Don’t Let the Wrong Current Carry You
What a Northwest Forest Taught Me About Boundaries, Calling, and Staying Rooted in God’s Direction
Next month, we’re heading to Northwest Washington to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. And honestly? I can already feel my soul exhale just thinking about it.
If you’ve ever been to the Pacific Northwest, you know—it’s a whole experience.
Towering Douglas firs stretch into the clouds like green cathedrals. The air smells like pine needles and a sweet freshness that compels me to inhale soooo deeply.
Mornings greet you softly with a gentle, silver mist, and if the sun decides to appear? Absolutely glorious. Vibrant blue skies against green trees (my favorite combination), dotted with hot pink rhododendrons, azaleas, and wildflowers.
Hiking there feels sacred. You walk across soft beds of pine needles and squishy mud as cool air brushes your skin. Ferns reach out beside the trail. And just beneath the hush of the trees, you can hear it—streams, fast-moving and freezing cold, carving their way through the woods.
We stop sometimes just to watch them - mesmerized by how they move, how they shape everything in their path.
Water Is Subtle… Until It’s Not
The streams are beautiful, but powerful. We’ve watched how they slowly erode the banks, reshaping the landscape. What starts as a trickle can eventually shift the whole direction of the current.
Sound familiar?
The Erosion You Don’t See Coming
Sometimes life feels like that.
We’re flowing in a direction we know God’s called us to. There’s clarity. Purpose. Peace.
But then, the slow erosion starts.
Not all at once. Just little things:
That comparison spiral after too much scrolling
The pressure to live someone else’s timeline
The silent pull to “do more,” “be more,” or “look like her”
And suddenly, without realizing it, you’re veering off course - drained, overwhelmed, and chasing a life that’s not even yours to begin with.
You Were Never Meant to Live in Someone Else’s Stream
Dear one, if you’re feeling it, that subtle drift, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. And it’s time to pause and ask:
Where am I letting the current pull me?
What boundaries in my life are slowly being worn down?
Am I trying to attain a life that was never mine to carry?
A reminder:
You already are who God designed. Your direction, your gifts, your timing - it’s not random. It’s ordained by a loving, Heavenly Father.
When the noise strips away, you’ll find that your truest self isn’t missing. She’s just been waiting (beneath the pressure and striving) to rise.
A Practice to Come Back to Center
This week, take five quiet minutes with the Holy Spirit. Grab a journal or a walk in the woods if you can.
Ask Him:
“Lord, where am I letting the wrong current shape me?”
And then listen. No editing. No fixing. Just noticing.
You’re not behind. You’re becoming. And the direction you were made to flow? It’s still there.
Feeling the nudge? That might not be random.
Let’s jump on a call and explore how coaching can help you get grounded, clear, and moving forward in your God-given direction. I’d love to walk with you as the Holy Spirit does what He does best—transform from the inside out.
Reach out to book your free discovery call.
I’m cheering you on!
Julie
Beautiful Mt. Baker
