You Need to Stop Looking for Permission to be Obedient
Ever since Made for More launched into the world, I have had so many mountaintop moments.
Happy tears as someone shares about the impact this book has had on their life. A teenager says, “I want to write a book someday, too.” Moments where I step back and stand in awe of God’s work in my own life through this whole process.
These are mountaintop moments.
Do you want to know a secret?
Long before I experienced all of these mountaintop moments, I longed for someone to give me permission to pursue my calling. Basically, I wanted someone to give me permission to call myself a writer.
I constantly battled not feeling good enough or that my words could make a difference.
I still do.
I'm not sure that I ever want those feelings to go away. I am well aware that my calling is bigger than me or anything that I can create on my own.
Yes, I write each book and blog. I hone my craft. I show up, but I allow God to do the rest. Honestly, I surrender my feelings and desire to strive almost daily.
When I surrender, even when I don't feel like I have permission, it allows God to take my obedience and multiply it.
It’s not always a “feed the 5,000” type of multiplying. Sometimes it’s a slow healing of myself from perfection and striving. Sometimes it’s one person being impacted by my story. Sometimes it's a small seed planted that will take root and grow in the years to come.
There is so much beauty behind small acts of obedience that we don't feel like we have permission to do.
It took me almost three years to write and publish Made for More. Most of that time, I felt like an imposter when I would say that I was a writer or blogger. Who was I to use those titles? Deep down, I wanted permission from someone to be able to declare my calling out loud.
Scott loved walking into bookstores with me and saying as loudly as possible, "What section will your book be in?" He'd declare lots of things very loudly about me being a writer to grab someone's attention. I wasn't a fan at all, because I hadn't given myself permission to call myself a writer.
Well, and I don't like unnecessary attention. Ha. Isn't that ironic?
We won't ever get the human permission that we crave. Obedience doesn’t come with a permission slip.
If it did, we’d miss out on God working in and through it all. Our obedience, without a permission slip, simply allows God to be glorified.
If you’re like me and you're looking for permission to obey God's call on your life, I can't give it to you. No one can. I can only give you permission to fully and bravely trust your Creator.
After all, He has made you for more.
P.S. What calling has God placed on your life? I'd love to pray for you and encourage you. Tell me about it by emailing me at laurenelizabethmiller@outlook.com.
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