Have you ever asked for a sign only to get one and then not be sure it was really a sign so you ask for another? I’ve been guilty of thinking that I need three signs to really confirm the answer, but then there have been those times when the sign is so clear that I only need one.
Recently, I was thinking/praying/requesting for an answer on something that I would like to see come to pass. I’ve been working on what it means to surrender, yet I was praying for an outcome that I would like to see, knowing that the answer will be known either way in 4-6 months. At the end of what seemed like a one way dialogue I told myself I was going to let this go. That if it was meant to be, it will happen and if it isn’t, then I will still lead a happy content life.
I realized that all of this requesting and hoping for the outcome I want was probably pretty annoying, and not doing me any favors (especially if the answer is no). Kind of like when my kids repeatedly ask me for the same thing over and over:-) Furthermore, I thought – why do I keep requesting? This isn’t practicing surrender, faith or trust in the bigger plan. I realized that it is because I am afraid I won’t get what I want. I suppose my kids fear this same thing. The funny thing is, often times I know what they really want and I want to give it to them. I am either waiting for the right time (birthday, Christmas), or feel they are not ready for what they are requesting, or if it is totally out of the ballpark I will tell them and the requesting stops. I think if we are on track with our purpose we get signs and little encouragements along the way to stay the course. If we listen to the signs we also know if the answer is no. If my kids knew my intention was to honor their request they wouldn’t fear that it wasn’t coming, they would just go about their day knowing it isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. That is faith and trust. I needed to apply this to my own request.
So, I laid my hope on the altar and said, “I’ve done my part, and the rest is up to you (meaning God, universe, higher self, etc). You know my heart and my request, and I trust that whatever the outcome is, it is meant to be”. One prayer is enough if it is backed with faith and surrender. Instead of requesting, and fearing that what I want wouldn’t come to pass, I closed the dialogue knowing that I had been heard. I felt oddly confident that the outcome either way will be in my favor even though I don’t know what the outcome will be. My closing thoughts were – “…that as sure as the sun will rise I don’t need to think about this anymore. Thy will be done”. I asked for a sign to confirm that I was heard and that I was heading in the right direction and this is what I got…
I was actively looking for a sign all day to no avail. I actually forgot about it and then before I went to bed I was reading a lengthy article about a supplement I wanted to learn about. At the end of the article the phrase popped out at me, ‘as sure as the sun will rise’ followed by information regarding the shelf life/ expiration date of 4 months! How random to get a sign in this way and so exact! That’s how signs work. Sometimes when you least expect it they come in so so clear and obvious and you don’t need to look for them. They just show up when you least expect them and there is no question if it was meant for you. Other times they are more subtle. If you feel you are looking too hard or not sure if you received a sign (so you request another), my advice is to relax. If you’re meant to get a sign you will, you don’t need to look for them, just be open to them in whatever form they show up and if you get one, that is all you need, take it!
That day was a great day in practicing and really feeling and understanding what it means to surrender. Surrender doesn’t mean being passive by any stretch. It means understating that we alone can not control outcomes. That there are forces at work greater than us that determine that.
I’m learning that the more I want something, and continue to ask for it I am actually pushing it away because I’m fixating on a singular outcome that I’ve determined to be the best. That isn’t co-creation. I’m learning that maybe when I don’t get what I ask for it is because there is something even better on the way, or maybe getting what I want limits other opportunities. I’ve learned that most of these things are only realized in hindsight; that’s where trust comes in. I’ve learned that life is about combining free-will and having faith (co-creation); we have to work and do our part, faith alone isn’t enough. I am learning that when I surrender and detach from an outcome I am opening myself up to perhaps a better outcome than I can imagine. I am learning that no matter how strong a persons will, tenacity, drive, talent, resources, etcetera is, there is still that component that we cannot control that either helps us or defeats us in getting us where we want to go.
~Brandi
image credit: http://www.newtopwallpapers.com
Destination Enlightenment 
HI Brandi. This meant a lot to me today. I keep putting out a message for people and don’t know whether it is being heard or not. I’m doing this on a fb group for parents with highly sensitive children. Every day I write and write and post and post very happily. But always afterwards I say “God, I’m done, I just can’t do any more!” as if I have given my last breath! And then the next day I get up an off I go again! I’m always looking for a bigger door to open and when it doesn’t I feel I can’t keep going with what I’m doing. What door exactly I have no idea but I should probably stop worrying about it. Funny I was thinking about you today because I did my first blog post for months too! 🙂
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Hello my friend! Nice to hear from you. I think anything worth pursuing has built in challenges for our growth, but as long as there is some encouragement along the way and renewed energy each day your on the right path:-)
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Brandi, Your experience and wisdom is right on! Your comments reminded me of a quote “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand before God (namely that God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father, and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.” So, we continue to pray, in faith, relying on God and trusting in His good gifts. I pray that good gifts will come your way!! Thank you for sharing!
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Diana-thank you for your eloquent words. I appreciate the biblical reference as I write from the heart and a comment such as your validates my experience. Thank you for taking the time to comment and for your prayers😇❤️🙏
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I definitely agree with you, Brandi – signs come to you when you’re not looking for them. And I’ve had those times when I’ve wanted something so badly and not gotten it (like a job I interviewed for that I did not get), and after feeling absolutely devastated I ended up with something better a few weeks later (a better job offer). Like you said, sometimes you only understand in hindsight!
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Good to hear you got a better job! It’s a good reminder that when one door closes another one opens:-)
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” I actually forgot about it and then before I went to bed I was reading a lengthy article about a supplement I wanted to learn about. At the end of the article the phrase popped out at me, ‘as sure as the sun will rise’ followed by information regarding the shelf life/ expiration date of 4 months! How random to get a sign in this way and so exact!”
This happens to me all the time. The answers jump out at you in seemingly subtle ways, you just have to be open to receiving them. One of my favorites so far is when I received this sign: https://thevacillatingpath.blog/2009/05/15/sometimes-truth-is-stranger-than-fiction/ ❤
"I’m learning that the more I want something, and continue to ask for it I am actually pushing it away because I’m fixating on a singular outcome that I’ve determined to be the best. "
Agree 100%. That is why you received the answer after you forgot about it because you cleared the path for an answer to come through. I manifest things this way, I ask the universe for something and then forget about it, only to remember that I asked when it arrives! ❤ ❤ ❤
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So cool when it happens; I get plenty of practice on the small things (those are the easiest to forget about), but what if I could master it on the really big things:)
This post was one of those times. I truly surrendered to something I really wanted and I did not get the outcome I originally hoped for, but I am at peace knowing I got exactly what I needed whether I understand it or not.
Signs are always coming at me, I’ve just learned to look at them as signposts along the way encouraging me that I am exactly where I need to be. I used to really try to figure out the meaning, but that is exhausting and usually leads to an unmet expectation.
Oh, the spiritual path – never a dull moment!
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I sent you a message through your contact link. I know these things get lost sometimes so I thought I would add a back up message here to check that. 🙂
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