PbyCj

Okay, so I haven’t blogged in a couple of weeks—maybe it’s been two weeks? I don’t know. But yeah, here we are. Man, I’m really thankful. Truly, deeply thankful. For God’s redemptive power. Because honestly, where would I be? Where would I be had God not been gracious toward me? Had He not been merciful to me? Had He not snatched me up when I was out here acting crazy? Had He not loved me dearly, consistently, and without fail?

When I look back on my life—my entire life—I can see it. I can see all the moments God protected me, showed me the way, and guided me. Even as a child, I can pinpoint those times. It’s like that old saying, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be?” And let me tell you, it’s not just a saying. It’s the absolute truth.

The other night, I was struggling. This is a struggle I’ve been wrestling with for a while now—on and off for a couple of years. And in that moment, I just cried out, “Lord, help me. Help me see. Help me understand. Help me.” And you know what? God heard me. I was led to a Scripture I had never seen before, never even heard of.

It was Isaiah 28:23-26, and the little subtitle caught my attention right away: “Listen to the Teaching of God.” I mean, it was like God was speaking directly to me. It says:

“Give ear and hear my voice; listen and hear my speech. Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow the black cumin and scatter the cumin, plant the wheat in rows, the barley in its appointed place, and the spelt in its place? For He instructs him in right judgment; His God teaches him.”

And I just stopped. Like, hold up—what?! I kept going back to verse 24: “Does the plowman keep plowing all day?” Of course not. The plowman doesn’t just keep plowing endlessly, and why? Because God gives him wisdom. God teaches him how to work effectively and efficiently. And I was just sitting there, mind blown, like, Oh my God.

At the end of the passage, it says: “This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.” Wow. Just wow.

I had been pouring my heart out to God about where I’m at and the things I’m struggling with, the things I’m seeking to change in me. Because that’s really my deepest desire—to change on the inside. To be better. To be a better version of myself every day. To have that inner confidence that comes from knowing God is in me, that He loves me, that He’s working in me.

As I was meditating on this Scripture, it hit me: the change I’m seeking starts with obeying what God has already told me to do. The transformation I want? It’s tied to my obedience. Where I am right now—this position I’m in—is a direct result of not fully stepping into that obedience. And as I sat with that realization, I thought, Okay. Let me obey. Let me just do it.

It reminded me of another Scripture—Hebrews 11:8:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

That’s me. That’s exactly how I feel about my writing, my creative work, and everything God is leading me to do. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know all the steps. I don’t know how it’s all going to come together. But you know what? That doesn’t matter. What matters is doing. What matters is faith. What matters is action.

And so, I’m encouraged. I’m encouraged to take the step, even if I don’t see the whole path. To keep going, even when I don’t have it all figured out. Because obedience is where the change happens.

So, this is just a share. A bit of encouragement for whoever’s out there reading this. Shoutout to you—I see you, and I appreciate you. Look out for more things to come.

God bless you, Happy Thanksgiving, and I’ll talk to y’all soon.

—CJ