“If you’re standing at the crossroad of transition and you aren’t sure which way to go, as you seek people in your life who can stand beside you, and as you are becoming a person who stands beside others take heart — the Lord is always with you and within you, beside you and before you.”- Emily P. Freeman
Emily P. Freeman concludes Chapter 15 of The Next Right Thing as she offers three simple things to keep in mind if you want to gather your own co-listening group.
1. Do it on purpose. It may be tempting, Emily notes, to take a more casual approach. Like talking to friends before or after church. Yet, it’s powerful to gather people for the specific purpose of listening, asking questions, and reflecting. Hence, you engage in deep thinking about the issue you’re trying to discern. Because you need to ready yourself for the questions and insights your co-listeners offer.
2. The co-listeners don’t need to know one another, but they all need to know you well. As a result, you feel safe around your chosen co-listeners, knowing that they won’t judge you. Furthermore, consider people outside your normal everyday circle of friends. Surprising people may come to mind.
3. You have to ask them. Keep your request short and to the point. In addition, let your potential co-listeners know you don’t expect them to supply you with answers. Rather, let them know you want their kind, listening presence to help you process your decision or transition.
In conclusion, Emily observes, our Triune God delights in the knowledge that the decision we carry:
- moves us toward community, not away from it
- leads us to depend on others more, not less
- turns our face toward Him in a posture of listening, with hopeful expectation of receiving an answer
Today’s question: What Bible verses direct you when you find yourself standing at the crossroad of transition? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Our digital age – the biggest deception”
