The thing about stepping out…

Hello Friends! 

If you read my last blog and are part of my life, you know I’ve had a major change this summer. I left my six-year job at Revolution Church, and to be honest, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made to date. I love my job, my coworkers, and my church. I didn’t understand why the Lord was calling me to step out. I knew for years that my time at Revolution was short, and I ignored it, but I was comfortable at my job, it didn’t make sense for me to step away.

A few months ago, the feeling of discomfort, being stuck, and being unsatisfied with everything I was doing was overwhelming. I knew it was time to step out to something else, but I didn’t know what “THAT” was. I applied for multiple jobs, and nothing came through. I had to stop and ask God where he wanted me to be and listen to Him. It was not until that moment that I was reminded of what the Lord had placed in my heart as a kid. It made sense. The Lord had cleared the way for me to be completely available for Him, and now here we are, going on a mission trip for FOUR months! 

Realizing that I was acting selfishly in my comfort and ignoring God’s call broke my heart. I’m thankful that He is the most gracious, faithful, and loving God. In the middle of all this, I’ve felt His love like never before. It hasn’t been easy, and I see how He is shifting many things in my life, shaping me to be the person He needs me to be in this specific season. This past week, the Lord helped me see it in a new way. I started working at a pottery studio, and I just learned to do a process called grinding.

I will try my best to explain what happens. Whenever pottery goes through the kiln firing for the last time, sometimes the pottery can get stuck to the shelves. When this happens, the pottery will often have little chips or remnants of the shelf left on the bottom. That’s when the grinding process starts. It removes the excess from the bottom of the pottery or levels the areas where chips occurred. I felt in that moment that the Lord has me in that process. he is removing the excess and leveling me to prepare me for what He has next! I feel like I have things being removed. Excess stuff I’ve taken on in my life I don’t need to carry, and a leveling of things that might feel like it has left a hole.

Pressure is inevitable when you step out to do what God has called you to do. So in the middle of all this, I’ve learned there are two things I could do in situations of pressure: I can let it level me and take on the pressure. Or, I can let it break me and go on a pity party. So, this is where I’m at – in a grinding, leveling, and molding season. Where it often feels lonely but mainly exciting. And honestly, I would rather be in the leveling season than stuck in my comfort, as I have been for years. It hurts, it’s uncomfortable, but I know it would be worth it in the end. 🙂 Ask yourself these questions! Are you putting yourself in a place where you are completely available to God? Are you okay getting a little uncomfortable with becoming who God wants you to be? I pray that God opens up a season of desire to grow closer to Him, to become who he knows you can be. 

If you have made it this far, thank you! I am a little over 10% of the way funded! I hope this can give you an idea of where I’m at on this journey. 🙂 It’s a beautiful time, and I’m excited to see what God does! Thank you to all who have contributed to the trip, especially all who are checking on me and praying for me! I would love for you to consider partnering with me prayerfully. You can contribute by clicking the donate button at the top of this page or through Venmo @Alisha-Sierra. Also, if you want to talk more about what we will be doing on the trip, let me know! We can jump on a call or grab a coffee. You can check out my previous blog post to read more about the trip as well.

Be blessed! 

• If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV