I recently saw Leonie from ohhcouture posed up by this butterfly wall on Instagram and I thought it’d be such a fun spot to find while in Weho. (For the wall-chasers out there, the mural lives at 621 N La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, CA…little gold nugget when you land on an address!) My gal pal Hannah and I headed to our location. I had a pile of clothes in the backseat, as any blogger would, and I was wearing a denim jacket with the silver pleats at the time.
When I saw the wall in person, I realized it involved more red than I expected. I asked Hannah, “Do you think I should put the ‘dream big’ tee on instead?” We both agreed.
Fast forward to this week…I’ve been asking God big questions concerning life, direction, plans, and decisions. And so I find myself curious…where is the balance between wild adventure and reality? How can I live in both thrill and routine? Where is God in my desires? Are they selfish? Or on the flip-side, are they actually God-given? And how is one to know which end is up?
I don’t want to live lost in the clouds, but I’d rather be accused of fairytale thinking than small-mindedness.
I seem to have more questions than answers this week, but there seems to be a key in asking, seeking, and knocking. (“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8)
As I opened my computer to import these butterfly pictures, just as bold as ever…“DREAM BIG” is scribbled all over the wall behind me. How did I not see that?? I can’t believe we didn’t notice the wall matched my tee!
Though the butterfly wall doesn’t answer all of life’s deepest questions, it does bring a sweet peace to me tonight. God is in fact involved in the everyday details of our lives. I may not always feel it, and some days I may not see it…but today, I can’t deny it. It's like writing on the wall.
Confirmed: God is involved in the details of our lives…even in our decision-making process…maybe even in our outfit choices.
He is leading us and guiding us when our hearts are submitted to Him. I mean, think about it…He had to really think ahead on this one. I found the tee while shopping for our trip, I found the mural on my Insta discovery feed (which we all know is one in a million ;), and I changed my mind about my outfit choice before shooting… All for me to realize once I’m home a week later and need a little reminder: it’s ok to dream big dreams because He’s the one ultimately guiding me.
I'm including a few of my favorite Scriptures on the topic below. If you find yourself wandering, or perhaps restless...I hope you find this encouraging!
With love,
Jess
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! ROMANS 8:15-17
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. PSALM 37:23
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. PROVERBS 3:5-6
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. PSALMS 23:1-6