Confident and Connected: How can you be confident you're going in the right direction?

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

    whose confidence is in him.

—Jeremiah 17:7

With less than two weeks of summer break remaining, I decided to take a trip to spend the weekend with my Pennsylvania family. Quickly, I packed my suitcase and everything I would need for a few days away. Mentally, I went down the list. Medicine, chargers, laptop, devotionals. At the last minute, I decided not to take my Jesus Calling book. I knew I could use my daughter’s copy instead.

As I drove, I had plenty of time to meditate and pray. I was grateful for the blessings of summer, the freedom to take a trip on a whim, the trips I had already taken during the summer, the time I had spent with each of my grandchildren, making special connections. I would be sad for it to end, but I knew that more blessings awaited with the start of the new school year. I reflected on the previous year and the word I had chosen to keep my focus. At the principal’s direction, I posted my word, encouragement, outside my classroom door. Every day when I walked into my room, I caught sight of the word. It reminded me of my goal. Intentionally, I encouraged my students and later received positive feedback. Encouragement had been a successful theme. Recently I had been thinking about a new word for the upcoming school year: connect.

Is that it, Lord? I prayed. Do You want me to focus on making more connections? Please make it clear to me.

The weekend came and went in a whirlwind with one day at the beach and another celebrating birthdays. Then it was Monday, time for my family to return to routine and me to Maryland. I decided to wait out the morning rush hour by extending my usual quiet time with God. I picked up my daughter’s copy of Jesus Calling and read the entry for August 19^th. One line struck me, “Waiting in My Presence keeps you connected to Me, aware of all that I offer you.”

There was that word, connected.

Hmm, is that Your confirmation, Lord?

I usually don’t look up the referenced verses listed below the Jesus Calling entries, but since I had time and was curious to know if one of them focused on making connections, I did. But none of the four specifically mentioned the word connected. Still, I wanted to consider the word. So I took a picture of the page to remind myself.

My heart was full as I drove down I-95 in the direction of home. It was a beautiful day for traveling, and I was thankful for the weekend I had just enjoyed. Something caught my eye in the lane next to me, words on the back of a dump truck. I increased my speed to move closer so I could read it: Jeremiah 17:7.

That’s interesting. Wasn’t that one of the verses I just read?

As soon as I got home, I pulled out my own copy of Jesus Calling and turned to August 19^th. Jeremiah 17:7 was not listed.

But I was fairly sure I had read the verse earlier that morning. Then I remembered the picture I had taken of the page. I checked. It was listed. 

That’s odd. Why is Jeremiah 17:7 listed in Rebekah’s book, but not in mine? And why was the verse emblazoned on the back gate of a dump truck for me to see? 

I tried to make sense of it. Perhaps our books were printed at different times. But what about the dump truck? Some may pass it off as coincidence, but I don’t believe it. Oddities get my attention. Oddities make me question, so I keep my eyes and ears open for God’s answer.

I returned to Jeremiah 17:7: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him” (emphasis mine).

What are you trying to tell me, Lord? Since the “confidence” verse was placed in one book but not in the other, is the message about misplaced confidence? Trusting in anyone or anything above You is equal to rubble?

Is confidence my word for the year, Lord?

Perhaps. But I still wasn’t sure. I needed clarification.

I returned to work on Monday, and as it turned out, our principal did not ask for our word this year. Still I wanted to select one but decided I had more time to figure it out.

Later in the week, the principal did ask for a sponsor for the Gals Lead group. I had heard of the group last year from one of my students who was involved in it. I knew it focused on encouraging girls to pursue their dreams and sounded like something that aligned with my personal values, as well as the curriculum of the Personal Living course I taught. I emailed the principal for more information. As I scanned the materials, I became more interested. When I later spoke with the community business woman who was spearheading the program, I knew it was right for me. Without hesitating, I said yes. Then later I wondered, Did I volunteer too hastily?

One of the school counselors, who also wanted to help with the group, reached out to me for more information. I sent her the website link. In so doing, a tagline from the site caught my eye: “Creating more confident and connected relationships with the women and girls in our life.”

My jaw dropped. That’s it, Lord, isn’t it! Not one word, but two. Confident and connected.

Also, not just one answer, but two. Confirmation on both my word(s) of the year and my decision to sponsor the group.

I am confident I made the right choice, and I look forward to all God offers.

Thank you, Lord, for all the ways You make clear to me the path of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105), and Your Holy Spirit guides me like a truck in the lane right next to me. The more connected I am to You, the more confident I am in the way You would have me to go. Amen.