Do you feel like you’re on Fire every day (part 3)
obedience has an echo
Back on the island, we had a gigantic water container built into the ground at my house. The inside was sealed with smooth cement — every surface finished smoothly to keep the water clean. That water wasn’t just stored there; we used it for everything. To cook. To brush our teeth. To shower before school. And when the water ran out, me and my siblings would climb down inside with soapy water and sponges to clean it before they refilled it again. We'd turned everything and anything into a competition. So instead of cleaning right away, we’d start playing. Whose voice could be the loudest? Whose echo would last the longest? And something so cool would happen — our voices would echo. Echo back at us, stronger than we expected really. Back then it felt like a game. Now I think obedience has a voice like that. It teaches you not to let your voice be the loudest one in your life.
Most of our lives is spent in the tension of waiting on something. The moment a prayer gets answered we're at the finish line and everything changes again. New tension. New fire. And with obedience, I always knew this is what He wanted me to do — to stay in Miami. What I didn’t know was how hard it would be. I didn’t know I would have to stay in the fire and be transformed every single day. Out of state companies reaching out. I'd always respond: Thank you so much but No. I wish you luck on your search. People would speak into your life with good intentions — classmates, people who care — would say, “Maybe you should go there.” But there comes a moment where you realize: I can hear the Holy Spirit for myself. And when He says stay still, you stay still. The truth is I always have more reverence for His voice above all else. I don’t ever want to step away from His purposeful fire—move unless He says so. Reaching the end of my life and hear, “Lynn, this is the life you could have lived if you obeyed. Bring other people to Jesus with your life and story. But you didn't listen to My voice.” So for 16 months, I've been looking. And I started 8 months before I graduated. Believing that He would come through. And yet, one day I cried. The minute I did, I knew that wasn't normal. I thought of calling my friends. But something felt very off about those tears. So I sought wise counsel instead. That same day I reached out to a mentor from my church. No sleeping on it, we're not about that life here. Because no one tells you that obedience comes with an inner transformation. I needed to see the purpose in the wait. And after her speaking life over me that January, something had shifted. Her voice reminded me that God is molding us in the Fire. That’s the power of walking with counsel in your church community and learning His voice: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27 (NIV) When we choose to stay in the fire, transformation happens. Dreams burn. Plans shift. Everything familiar feels like it’s in flames — and yet He gives us new dreams, new plans, a new vision. I think about the three Hebrew boys. They didn’t know how God would show up — but they trusted His character. And earlier this week, I shared about discovering God's character in the wait. They honored Him in the wait, believing they were not alone. And I wasn’t alone either. I had spiritual sisters praying. I had friends and family helping. I had counsel giving me wisdom. People checked on me month after month. Almost every Sunday really: “Hey Lynn — how’s the job hunt going? I heard you have an interview this week? Let's pray over this!” That’s what leaning on community looks like. And through that God chips away at your pride. He reminds you that life was never meant to be carried alone. Yes, my emotions were intense for one day. Yes, I’ve been job searching for 16 months. But none of that shook my belief that God would come through. He is providing. He is helping me build deeper relationships. He is shaping a story that will serve others. Before my golden birthday, I told myself: You've walked this me walk well privately with a few people. You’re also going to obey and start sharing this journey publicly in February because there's a testimony in the wait — you find real joy, meet God's character and learn to seek counsel. Because getting closer to the blessing doesn't erase the testimony in the middle. Feeling the fire burning everything around you is not bad — it's revealing His faithfulness that carried you through. He wants glory through each of our lives. And if you're in that Fire don't try to carry it alone, my friend. Lean into wise counsel and don't keep your inner thoughts life to yourself. Because that will give the enemy a tiny foothold into your life to pull you away from your purpose and calling. Pray to God. Confess to wise counsel. Ask your spiritual sisters for prayer. Journal or record voice notes. Practice gratitude. Serve others. Worship. Exercise. Pursue a hobby. And Do it again. You may cry once — but that doesn’t mean God isn’t working. It doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place. I've said No to opportunities away from here for over a year. Would I say yes now? No. I still believe He will also give me the desires of my heart right here in Miami. And even if He changes my path and doesn't give me that exact career — the blessing in the exact package that I want — something I hinted to in Part 1. He's already done more than enough. Because the reality is that I’ve always had what I needed physically. More than that I've got Jesus. Always. And one thing I've been seeing so far are the layers and how everything is connected. Like Fire → that water container protected purity → obedience protects His voice's clarity. Like Fire → that smooth cement prevents contamination → obedience filters out competing voices. Like Fire → that echo happens inside a clean space → spiritual discernment happens with accountability, wise counsel. In the wait, He has taught me how to hear His voice, how to pray in community, how to seek counsel. One person from my church always knew every thought I was thinking about the job and everything in between. And that's a blessing. Honestly it feels like standing inside that container again — hearing which voice echoes back the loudest. And it was never mine, It’s His. And this feels like only the beginning.
COME BACK SOON… FOR THE NEXT PART!
Heart Call:
Obedience will teach you how to pray to in community. And walk with wise counsel and not let your voice be the loudest in your life.
John 10:27 (NIV)
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Have you sought wise counsel when things got hard? ( think of someone from your church community)
And how have you counted your blessings (the little gifts from people in your life) in the wait?
Photo Credits: Caique Nascimento