Sunday Snapshot: Am I Waiting on God, or Is He Waiting on Me?

Sometimes the patterns we have lived with the longest are the very ones keeping us from the life God created us to live.

Hey you, it’s me! 💋

Sweet friend, grab your coffee and come sit with me for a little while. I have so much I want to tell you about this week, but first, can I let you in on a little secret?

I am not actually writing this on Sunday morning.

I know, I know! Here I am showing up with our Sunday Snapshot, and you probably imagined me sitting somewhere with my coffee, writing you this letter. Well, you are partly right. I do have my coffee, but I am writing to you a day earlier than usual.

It is Saturday morning, and I am sitting on the little balcony of my hotel here in Austin, Texas. The birds are singing, I can hear the creek running nearby, and for a few minutes, everything feels wonderfully peaceful. I have my coffee in hand, and I just finished watching a church service that I had missed.

You see, I am traveling home tomorrow, and I knew I did not want to spend my travel day worrying about finishing this letter. But I also did not want you to feel forgotten. So I got up early, spent some time with God, and made a little room in my Saturday morning for both of us.

Now, I could have easily told you I was writing this from the airplane on Sunday, and you probably would have never known the difference. But I would have known, and God would have known.

I am telling you this because I want our Sunday mornings to be built on trust. I do not want to show up here pretending that my life is perfectly organized or that I have everything figured out. Heaven knows I am still learning plenty of lessons myself.

I want you to know that when I share something with you, I am telling you the truth. Not a prettier version of my life or a version that makes me look like I have all the answers. Just me, sharing what I am learning and hoping that somewhere along the way, something in my story might help you with yours.

And speaking of learning lessons, sweet friend, let me tell you about something that happened here in Austin.

A Little Adventure and a Big Realization

Before I ever boarded the plane to Texas, I had signed myself up for a few adventures. I had a UTV excursion planned, horseback riding on the calendar, and some time set aside to explore. What made this trip different was that I had decided to do these things on my own.

Now, that might not sound like a big deal to you, but for me, it was.

For most of my life, if I wanted to do something and could not find someone to go with me, I would usually cancel. I would start wondering what people might think if they saw me alone. Would they assume I did not have friends? Would I feel awkward? Would I be the only person who showed up without someone beside me?

Before I knew it, I had talked myself right out of something I had been excited about.

So this time, I decided to outsmart myself a little. I booked my excursions and paid for them ahead of time because I knew that once I had spent the money, I would have a much harder time convincing myself not to go.

I basically boxed myself in. Ha!

Of course, that did not stop me from telling myself that I could always stay in the hotel room if I really did not feel like going. Apparently, even after making a commitment, I was still trying to leave myself an escape route.

Friday morning arrived, and I got dressed and headed downstairs to the lobby. I was nervous, and I remember wondering whether they would even take me out if I happened to be the only person signed up for the excursion.

Well, sweet friend, guess what? I was the only person.

And do you know what happened? Absolutely nothing terrible.

They took me anyway, and my guide was genuinely happy to be there. He was excited to spend the morning outdoors doing something he enjoyed, and he could not have cared less that I had shown up alone.

Somewhere around the halfway point of that dusty Texas adventure, I stopped long enough to realize something. All those thoughts I had been carrying around about what someone might think of me had never even crossed his mind. He was simply enjoying his day, and I was the one who had almost missed out because I was so worried about being there by myself.

I thought about how easily I could have stayed in my room that morning. I could have convinced myself that I would try again another time, maybe when I had someone to go with me. And just like that, another experience would have passed me by.

But this time, I went. And I am so glad I did.

The Patterns We Do Not Always Recognize

As I was thinking about all of this, I remembered a season of my life when anxiety had become so overwhelming that even leaving home was difficult. I spent time reading and studying exposure therapy because I wanted to understand what was happening and how I could begin facing some of the things that frightened me.

I learned about gradually approaching things that make us uncomfortable instead of continually avoiding them. And here I am, all these years later, recognizing a similar principle in my own life. I do something that makes me uncomfortable, discover that I can do it, and then give myself another opportunity to try.

I am not telling you this because I think everyone needs to sign up for an adventure or push themselves into situations they are not ready for. That is not what this is about.

What I have been thinking about is how easily patterns can become part of our everyday lives without us even noticing. Sometimes they began during seasons when we were simply trying to get through the day. Sometimes they helped us feel safe, and sometimes they have been with us for so long that we forget there might be another way.

For me, one of those patterns was waiting for someone else to be available before allowing myself to do something I wanted to do. I had done it so many times that I barely questioned it anymore. Until this week.

And as I sat there thinking about how much I would have missed if I had stayed behind, I found myself returning to a question I have been carrying since my Camino.

God, Am I Waiting on You, or Are You Waiting on Me?

Sweet friend, I have thought about this question so many times since returning from Spain. My Camino was not the journey I had pictured in my head. There were unexpected detours, difficult moments, and days when I wondered whether I had taken on more than I could handle.

But looking back, I can see how much I learned by continuing to take the next step, even when I could not see exactly how everything would work out.

And that is what has been on my heart this week. I wonder how often I have been waiting for something to feel easier before I give myself permission to begin. I wonder how many times I have told myself that I am waiting for the right moment when, if I am willing to look a little closer, I might discover that an old fear is influencing my decision.

I do believe there are seasons when God asks us to be still. There are times when waiting is wise, and I would never want to suggest that every uncomfortable feeling is a sign that we are supposed to move forward.

But I also believe there are moments when God invites us to examine what is holding us back, especially when those things have become so familiar that we no longer recognize them.

This morning I chose to watch an older service from a church I have only recently started visiting. The message was from the Living on Purpose series, and the pastor spoke about how easily people can walk through life without recognizing their purpose. He also shared the story of Eric Liddell, the runner portrayed in Chariots of Fire, whose convictions about honoring the Sabbath meant refusing to compete in his preferred Olympic race on Sunday.

I sat there wondering whether I could work toward something for years, come so close to it, and still be willing to honor God when doing so changed my plans. That is a different kind of courage from the courage it took me to go on an adventure alone, but both stories make me ask what is truly guiding my decisions: fear, habit, other people’s expectations, or faith.

The pastor’s reminder that God created us with purpose brought me back to Genesis 1:26–28. I believe God made me for a purpose, and I believe He made you for one, too. Purpose is not another accomplishment to earn. It begins with remembering whose image we were created in and living in relationship with Him.

And that brings me to Peter.

What If We Have Become Comfortable in the Boat?

I have been spending some time thinking about Matthew 14:22–33, the story of Peter walking on water. The disciples were out on the water when they saw Jesus coming toward them. They were frightened, and Peter asked Jesus to tell him to come if it was really Him.

Matthew 14:29 (NIV)
“Come.”

I keep coming back to that moment because Peter had asked for direction, and Jesus had given it to him. Peter still had to decide whether he was going to step out of the boat. And he did.

Now, I think sometimes the story gets told as though Peter simply needed to have more faith. But I cannot help thinking about the fact that he was willing to step out in the first place. He did something that must have felt frightening, and even after taking that step, he still became afraid when he noticed the wind. When he began to sink, Jesus reached out to him.

I love that part because it reminds me that struggling does not mean we have been abandoned. Feeling afraid does not automatically mean we have failed, and taking a step of faith does not guarantee that everything afterward will be easy.

As I have been reflecting on this story, I keep wondering about the boats I have built in my own life. Not actual boats, of course, but the familiar places and patterns that have made me feel safe. Some have served me well during difficult seasons, while others may have quietly kept me from experiencing things I genuinely wanted to do.

Maybe that is something worth considering in your own life, too. Is there a pattern you have carried for so long that you no longer stop to question it? Is there an old belief about yourself that might not be true anymore? Have you become so accustomed to doing something one way that you have forgotten you are allowed to do it differently?

I am not asking you to make a big decision today. I am simply inviting you to spend a little time with God and ask Him to help you recognize anything that may be keeping you from the life He wants you to live.

And Please, Love Yourself Along the Way

There is one more thing I want to tell you before we finish our coffee. Please be gentle with yourself. I mean that.

When I think about the woman I was during those difficult years when anxiety made leaving home feel overwhelming, I do not want to look back at her with disappointment. She was doing the best she could with what she understood at the time.

And if I spend all my energy regretting the things I missed, I might overlook how much I have grown. I would rather look at that version of myself with compassion and recognize that she was learning, even when progress was slow.

Maybe you have your own version of that story. Maybe there is something you have been carrying for years, or perhaps you are only beginning to recognize a pattern that has been influencing your life. Whatever it is, I hope you will give yourself permission to take your time.

You do not have to change everything overnight, and you certainly do not need another person telling you that you are not doing enough. I believe God sees more than the places where we struggle. He sees the whole of who we are, including the parts of our stories that nobody else knows.

And I believe He can meet us right where we are while continuing to help us grow.

So, sweet friend, as you go into this new week, I hope you will spend a little time noticing the patterns in your life. Not to criticize yourself or create another list of things you need to fix, but to understand yourself a little better.

And if you recognize something that has been holding you back, perhaps you can begin asking God what the next step might look like. It does not have to be a big one. Sometimes the next step is simply recognizing that you have been standing in the same place for a long time. And sometimes it is booking a UTV adventure, paying for it ahead of time, and showing up even though you are still a little scared.

Either way, I hope you remember that you are allowed to love yourself through every part of the process. Because growth takes time, sweet friend. And so does learning to see yourself the way God sees you.

What I’m Leaving Behind

Waiting for someone else to be ready before I let myself go and live. If I want to go, I can go, even if I am the only one who shows up.

What I’m Taking Into This Week

One small step out of the boat, and a whole lot of kindness for the part of me that is still a little scared. Jesus reaches for that part of me, too.

A Little Something for Us: The 7-Day Wholehearted Reset

This week’s Go Deeper devotional is called Step Out of the Boat. Six short devotions, Monday through Saturday, to help you notice your patterns, love who you used to be, and take one small step toward the life God created you to live.

• Monday: Notice the Boat
• Tuesday: Love Who You Used to Be
• Wednesday: Waiting or Wondering?
• Thursday: Hear the Word “Come”
• Friday: The Follow-Up: When the Wind Picks Up
• Saturday: Made on Purpose, with a two-column exercise and a surrender prayer

Each day has scripture, a question to pause on, journal prompts, a little prayer, and one small step. Plan on about 5 to 8 minutes a day.

Print it. Live it. Share it. Tag me.

Download the Quick Reset Card

One prompt for each day to keep on your fridge, your mirror, or in your journal.

Open the Go Deeper Devotional

Six days of scripture, journaling, and prayer.

Show me your Sunday Snapshot. Snap a picture of your coffee, your Bible, or your Quick Reset Card and tag me @justjennboard.

And come back next Saturday and tell me in The Sweet Spot what happened when you stepped out of the boat.

A Little Sunday Pause

• What is one pattern you have carried for so long that you no longer stop to question it?

• Where might you be waiting on God, when He may be gently waiting on you?

• What would one small step look like this week, even if you are still a little scared?

Pick one question, write your answer on a sticky note, and keep it where you will see it every morning this week.

Read more this week: Matthew 14:22–33, Genesis 1:26–28, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 43:18–19, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 2:10

🎶 My Favorite Worship Song of the Week: “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED

Listen on Spotify

I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to this one. It feels especially meaningful as I reflect on Peter, the water, and learning to trust God when I cannot see what comes next.

🤍 Verse of the Week: Matthew 14:29 (NIV)

“Come,” he said.

This week, I want to sit with that one little word and ask God for the wisdom to recognize His direction in my life.

Until Our Next Chat

Well, sweet friend, I suppose I should finish my coffee and get ready for the rest of my Saturday here in Austin. Thank you for spending a little time with me this morning. I hope something in my story encourages you to look at your own life with a little more curiosity and a lot more kindness.

And if something came to mind while you were reading, I would love for you to write me back in The Sweet Spot. Tell me what you have been noticing about yourself lately. You know I love hearing from you.

And if you have ever felt like you were waiting for permission to use your voice, I wrote Silent to Spoken for you. I was the woman who almost didn’t speak.

Until our next chat. Just stay sweet out there.

I love you, Jenn💋

Don’t quit in the quiet.

Your perfectly imperfect podcast host

P.S. Want a little more from me every Sunday morning? Subscribe to The Sunday Scoop 🗞️, my weekly newsletter filled with midlife conversations, helpful resources, upcoming adventures, and a little bit of everything in between.

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P.S. Do you have a story someone else needs to hear? I am looking for guests for Just Jelly Unfiltered.

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P.S. Here is what is coming up this week:

• Sunday: this Sunday Snapshot and The Sunday Scoop
• Monday through Saturday: Step Out of the Boat, your Go Deeper devotional
• Monday, October 26: the very first Menopause Monday
• Tuesday, October 27: a new episode of Just Jelly Unfiltered
• Friday, October 30: Friday Facts in a Flash, Part Two

You never have to walk through this messy middle alone.