I’m sitting cozily in a warm European café perched just outside the city center of Brno (in the Czech Republic), sipping hot cranberry ginger cider and wondering:
Dear man to my left, with your interesting choice of three drinks at once (sparkling water, espresso, and wine) and a fat journal full of what I assume is contemplative, expressive writing splayed out in front of you; I see you’re trying to grow a man bun. Touché. Really. I commend the effort. But while you’re playing catch up with the rest of Europe’s models, Jared Leto, and every futball player in the continent, you look so very silly.
This mid-way, awkward phase probably has him confused, too. Should he cut it off? Keep going? Wear a hat? (I’m going somewhere with this. I promise.)
Have you ever felt led by God, the Spirit, or “a sign” to do something? I’ll answer that for you. I’m sure you have. We often look to God for direction – as we should – and find ourselves on the path to somewhere. We always start out gung-ho, like, “God put it on my heart to write this book, and write this book, I will.” It sounds great at first. You look and feel like the champion of chasing a dream. I’m following God’s will for my life. I’m writing this book. It’s going to be great. Skip to a few months later when the sparkle has worn off and you haven’t gotten past chapter 3, you’re out of ideas, and you begin to wonder the very same thing that I suspect man-bun-wannabe may be thinkin’ right about now: Should I turn back? It’s not too late to change my mind. I’ll do something different. A faux-hawk. It’s easier; more manageable. (Please, take lightly my superficial example.)
It’s moments like these that challenge our faith. That challenge our innate belief in the will and power of God. It’s times like these that we must turn to God and know that though our path is long or winding, though our legs are tired or we are sporting a ridiculous half-bun/half crew-cut, He sent us on this mission. Trust His plan – the one placed on your heart – and carry on. He wouldn’t let you look ridiculous unless there was a lesson to learn or it was a stepping stone to your goal… right?
You know what goes hand in hand in believing in God’s plan for you? Believing that he equipped you to stick it out for the long haul.
He knows you can handle the quazi-bun with confidence. No one ever said, “God had this great plan for your life and if you believe in Him for five minutes, you’ll have the fruit in your basket.” (You know, combining the whole rub a Genie lamp with planting seeds and seeing fruit - voila!).
God’s plan for you and the path He has placed you on is as important as the life He gave you. And when you get to the end – full length, luscious man-bun that competes with even Brad Pitt's (or something more significant) – you will know that God carried you through to the finish line because He is not a frivolous God. He doesn’t do things He doesn’t mean. He meant for you to realize this dream. #BeInspired #TrustGod #PassitOn
Bible references: Jeremiah 29:11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 16:9