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As we journey through life, we may at times find ourselves faced with pivotal opportunities, ones that have the potential to significantly change our path. These moments often require us to step out in faith, trusting God's guidance as we move forward. So, we pray for his guidance. But what if the answer isn't a thunderbolt from the sky, maybe it’s more like a soft nudge telling us to step out in faith?

We may be facing one of the following opportunities:

  • Career Change or Advancement – A new job in a different field, or starting your own business

  • Education and Personal Growth – Going back to school, or embarking on a personal growth journey

  • Relocation or Major Life Transition – Moving to a new city, or making a significant lifestyle change

  • Ministry or Mission Work – Serving in a ministry, or going on a mission trip

 How can we approach life-changing opportunities and begin "moving as if the answer is yes."

 The scripture says: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we face these life-changing opportunities, we have to remember that moving as if the answer is yes doesn't mean recklessly jumping into a situation. It means we prayerfully and practically prepare ourselves while we remain open to God leading us.

Praying for Direction

Prayer is our way of seeking God’s will and guidance. When we’re faced with opportunities or decisions, our first line of action should be to turn to God in prayer. But we can’t go down in prayer and get up with doubt,  just as we can’t seek the opportunity but take no action.

After praying, we often find ourselves in a period of waiting. But waiting doesn't mean inaction. Moving as if the answer is yes means preparing ourselves for the opportunity, even before we see the signs of its fruition.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

When we move forward in faith, we show our trust in God's plan. It doesn't mean we jump into every opportunity, but we pray, prepare, and position ourselves for what God might do.

Developing the Talent You've Been Given

Each of us has been blessed with unique talents and abilities. If you are familiar with the parable of the talents - Jesus teaches us about the importance of using and developing these gifts. The servants who invested their talents were rewarded, while the one who buried his talent out of fear was admonished.

We can compare our talents and abilities with seeds in a garden; when we’re given seeds, we know that there is potential for a great harvest. But those seeds won’t grow overnight, they’ll require nurturing and patience.

Cultivate It, Water It, and Keep Moving Forward

Planting a garden is like embracing an opportunity God has given us. The seeds represent the potential of the opportunity, but success requires preparation of the soil (which is our mindset), regular watering (which is our consistent effort), protection from weeds (which is avoiding distractions and negative influences), and patience (waiting for growth).

Like the garden, opportunities don’t bloom overnight, they take time and effort to bear fruit. We have to be diligent and trust God for the harvest. When we tend to our garden of opportunities with care and perseverance, we create an environment where God's blessings can flourish.

The scripture says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Cultivating means we remove obstacles - those negative thoughts that creep in or those old habits that hinder growth. And moving forward means we persevere even when we don't see immediate results. While we put in the work to do our part, it is God who brings the growth in His timing and with His plan.

When God's Answer is No

Now, we've focused on moving forward as if the answer is yes, but we have to acknowledge that sometimes, God's answer to our prayers and the opportunities we’re pursuing might be "no" or "not now." These are the times when we have to trust God and trust that He has the perfect plan.

When we get a "no" from God, we should remember these four things:

  1. We don’t always understand God's plan. It may seem like a setback, but God might be providing protection or a redirection.

  2. Sometimes God uses the "no" to prepare us for future opportunities.

  3. A "no" might mean that other doors are opening to an unexpected blessing that we hadn't even considered.

  4. God's "no" might be a "not yet." We have to wait on His perfect timing.

So even if it’s a “no” we still have to be encouraged because Romans 8:28 tells us:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

This scripture teaches us that even when we’re disappointed and things appear to be a failure, we know that we weren’t promised that all things will be good, but that God works all things together for our ultimate good.

Be in a State of Readiness with Expectation

So, when we move as if the answer is yes, we’re not assuming God's will for us. But we move to be in a state of readiness and with expectation. This is all about trusting that God is good, that He has a plan for our lives.

The steps we should take when we face opportunities is to pray for guidance, keep working to develop the talents God has given us, and be ready to step out in faith. These steps will bring us closer to God’s purpose for our lives.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Remember, we have to be strong in our faith, we have to trust in God's goodness, and we have to be bold enough to move as if the answer is yes. We might find that God has already said "yes”, and He is waiting for us to take that first step of faith.