Learn How to Travel in a Fog

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.”
—-Exodus 14:15

Another step toward beginning your second act is this: we have to learn how to travel in a fog.

I used to live in an area near a lake with thick early morning fog. Since I had to attend a morning class, I needed to learn how to drive in the fog. I went slowly, watched for any traffic, and so forth. I often thought how much faster and easier my commute would be if there were no fog.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had 100 percent visibility in our lives? If we could see our future with perfect clarity, we could plan more intelligently, move forward with speed and confidence, and avoid collisions with circumstances and people. But if you refuse to act until the fog lifts and you have a clear view of your future, you will wait … and wait … and wait.

If you are going to experience a great second act, you need to learn how to travel in a fog. There are some key steps to move forward in your life with uncertainty and limited visibility ahead of you.

First, you have to have a need that compels you to start traveling. Now for me, I had a need to get to class. Before you will risk moving forward in your life with limited visibility, you will feel a holy discontent. Only when you can no longer stand your present situation will you be motivated to take that first step into the unknown.

Second, traveling in a fog requires movement. You need to start moving to launch your second act. If you can’t see clearly ahead of you, then move slowly and cautiously, just as you would drive through a fog. But the important thing is to start moving. When you take the first step, even in the fog, things become more clear. But when you refuse to move, you stay stuck.

I encourage you to take one simple action step and just do it. Make that phone call, write that letter, or schedule that appointment. You will be surprised how much easier it will be then for you to take the next step and then the step after that one.

The third ingredient of traveling with limited visibility is faith. Fortunately, God can see through the fog. He sees everything clearly. He knows what is ahead of us. And just as He leads us to take that first step, He will continue to lead us to our future.

We have to have faith if we’re going to move forward toward our second act in life.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Begin Your Second Act Now!” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2016.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.