The Road I Took

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,            

And sorry I could not travel both 

And be one traveler, long I stood             

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,        

And having perhaps the better claim,           

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;           

Though as for that the passing there           

Had worn them really about the same,                    

And both that morning equally lay           

In leaves no step had trodden black.           

Oh, I kept the first for another day!           

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,           

I doubted if I should ever come back.                    

I shall be telling this with a sigh           

Somewhere ages and ages hence:           

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—           

I took the one less traveled by,           

And that has made all the difference.         

When you take a leap of faith, it's just that because you have no idea what the outcome will be.  It's not really something I ever planned to do really.  I, like most people, would prefer to know what is going to happen next.  But there came a moment when I had to choose if I was going to stay in a place out of fear of what would happen if I didn't, or go because it's what God asked of me.  

Though I have no idea what the outcome is going to be I can tell you one thing for certain. . .  If I had to do this all over again I would make the same exact decision.  I have no regrets about quitting my job and going to the International House of Prayer.  Bad economy or good economy, it was time to move on and my God promises to supply all of my needs.  Fear should never be a reason to hold you down unless you are about to walk into something that is not of God.  If you're not walking in God's plan then you should be very afraid because it won't work.

 When that fork in the road comes and God has allowed all the parts of your life to be stirred into uncomfortableness, do not be afraid.  Ask Him what He wants you to do and just do it.  It's always better to do something everyone may think is irrational if it's of God then to do something everyone agrees with that's not of God.  I've found that the only one you can always rely on is God anyway, so worrying about what others will say is pointless.  

Moving forward allowed me to meet people who have changed my life, people I will never forget.  God has given me new awesome friendships I never would have made if I'd been too scared to jump.  And most importantly my relationship with God grew much deeper.

Before I left I knew I heard God but was not confident about it.  This is not to say I never doubt what I hear, I'm still struggling with that but I have become much more confident about it.  I step out way more than I would have before.  Before I never would have done a listening prayer.  I remember trying one in 2006 and was sure I heard wrong and wouldn't say what the Lord said to me.    Now whenever I think about not saying anything I remember this quote from Charles Spurgeon, "We must take care that we do not neglect heavenly monitions through fear of being considered visionary; we must not be staggered even by the dread of being styled fanatical, or out of our minds.  For to stifle a thought from God is no small sin."  Now I'm convicted when I hesitate to say something because of fear of man.  Man is nothing to fear.  

Psalm 118

 ⁴ Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”  ⁶ The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?
 ⁷ Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.  I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
 ⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.

So, as we face the New Year in the next few hours ask the Lord what He has for you.  Look ahead with joy and anticipation no matter what things look like right now.  I say this to myself as much as to you.  And if in 2011 the Lord puts a fork in the road and one is safe and the other is His will, take His road.  I promise if it's the Lord's will, you won't regret it.  

" Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."      

Blessings to you!  And have a very Happy New Year!!