Emma sat in her car in the company parking lot, hands still trembling as she reread the email on her phone.
“We’d like to offer you the position of Senior Project Director.”
For a long moment, she just stared at it. Her heart pounded as if her future had just stepped out of the shadows and stood before her.
This was the very opportunity she had prayed for—years of faithful work, long nights, and quiet perseverance finally paying off. Yet, as the realization sank in, so did the fear.
I’m not ready for this. What if I can’t do it? What if I let everyone down?
The words echoed in her mind like the anxious whispers of Israel in the wilderness. She remembered a recent sermon about the Promised Land—how God had led His people to a better place, but fear kept them from stepping into it.
That night, unable to sleep, Emma sat on her porch wrapped in a blanket, the chill of autumn air brushing against her face. She whispered a prayer. “Lord, I’ve asked You to lead me to better things. But now that You have, I’m afraid to move forward.”
As she prayed, a verse surfaced in her thoughts, one she had memorized long ago but hadn’t thought about in years:
“Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey…” (Deuteronomy 6:3, NIV)
Her eyes filled with tears. The words spoke straight to her heart. God was reminding her that obedience—stepping forward in faith—was the path to the better place He had prepared.
She thought back over her career. Every time she’d been given more responsibility, she’d felt the same fear. And every time, God had helped her learn, grow, and succeed. The evidence of His faithfulness was woven through her past.
Emma stood and looked up at the stars. “Lord,” she whispered, “I don’t want to let fear keep me from what You’ve prepared. If this opportunity is from You, I’ll walk forward—even if my knees shake.”
The next morning, she walked into her boss’s office. Her palms were sweating, but peace settled in her heart. “I’ll accept the promotion,” she said.
Her boss smiled warmly. “I knew you would. You’ve earned it.”
The months ahead weren’t easy—longer hours, new pressures, higher stakes. But through every challenge, Emma reminded herself: God didn’t bring me here to fail. He brought me here to grow.
And she did.
Her leadership blossomed. Her confidence deepened. She found herself mentoring others, offering the same encouragement she once needed. One afternoon, as she looked around the busy office filled with laughter and teamwork, Emma realized something powerful.
She was living in her better place—the one God had prepared all along.
