The sky today feels like a canvas of grace, a reminder that we serve a God of infinite detail. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the direction of my life—not just where I’m going, but who I’m asking for directions. The Bible is very clear about the power of counsel. Proverbs 11:14 tells us, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” But there’s a catch. Not all counsel is created equal.As I’ve grown in my faith and wisdom, I’ve realized that the order of operations matters. When we are lost, overwhelmed, or standing at a crossroads, our first stop must always be the feet of Jesus. He is the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). He loves us with a depth that no human can replicate, and His perspective is never clouded by the things that trip us up: hate, jealousy, or ego. Once we have laid our hearts before Him, the next step is choosing a worthy human counselor—a brother or sister in Christ who walks the talk. We are commanded to love one another, and that love should be the foundation of any advice given. When we guide or encourage a friend, it shouldn’t come from a place of “knowing better,” but from a place of Christ-like humility. As it says in Hebrews 10:24, we should “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
The Search for “Home”This brings me to a personal part of my journey
Finding a church home. For a long time, I’ve been a bit of a nomad. I’ve visited different denominations and experienced different styles of worship, but I’ve never truly had a place I called Home. I’ve always felt that my personal relationship with Jesus was enough—and in a way, it is. Your salvation is between you and the Lord. But as I’ve been challenged recently by a dear friend and fellow believer, the Bible emphasizes the importance of the “Gathering.” (Acts 2:42-47) paints a beautiful picture of the early church—people who were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, and to breaking bread together. They weren’t just individuals believing in the same thing; they were a family.I recently had a conversation with this friend about baptism. Because I’ve never truly “belonged” to a specific church, I was looking at baptism as an outside-the-walls event. I presented “Option A” and “Option B,” trying to figure out how to navigate it on my own terms. My friend looked at me and gently suggested Option C: Find a church home. At first, I resisted. But then I looked at the Word. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 doesn’t just tell us to baptize; it tells us to make disciples. Discipleship happens in community. It happens when we are “knit together” as the Body of Christ (Colossians 2:19).
Navigating Together
This journey has taken on a new, beautiful dimension because I’m not navigating it alone. I am currently in a relationship with a wonderful man who loves the Lord, and it has been such a blessing to see him live out his faith. Together, we are navigating these waters, looking for that “Home” where we can both belong, grow, and serve.There is something so stabilizing about being with someone who looks to the Book for answers. Whether it’s a friendship or the man who might one day be my husband, the Bible provides the ultimate blueprint for how we should treat one another. (Ephesians 4:2) says to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”When you have a partner or a friend who uses their words not to tear down or compete, but to guide and encourage like Jesus does, you see the Gospel in action. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to guess how to love; we just have to look at the Cross.
Grateful for the Correction
I used to think I could do it all “my way.” I thought my personal study and my private prayers were the ceiling of my faith. But I’m so grateful that God is proving me wrong. He is showing me that there is more—more joy in fellowship, more safety in godly counsel, and more growth in a church home.Thank you, Jesus, for the people You place in my life to challenge me. Thank you for the “Option Cs” that I didn’t see coming. I am grateful for how You’ve moved in my life, taking a girl who was an orphan and giving her a Father, a Savior, and now, the hope of a Church family. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is stop trying to map the stars ourselves and just look in His Book. Everything we need is already written
Today's pen is tomorrows pages 