Life's Turning Points
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…
Jeremiah 6:16
Life is full of turning points. Those occasions when you stand at a crossroads. Moments when you have to make a decision, and that decision that will forever change your trajectory.
Typically, they aren’t predictable or planned. They just come upon us. Yet, these are the moments that divide our lives into significant chapters.
I’ve had a series of momentous turning points in my life.
The moment of decision to bow my knee to Christ.
The moment of decision regarding the future of a serious relationship.
The moment of decision whether to leave the security of teaching school and enter the uncertainty of pastoral ministry.
The moment of decision when I was asked to lead a church plant of 50 souls into uncharted territory.
The moment of decision whether to leave the local church setting and begin a non-profit coaching ministry.
Each one of these involved risk. Each one of these decisions required courage. Each one of these resulted in a change in my destiny.
Someone Takes a Stand…
This has been true down through history. We certainly see it in the Bible. Someone takes a risk. Someone takes a stand. Someone makes a sacrifice. And everything changes.
A shepherd boy decides to confront a giant – “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go fight him.”
A Jewish queen decides to approach the pagan king unbidden and says, “If I perish, I perish.”
Three Hebrew boys refuse to bow down to a Babylonian idol – “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Two disciples are told to be quiet about Jesus and reply, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
And Everything Changes
Those courageous decisions proved to be turning points not only in their lives but in the lives of others.
David’s willingness to face a giant with 5 stones and a slingshot triggered a major military victory for Israel.
Esther’s courageous request saved the Jewish remnant from genocide.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s fierce loyalty to Yahweh resulted in their promotion to positions of political power.
And because Peter and John decided to obey God rather than men, the world heard the gospel.
Where are you standing at a crossroads?
Is it having the courage to step out of an unhealthy relationship?
Is it being willing to consider a change in career?
Is it stepping into a new ministry opportunity?
Is it holding your ground against injustice?
Is it making a financial sacrifice for good?
Is it sharing your faith with a neighbor?
One thing is for sure: You can’t remove risk from the equation. It will, in fact, require a step of faith. But the One who was found trustworthy for the scriptural examples noted above is no less ready, willing, and able to show Himself strong for you.
And taking that step…making that decision… may well be a turning point. Moreover, that turning point might well not only alter your destiny, it might alter the destiny of others. Indeed, it may well change the course of history.
That decision… that turning point might well not only alter your destiny, it might alter the destiny of others. Indeed, it may well change the course of history.
PRAYER
Lord, as I consider the various heroes and heroines of the faith, I see that such a label didn’t come their way easily. They took a risk. They stepped out into uncertainty. And while not all of them realized success, they at least were willing to try. Help me to follow their lead.
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