Ten
years ago, if someone would have told me that I would someday own a pet care
company I would have laughed at them. Ten years ago my mind was on other
things, moving in a different direction, walking a different path. I am a firm
believer that God is sovereign no matter what, and as I look back on the path I
have left behind I see how it all has come together and how God, in His infinite
wisdom has known me better than I know myself. I see now that I cannot put
limits on a limitless God.
This adventure
of mine all started about five years ago. I had left the corporate world and
became a stay at home mom again. I was serving in my church, leading and
directing our children’s ministry, writing and teaching the lessons, as well as
organizing and managing the ministry on a day to day basis. One day I was asked
be a friend if I would watch her dog for her while they went on vacation. We
had a lot of acreage and it was a good place to let a dog run, and after a few
months had passed someone else asked me to keep theirs. One thing led to
another and more friends began to ask for my help with their pets. I will never
forget that moment in late October when the inspiration hit me. I was sitting
outside on my porch watching the dogs run and play when I realized that I could
do this for profit. I remember saying to my husband that I was pretty sure I
could make money taking care of dogs.
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My
husband was pretty skeptical at first, and I am pretty sure he didn’t think it
would ever go very far. But within me there was this sudden desire and passion
to go for it. But off I went, taking a leap of faith into an unknown world of
pet care. A few more months passed and more and more calls were coming in. I
was getting to be a little too big for my britches, if you know what I mean.
Then in 2013 my son brought home a beautiful girl who would not only become my
daughter in law, but she would also become my business partner. It wasn’t
always easy. In fact there were moments when I just wanted to give up. A few
years in and I was still struggling with the thought that this was just a
hobby, because I was pretty sure my calling was children’s ministry. I will be
honest and admit that I was content to keep it that way too. But, one truth I
have learned over these past five years is that we cannot put limits on our
limitless God.
“but
they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not
faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Did you
know that eagles fly 10,000-15,000 feet above the earth at speeds of
approximately 65 mph? When I think about an eagle, I think about how far and
how high he must soar. He is not limited by boundaries, but free, free to be
whoever he desires to be, and free to fly wherever the wind takes him. I would
have never pictured myself owning and operating a pet care company. I had
different dreams and different plans. But when I look back now I realize that my
dreams weren’t His design for me. He had bigger plans, better and higher places
for me to soar. My favorite scripture verse, my life verse is Ephesians 2:10, “We
are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” I am His workmanship, what He
wants me to become may not be what I think I need to become. My dreams keep me
boxed in; His dreams mount me on eagle’s wings so I can fly!
We
cannot limit ourselves, and we must not limit our God. You know that saying, “Dare
to Dream”? I think as Christians we are afraid to dream. We are afraid to soar
because we think we have to keep our feet on the ground at all times. We have
to operate in the confines of the cages we have put ourselves in, whether in
ministry, business, or life in general. We don’t want to get our hopes us, because
what happens if God turns out not to be the God of the possible? What if this dream
is impossible for God to accomplish? We confine ourselves in the cage of disbelief
and fear, afraid to believe that all things are possible with God, even those
of us who dare to dream.
Isaiah
tells us that those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Wait does
not mean that we are inactive. Wait means to trust and have faith that He who
opened that cage door you are stuck in is the same one who will get you through
it. We cannot keep putting our limits on our limitless God. The only one who is
stuck in a cage is you. Dare to believe that He who started you on this path is
the same one who will fly you above it, around it and through it.
In
Exodus 3, Moses comes face to face with the presence of God for the first time.
He sees the burning bush and how it is full of fire, yet not consumed. God
speaks to Moses from this bush and tells him that He is going to set Moses on a
new path, a new adventure that will end in the deliverance of His people.
Moses, being fearful to step out of his comfort zone replies, “Who am I that I
should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus
3:11 ESV)
Sound
familiar? It does to me because I too was once saying similar things in the
presence of my God. I was afraid to step outside the boundaries I had set for my
life. I was afraid to be anything more than who I already was. I was content to
be comfortable. But God desired and dreamed of more for me. He wanted to mount
me up on His wings so I could fly. The Lord showed me the path He was setting
me on that day on my porch, but it wasn’t until I was ready to step out of my
cage that I truly began to fly.
“He
said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have
sent you; when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on
this mountain.’” Exodus 3:12 ESV
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Notice
that the Lord tells Moses that He is with him every step of the way. Our God
will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) Our God is God over every
step we take- the good ones and yes, even the bad ones. But also notice that He
tells Moses that the confirmation that He has set him on this adventure will
not come until the people of Israel are free from Egypt and serving God on that
very same mountain. If you are looking for confirmation before you step out of
your cage, you may be in there for a long time. These journey’s, these
adventures the Lord has opened for us are to be walked by faith, not by sight
and signs. There are no mile markers or road signs to tell you have far we have
left to go. We just have to trust that He did open the cage door, and keep walking
on the path that is before us. We have to believe that His dreams are bigger
and better than ours.
Five
years ago the Lord set me upon a path that I never even considered, but here I
am, owner of a thriving and growing pet care company. I am flying freer than I
ever have and soaring to heights I never thought possible. My journey is not
yet over, and this adventure is just beginning. I may not have the confirmation
I need to take the next step, but I am confident in His wings to carry me
through to the end. We cannot put limits on our limitless God.
It is
my prayer that this simple testimony has given you the strength you need to
walk out of that cage you have put yourself in, and given you the encouragement
to dare to dream in His ability to carry you on His wings. I pray that today
will be the day that you spread your wings and fly. In Jesus Name, to Him be
glory and honor forever, Amen and Amen.
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