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My Road Trip With God
I’ve been on LOTS of road trips. Most of them consisted of my husband driving while I turned around in my seat every 5 minutes to feed, calm, or discipline one of our 5 children in the back. If you had kids in the “pre-electronics in every lap era” I know you can relate. You can probably still relate even now.
I do have a solution to the exhausting road trip roller coaster. Just leave the fam behind. Have you ever taken a road trip by yourself?
How about with God?
I’ll have to explain that one.
Heaven
Three years ago I was driving 6 hours home from a girls trip by myself. HEAVEN. Not because God was on my road trip, though I guess that applies. Driving without a car full of kids was HEAVEN. Why had I always been afraid to do this?
It was a Sunday so I wanted to keep the drive as sabbath-like as possible. I listened to a few conference talks along with some inspiring music. About an hour in, I realized that without all the typical noise and distraction I could turn my car into a prayer zone.
Prayer Zone
I had never done something like this before. Yeah, I had said little prayers as I was going about my day, but this was gonna be a big prayer. I hoped it was ok to pray with my eyes open because I kinda needed to look at the road.
Usually I prayed in formal tones and with reverent words imagining God somewhere up in Heaven catching word of my prayer among billions of more important prayers. Often, in the middle of trying to make sure I was being respectful and worshipful, I would have a hard time honestly expressing myself. I wanted this prayer to be different.
I spoke up and invited God to buckle up in my passenger seat, though I guess He didn’t really need to buckle. I would pretend He was right there next to me; and I would pour out my soul. And pour I did.
Directionless
I was feeling pretty directionless at the time. My life was in transition and I had no idea what my normal was. I felt emptiness and I knew I need to figure out what could fill it. Maybe 5 hours of praying would help.
I laid it all out. Every thought, emotion, gratitude, need that came to my mind. God must have been focused on just listening because I wasn’t getting a lot of response. I decided to get brave. I would ask the question I only have had the courage to ask a few times in my life.
Lord, what do you need of me? What lack I yet?
Isn’t it so much easier to just tell the Lord what you need rather than the other way around? Why? Because when you ask what He needs of you, you are GOING to get an answer and you had better be ready to act whether you like the answer or not.
Well, I got an answer.
I got a head to toe answer.
The answer that, as it comes into your mind, pulses through your body from the top of your head all the way to your toes. Ever had one of those? Until that moment I never had. I guess God wanted to make a point.
It wasn’t an answer I was at all expecting but it is what has led me here, typing this to you today.
The Answer
“Share other women’s stories.” Those were the lightening strike words, and with those words came understanding that I would share those stories on a blog. Stories of goodness. Stories of faith. Stories and insights to strengthen, inspire, and bring power into people’s lives. Along with that inspiration the words, “all that is good” and “every good thing” kept coming to my mind.
That prayer forever changed the way I pray. I was bummed it was time to say amen when I pulled up to my house hours later. Partly because I didn’t want to leave the bubble of peace in my car and partly because I knew I was going to have take action on the answer I got.
Questioning
Did I immediately start a blog? Nope. I guess the Lord should have sent a stronger shock through my body. Instead I did what every “faithful” daughter does; I questioned. Did I have to do this blog thing? Wasn’t blogging totally yesterday? Weren’t there already plenty of bloggers? I was embarrassed to even tell anyone what God had asked me to do because it sounded so cliche’.
I continued to contemplate things. I decided I would do some research and start my blog in 3 months, at the new year. As the start date approached I needed some encouragement.
I didn’t want to be completely faithless but I wanted another confirmation. Lightning wasn’t enough. I got on my knees, apologized, and asked God if He was REALLY, REALLY, SUPER SURE He wanted me to do this. I grabbed my Book of Mormon and just opened it hoping there would be an answer there.
The Exact same Words
Moroni 7. I landed on a pretty great chapter. It would be a good read, but I didn’t immediately see an answer. Oh well, may as well keep reading.
Then I came to verse 19 of Moroni 7. Lots of words, but the ones that were knowingly smirking at me as they leaned back on the page, “every good thing.” The exact same words that kept running through my mind the day I took that road trip with God.
Fun fact: Did you know that the phrase “every good thing” appears only six times in the Book of Mormon? Did you know that ALL six are in Moroni 7?
I guess I needed to read it six times to process what just happened. By the final “every good thing” I realized I was sitting with my jaw hanging open. I guess I had my answer. Blogging it is.
I’ll tell you what I feel strongly.
- The Lord is calling people to do His work. I know that just like the Lord has called me, He has called or is calling you. No, you don’t have to start a blog, but we all have miracles to create in our circle of influence.
- I know we can have many revelations daily as we seek to know our purpose and calling.
- I know with that calling we aren’t without help. We are “armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” 1 Nephi 14:14
- I know if we feel weak we will be made strong. If we take the small faithful steps to progress in our journey, our hearts will be changed and we will be refined.
- I know there is goodness, mercies and miracles to be had in your life, in my life. They are needed in this world more than ever. We have been promised that, “Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.” Moroni 7:26. We need to seek to be miracle minded and start asking.
What you can expect at Left With a Smile
My hope is that every time you come to Left With a Smile you leave feeling more confident. Confident in accessing that change, revelation, power, and miracle(s) you are needing to fulfill your purpose. Here is what I offer to help…
Share Your Story
I offer you a platform here to share your stories of faith. What a pity it would be if we only shared faith building experiences in the short reach of our homes! And hey, you don’t even have to start a blog. Unless God tells you to of course. ;). I will also post stories of mercies, goodness, and miracles to inspire your faith.
Watch and Listen!
I know it is easier to watch and listen to a little inspiration sometimes. If that’s your groove be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram and Facebook. I’ll be sharing some of the same stories you’ll find here on video for you!
Every Good Thing
You will find “every good thing” resources in newsletters, by following me on social media, and right here on the blog. Podcasts, books, thoughts, news, blogs, videos that will inspire faith and goodness.
10 Things about Amber Pearce in 10 seconds
Well, it most likely took me longer than 10 seconds to type these and it will most likely take you more than ten seconds to read them but “10 things in ten seconds” sounds catchy so I’m sticking with it.
- I am one of 13 children and have 6 siblings from Calcutta, India. I’ve got some pretty crazy stories from growing up in such a diverse big family. I always win when I play 2 truths and a lie because I have so many truths that are plain bizarre.
- My parents were hippies and thought electricity and indoor plumbing were overrated. I was all too familiar with outhouses and sponge baths growing up. It was also tragic not being able to use a hairdryer as a teenage girl.
- I much rather speak in front of hundreds of people than one on one with a stranger. As a young mom I happened on opportunities to present in front crowds. After almost being paralyzed with anxiety at my first speaking engagement 9 years ago I got over that and realized I found my calling in life.
- I can’t jump on trampolines. Well I could, but I’ve had five children, enough said. All girls except 4 and those 4 are my own personal “weapons of mass destruction” and I love them and I love run on sentences as well apparently.
- I rarely read fiction books. My favorite read is a biography/autobiography because there’s nothing like true stories. Maybe its because I’ve been told over and over again that my own life is “stranger than fiction.”
- I love writing in my journal and at one point I wrote in my journal without missing a single day for almost 10 years. Yes, I still have them. No, I probably won’t read them because most were from my teenage years and no one sane wants to read a teenage girl’s diary.
- I’m a bit of a health nut and have read almost every book out there on nutrition. Only problem is, I’m usually munching on some chocolate chip cookies as I read. I LOVE healthy foods, could care less about the salty foods, and couldn’t live without the sweet ones! I think its a pretty good way to live!
- I can do a mean Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, and Prasarita Padottanasana. AKA I’ve taught yoga for lots of years and I love a good stretch and sweat. (I actually don’t always use those fancy sanskrit names for yoga poses I just used it here to sound more impressive.)
- I never have nor do I ever want to run a marathon. Just thought I’d mention that because I know it is on a lot of super moms’ bucket lists but I just want to be very clear that I have no desire to ever do that… ever. In fact the only marathon you’ll ever catch me in is maybe a Jane Austen movie marathon or Anne of Green Gables, that would be a good one.
- Well last but not least and 10 minutes instead of 10 seconds later… Here is the most important thing about me. I love my faith. I’m incredibly grateful to have been raised in a Christian home as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that Heavenly Father speaks to all His children no matter their religion. I feel blessed to be associated with many amazing people of different faiths.