Disclaimer: This being my very first post, it will be longer than my subsequent posts, so bear with me this time around!

For some time now, I’ve grappled the idea of starting my own blog. And like many of you can imagine, self-doubt always crept its way in and talked me out of it. I thought, “Who will want to read what I have to say? What do I even have to say that’s so important? And, even if there’s something to be said, it can just be said, right?”

“Well sure, Bri, if you want to take the easy way out,” the Holy Spirit respectfully nudged.

That conversation between God and me played out in a variety of ways until one night it hit me smack dab on highway 71.

You see, my family and I have lived on the west side of Austin now for almost a year. So, flashback to about the first month we’d been living in Austin to a conversation I had with my husband. I distinctly remember him saying (in his sexy baritone), “Baby, when you’re coming home at night, never take [a specific route], but instead travel down [the alternate route].”

My husband instructing me of this explained that the first route isn’t lit nearly as well as the alternate route, so it would always be in my best interest to travel the second route for my safety. Like I mentioned, we had only lived there a few weeks by this time, so I hadn’t really had to travel at night on my own yet. At that moment, I wasn’t too concerned with the subject.

Fast forward a few weeks, as I became acclimated to Austin’s infrastructure, I actually had to travel that first route quite a bit now. It actually became my preferred roadway to and from work to avoid congestion and traffic. These were lighted times of the day, so I was in the clear! In fact, this road was probably the one I knew the most. Its lights, intersections, when it was busier than other times, etc. became most familiar to me in such a new city.

Well, one evening I had to stay later for work. This was in the fall when it gets darker earlier than usual. I started on my travel home. About a mile before the exit for my preferred route, the route I take to and from work, but was instructed NOT to travel on at night, my mind began to wonder.

I asked myself would it really make a difference if I took this route and not the other? Who would know? I mean, this highway is dark, too! I could make it on the road that’s most familiar to me for another 10 miles!

See, even though I knew my husband’s clear instructions, it was my longing for familiarity that made me question his instructions. My “go-to” road made me feel good, safe, comfortable during the day because I knew it well and I was willing to compromise my husband’s wisdom for what made me feel ‘comfortable’ at the time. I thought of all of this all while maneuvering my way over to the furthest right lane to exit. But right as I approached the exit, I passed it up and stayed toward the road my husband had told me about. Thankfully, the road met me with comfort, ease, and a peace that stayed with me until I arrived home. Initially, I thought I would’ve been better off doing what was familiar to me, but it turns out there was peace in the instructions I had already received.

Sometimes we are called to do certain things that push us out of our ‘comfort zones’ that will make us a little more vulnerable than we’d like to be. So much so, that we sit back and choose feeling ‘comfortable’ in order to protect ourselves from shame or failure when we’ve clearly received instructions from the Lord that will actually help us to grow.

With a step of faith and my instructions duly noted from the Holy Spirit about this blog, I’m believing my vulnerability and transparency through love will help encourage, free and provide wisdom to those who read this.

So now, which will you choose? Will you remain comfortable for fear of who will judge you? Or will you receive the grace that’s been made available to you and trust that the plan on your life calls you beyond your comfort level in order for you to grow? I hope you find peace in your willingness to grow and what God can do with a willing and obedient heart!

Live Courageously,
Love Boldly,
Walk Wisely,

Mrs. Bri Walker