We all have dreams, aspirations, ambitions… some we tell others, some we keep just for ourselves. I was usually one to keep quiet about my most ambitious desires. While I’d always had this big picture dream, I really didn’t know how I was gonna make it happen. Hence, the inner anxiety I’d feel as soon as I’d tell someone during my senior year at CWU the truth about what I actually wanted to do after graduating, vs. telling them a post-grad plan that sounded much more practical.

Telling someone I hoped to jet off to Southern California and become an entertainment reporter sounded always like such a silly pipe dream whenever I’d vocalize it. I could sense people’s “aw, that’s cute,” reaction before they even said anything. So I’d often tell people I was planning on pursuing a local news job, because in my mind, that seemed like a much more realistic goal. And there’s some truth to that… Only so much is actually attainable when you limit yourself to only what you can do on your own. But WOW is God capable of so much more than we can even imagine. Unlike ourselves, his capabilities are limitless.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in them, will produce much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

In June it’ll be two years since I packed up my bags, hopped in my car with my best friend and moved to Los Angeles. It had always been such a dream of mine to live in this big city and pursue a career in the entertainment industry, I just didn’t know it would actually be possible for me.

People often ask me how I made this move happen, how I’m still surviving in what is known as one of the most expensive cities in the US (and honestly I still ask myself the same thing); my only answer for this is Jesus.

It wasn’t until I released control of what I thought I could make happen for myself, and let God intervene, that I was able to fully experience the freedom that comes from abiding in Him.

Sometimes you just feel a tug on your heart to move in a certain direction. It’s usually just as scary as it is exciting, and it might not even make sense to anyone else when you say it out loud. But I’ve learned that’s a good sign that it’s apart of your calling. My life changed the moment I trusted God to be the faithful father that he is, and guide my next steps.

The Holy Spirit is the only thing that gave me the courage to leave behind everything familiar and move to Los Angeles.  I knew God wouldn’t lead me astray, and because his spirit dwells within those who believe in him, I knew I wouldn’t ever be truly alone.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7

I only say this to remind you friends, that Jesus is ALWAYS listening. And let me tell you, absolutely no prayer is too big for God to answer, or too insignificant for him to care about. How comforting is it, knowing that God already knows your heart’s deepest desires before you even ask? This is the God we serve. A God who knows us, and loves us and will never ever forsake us– I am living proof.

I’ve found that leaving behind everything that’s comfortable and quite literally stepping into the unknown is one of the most terrifying things we can ever experience. I had no idea if I was going to fail or succeed, but I knew that if I never tried, I would never find out. And I think these are feelings that God wants us to experience. Because it’s in these moments of desperation that we realize just how little we can accomplish apart from God, because we aren’t designed to do life alone.

God wants us to trust him with the biggest decisions in our life. I don’t know about you, but when I look back at all of the [very cringeworthy] decisions I’ve made without prayer, I’m never as proud, as I realize these choices usually stemmed from doubting God, and doubting myself. But it’s so much easier to take that next step when you know someone’s got your back. Let this truth give you confidence to believe in yourself enough to be a risk-taker. Press into whatever it is that makes your heart flutter with excitement every time you think about it. Don’t write ideas off because they seem too far-fetched to actually become a reality. You have talents and desires unique from anyone else, and they have been given to you with intent by the one who knows your heart the best. I believe God has a plan for us all, and it’s greater than our wildest dreams.