Last Saturday was a brilliant autumn day in Georgia. On a midmorning prayer walk, I was enjoying the colors, the breeze, and sunlight sparkling on the lake.

As I crossed the spillway, praying and thinking about the future, a thought came that brought a wonderful sense of freedom:

Recovery doesn’t have to be the only thing I look toward. I can dream again!

That may not sound profound to you. But it was to me.

Almost a year and a half ago, a cancer diagnosis changed our plans in a single day. Major surgeries and recovery followed. After twenty-seven years of pastoring a congregation I dearly love, I retired. Becky and I moved to Georgia to be closer to family.

I am grateful for everyone who has walked this journey with us. Through your prayers and help in bearing our burdens, you have shown us God’s love and faithfulness. Our faith, family, and friends remain our greatest treasures.

Recently, I read these words in Romans:

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:5 (NLT)

Oh, Lord, fill our hearts with Your love and let that love shape how we live and look toward the future! We want to be bold expressors of Your love!

Paul wasn’t promising that every plan would succeed or every dream would unfold as we imagined. This hope rests in God’s love, not our ability to arrange the future.

His love is a stronger foundation than confidence in our own plans.

Becky and I are calling this next season “Encore.” There are things we still hope to do: preach, teach, develop leaders, travel, be a part of a local church, and encourage those serving in ministry. Before my diagnosis, we were asked to consider serving churches overseas while their pastors came home for a few weeks or months.

We want our home to continue to be that sacred space where family gathers, small groups meet, and people feel welcome. I want my writing to encourage more people to become passionate followers of Christ.

I want to learn to kayak, begin hiking again, and accomplish all that I can with life’s new realities.

Much has changed, so I expect the future to look different from what we originally planned. And that’s okay. I will continue to focus on my recovery and prayerfully consider what is possible with God. Above all, we will seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, testing our impressions by Scripture and weighing them with wise counsel.

Perhaps life has changed your plans, too. Illness, retirement, grief, or disappointment may have made you cautious about looking ahead. Maybe the fear of making a wrong decision has made it difficult to take any step at all.

You don’t have to figure out the whole future today. I certainly haven’t!

Bring your dreams to God with open hands. Ask for wisdom. Take a thoughtful step of faith, remaining willing to be guided and corrected.

And if you are struggling emotionally, share that with someone you trust and seek help when you need it. Faith and receiving help are not opposites.

Our confidence rests in our heavenly Father’s goodness and faithfulness:

“Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.”
Psalm 27:13 (NLT)

I believe that, too!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank you for the dreams you give us. Give us wisdom to recognize opportunities, courage to take the next faithful step, and willing hearts to follow wherever You lead. In the glorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen! Amen! Amen!

Peace and Joy!