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."
Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT
Alabaster Box
Spend the next 3 minutes making a voice note to yourself answering the following question: how will I embrace the new in this latter half of the year?
Titilope O. is the visionary founder of Operation Plan Your Wedding. She is on a divine mission to help singles, particularly women, after God's heart to “Embark on [their] journey of preparing for [their] Godly marriage and putting [their] faith into action by planning [their] future wedding.”
Titilope loves seeing women transformed to be the best versions of themselves and manifest their God-given identities as queens. She loves traveling, learning new languages, living life on purpose, and enjoying a good laugh with loved ones.
IG: @OperationPYW