Have you ever been shopping and a sign will catch your eye inside a store? I’m always one for a good deal so signs really work well for me. They’re usually tucked near the back of the store but sit high enough on top of the racks so you can see them all the way from the entry – and I can spot them from a mile away! My favourite signs usually have the number 5-0 on them in bright, bold font! That means 50 percent off! Woohoo – half price! Sometimes I’ll find an item that I absolutely love, do the quick math on what the new price will be & impulsively scoop it up and rush to the cash. But in my excitement and curiosity, information can sometimes be missed.
Go with me here for a minute… you see this great top, you’ve done the 50% off calculation, you’re stoked to get a good deal. Heading to the cash, you feel good about your savings. You drop it on the counter with a confident smile as the salesperson begins the transaction. After she has scanned and keyed in her necessary steps, the price she quotes doesn’t exactly line-up with the one you quickly did in your head. Confused, you say to her “isn’t this item 50% off?” To which she replies, “actually no. The sign says ‘up to 50% off.'” You slowly turn your head back towards the rack and there it is. Those two tiny words… “up to” And it’s almost like they’re laughing at you now. How could you have missed that? Suddenly that deal doesn’t seem so good. You politely thank the salesperson for her time, decline going any further with the purchase and slink out of the store (tail between your legs), embarrassed.
Okay, maybe I’m being a bit overly dramatic! But still, those little words had bigger consequences. It wasn’t such a great deal after all. Sure, you could have gone ahead and bought it knowing you were saving some money, but it wouldn’t have the same level of satisfaction.
Life shows us all sorts of signs. Often we place so many of our decisions on what we think or feel is a “sign”. But learning to read the signs and make the right choices is the most important part of the process. Did you know that when you google “learning to read the signs”, over 1 million results pop up? And these results range anything from “learning to read road signs properly” to “how do you know when your child is ready to read” to “interpreting signs from the universe” and everything in between. There’s endless data and opinion on the matter.
Today, could I encourage you to just start with the basics?
- Find some time each day to meditate and pray. Even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes. Whether you have to set your alarm a little earlier or carve out a few minutes before you hit the pillow at the end of the day. Those moments are valuable to communicate your desires/needs and also hear (without interruption) what God may be wanting to tell you (His clear signs for your life) – Romans 12:12 says “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (NLT)
- Find a friend. Seek out a relationship with someone you can trust and who will listen without giving answers/advice. Someone who will pray along side of you that God would reveal his plans for you – Proverbs 27:9 says “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (NLT)
- Get in the Word. And this is probably the most important thing you can be doing for yourself each day. There’s no greater set of instructions for life, than God’s word – The Bible. If you’re unsure where to start – head to the Psalms and Proverbs. They are packed full of answers to your everyday questions. Joshua 1:8 says “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (NLT)
Like I said at the beginning, signs can be tricky. If we move too quickly, we can miss the important information that is being communicated to us. But over time and through experience, we learn to slow down and take in the full picture. That only comes from making a few mistakes along the way – reading a few signs incorrectly.
Happy Shopping!
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April
Photos by April & pexels.com
Embrace The Delay 