LauriesLessons

Don’t Force What God Hasn’t Revealed Yet

🌸 Laurie’s Lesson #016

I have to laugh at how this lesson came about. 😂❤️

I have prayed ALL DAY about what I was supposed to share for my next Laurie’s Lesson.

Usually something happens…

A conversation sparks a thought.
Something happens in business.
Kevin says something that gets me thinking. 😂
I read something.
Or God puts something on my heart and I think, “YES! That’s the next lesson!”

Today?

Nothing. 🤷‍♀️😂

I kept praying…

“Okay God…what am I supposed to talk about?”

And finally it hit me:

Maybe not having the answer yet IS the lesson.

How often do we pray for God’s direction…but when He doesn’t answer quickly enough, we start trying to figure it out ourselves?

We pray about the job, the relationship, the business, the move, the opportunity, the finances, the next chapter…

And then we start forcing doors because we’re uncomfortable standing in the hallway.

💗 But maybe you don’t need to open the door yet.

Maybe you don’t need tomorrow’s answer today.

Sometimes faith means GO.

Sometimes faith means DO.

And sometimes faith simply means…

WAIT. 🙏

📖 “Be still, and know that I am God…” — Psalm 46:10 KJV

I’ve had to learn that God’s silence does not mean God’s absence.

Think about planting a seed. 🌱

For a while, you see absolutely NOTHING happening above the ground.

But underneath?

Roots are forming.

Growth is happening.

Things are being prepared that you simply cannot see yet.

Our lives can be like that too.

While we’re saying, “God, NOTHING is happening!”…

God may be arranging circumstances.

Preparing people.

Changing hearts.

Closing the wrong doors.

Preparing the right ones.

Or maybe…

He’s preparing US. ❤️

So here’s today’s reminder:

🎀 Don’t force the door.

🎀 Don’t manufacture the opportunity.

🎀 Don’t make a decision simply because waiting makes you uncomfortable.

🎀 Don’t allow impatience to make a decision that belongs to prayer.

Keep praying. 🙏
Keep listening. 💗
Keep doing what you already know you’re supposed to do.

And trust God with what hasn’t been revealed yet.

Because perhaps someday you’ll look back at this season and realize…

The waiting wasn’t wasted at all.

It was preparation. 🌱❤️

💕 TODAY’S REFLECTION:

Where in your life are you trying to force an answer because you’re uncomfortable not knowing?

Maybe today’s prayer can simply be:

🙏 “Lord, I don’t know what You’re doing yet…but I trust You enough not to force what You haven’t revealed.”

And apparently…sometimes even drawing a complete blank can turn into a Laurie’s Lesson. 😂💗

🌸 Laurie’s Lessons #016
Choosing Faith. Live with Purpose.
🌐 LaurieDelk.me

#LauriesLessons #ChoosingFaith #LiveWithPurpose #GodsTiming #TrustGod #WaitingOnGod #BeStill #FaithOverFear #TrustHisPlan #ChristianEncouragement #ChristianWomen #FaithJourney #GodsPlan #Psalm4610 #ChristianLiving

You Never Know the Whole Story Someone Else Was Carrying

🌸 Laurie’s Lesson #015

Have you ever looked back on a season of your life and understood it completely differently than you did while you were living it?

I have. ❤️

Age has a way of giving us perspective that youth simply couldn’t have given us yet.
We begin to understand why someone worked so much.
Why someone seemed distracted.
Why certain decisions were made.
Why somebody couldn’t always show up exactly the way we wanted them to.

And sometimes we discover there were battles happening quietly behind the scenes that we knew absolutely nothing about.

That’s why I’ve learned to be careful when judging someone else’s choices — especially choices they made during a difficult season.

We usually know the part of the story we experienced.
But we may not know everything they were carrying.

Maybe they were protecting someone.
Maybe they were trying to keep everything together.
Maybe they were struggling financially.
Maybe they were grieving.
Maybe they were scared.

Maybe they were doing the very best they knew how to do with circumstances nobody else completely understood.

And here’s something else I’ve learned…

Two people can walk through the same season and experience it very differently.

One person’s memories don’t necessarily cancel out another person’s memories.

There can be room for both.

Maturity teaches us to stop asking only:
“How did this affect me?”

…and begin asking:
“I wonder what they were going through, too?”

That one question can change relationships.
It can replace judgment with curiosity.
Resentment with understanding.
Anger with compassion.

And sometimes…

It can help us look back at an imperfect season and finally see the love that was there all along — even when that love didn’t always look the way we expected it to. ❤️

None of us gets every season right.

Parents don’t.
Spouses don’t.
Children don’t.
Friends don’t.
People don’t.

But as we grow, we get the opportunity to look at old stories through new eyes.

Not to pretend the difficult parts didn’t happen.
Not to erase anyone’s feelings.

But to recognize that perhaps…
There was more to the story than we knew.

📖 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” — Ephesians 4:2 (KJV)

❤️ Today’s Reflection

Is there someone whose actions you’ve judged based only on the part of their story you could see?

Maybe before deciding what their intentions were…

Ask yourself:
“What might they have been carrying that I never knew about?”

Sometimes understanding doesn’t change the past.
It changes the way we carry it into the future. 💕

🌸 Laurie’s Lessons

Choosing Faith. Live with Purpose.

🌐 LaurieDelk.me

#LauriesLessons #ChoosingFaith #LiveWithPurpose #Grace #Empathy #Understanding #Perspective #Relationships #Family #Forgiveness #Compassion #ChristianEncouragement #FaithJourney

One Day at a time

💔 Life After Loss: When Everything Feels Hard… But Hope Is Still There 💪❤️

Losing your spouse isn’t something you simply “get over.” It’s a journey of learning to carry your grief while slowly discovering that life can still hold purpose, joy, and hope.

Even years later, grief can resurface in unexpected moments—not always during life’s biggest storms, but often in the quiet moments.

A move…
An anniversary…
A birthday…
A holiday…
Or even an ordinary Tuesday when the silence feels louder than usual.

Sometimes it’s not one overwhelming event. It’s the accumulation of everything.

The decisions.
The responsibilities.
The memories.
The loneliness.
The endless to-do list.

When we’ve been carrying a heavy emotional load for a long time, even small tasks can feel overwhelming. It’s not because you’re failing—it’s because you’ve been carrying more than most people can imagine.

❤️ Here’s the good news…

You don’t have to have everything figured out today.

You don’t have to become the person you were before your loss.

You have permission to grow into the beautiful, resilient woman God is shaping you to become. 🌷

There are practical steps that can help lighten the emotional load:

🔵 Give yourself grace instead of guilt.
🔵 Simplify decisions when life feels overwhelming.
🔵 Create small, healthy routines that bring stability.
🔵 Accept help when it’s offered.
🔵 Prioritize rest—not because you’re weak, but because restoration is part of healing.
🔵 Lean into your faith and trusted relationships, even when it’s difficult.

Please remember this…

💗 You are stronger than you realize.
💗 Your story isn’t over.
💗 Your grief does not define your future.
💗 There is still purpose ahead.
💗 And you never have to walk this journey alone.

If you’re navigating life after the loss of your spouse, I’m praying for you today. One step at a time. One day at a time. God is still writing your story, and brighter days are possible—even if you can’t see them yet. 🙏❤️

Together, let’s walk this road with faith, grace, practical tools, and hope.

#LifeAfterLoss #WonderfulWidowedWomen #WidowStrong #GriefJourney #HealingAfterLoss #HopeAfterLoss #FaithOverFear #GodHeals #GraceForToday #HopeInTheHard #HealingForward #ChristianWidows #WidowsSupportingWidows #PurposeAfterPain #KeepMovingForward #YouAreNotAlone #LauriesLessons #LaurieDelkRadecki

Someone Is Always Watching How You Show Up

🌸 Laurie’s Lesson #010
Someone Is Always Watching How You Show Up

Over the past few weeks, my husband and I have visited quite a few dealerships while searching for our next vehicle.

As someone who has spent more than 30 years in marketing, corporate sales training, and customer experience, I couldn’t help but notice something.

At several locations…
No one greeted us.
No one smiled.
No one asked if we needed help.

In one showroom, we walked right past multiple employees just to use the restroom…
Not a single person even said,
“Hello.”

At other dealerships, someone did come outside—but many knew surprisingly little about the products they represented. In some cases, I found myself explaining features, model differences, and updates that they weren’t familiar with.

Then there was the follow-up.
Some businesses asked for our information.
Some encouraged us to complete an online inquiry.

Many never responded.
Others reached out once…and then disappeared.
Only one consistently followed up.

As I drove away, I wasn’t thinking about vehicles.
I was thinking about people.
Every single day…

Someone is deciding whether they feel seen, valued, welcomed, appreciated, or forgotten.

Sometimes the difference isn’t price.
It isn’t the product.
It isn’t even the competition.

Sometimes the difference is simply…
Someone cared enough to say hello.
Someone listened.
Someone followed up.
Someone made another person feel important.

This lesson isn’t just about business.
It’s about life.

How many opportunities have we missed because we assumed someone wasn’t interested?

How many relationships could grow stronger if we simply checked in one more time?

How many people are quietly waiting for someone to notice them?

Whether you’re serving customers…
Leading a ministry…
Building a business…
Volunteering at church…

Or simply loving the people God places in your path…
Never underestimate the power of making someone feel seen.

A smile.
A greeting.
A follow-up.
A handwritten note.
A phone call.
A simple act of kindness.

Those little things often leave the biggest impressions.
People may not remember everything you said…
But they’ll almost always remember how you made them feel.

📖 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” — Philippians 2:4 (KJV)

❤️ Today’s Reflection

Who in your life could use a simple phone call, text, follow-up, or word of encouragement today?

You might be the reminder they needed that they matter.

Love, Laurie
🌸 Laurie’s Lessons

Until tomorrow…
Keep choosing faith. Live with purpose. 💖

#LauriesLessons #ChoosingFaith #LiveWithPurpose #CustomerService #Leadership #FollowUp #RelationshipsMatter #BeIntentional #ServeOthers #BusinessWisdom #ChristianLeadership #KindnessMatters #MakePeopleFeelSeen

Thank you

What separates the top 3% from the other 97% isn’t just talent, timing, or even opportunity…

It’s intentionality.

The top 3% don’t just think appreciation…
They don’t just click like or leave a quick comment…

They take it further.

They pause.
They reflect.
They put pen to paper.

They turn gratitude into something tangible—something that can be held, felt, and remembered long after a screen is turned off.

In a world full of instant messages and fleeting interactions, a handwritten thank-you card stands out. It speaks louder. It lasts longer. It touches deeper.

Because real appreciation isn’t just expressed…
It’s experienced. ❤️

If you want to build stronger relationships…
If you want to stand out in business and in life…
If you want to become unforgettable…

Start doing what most people won’t.

Take your appreciation beyond social media…
…and deliver it straight to the heart. 💌

That’s where real connection lives.
That’s where legacy is built.

#ThankYouCards #MailBoxLove #LauriesLessons #GratitudeInAction #StandOut #RelationshipMarketing #AppreciationMatters #Top3Percent #LegacyLiving 💫

Mountains

Not every mountain is meant for you to climb. ⛰️

Some mountains look impressive from a distance, but not every path leads to the life you truly want. The real wisdom is learning to define success for your own life — not simply adopting someone else’s definition of what success should look like.

So many coaches, trainers, and motivational voices say things like:
“Work harder than everyone else now so you can live differently later.”
“Grind 24/7.”
“If you’re not working 10–20 hours a day, you’re not serious.”

And while discipline absolutely matters, that approach is not the only path — and it certainly is not the right path for everyone.

What matters is this:

✨ What is meaningful to YOU?
✨ What kind of life are YOU building?
✨ What do you refuse to sacrifice along the way?

For me, my FAMILY has always been first. ❤️

That was one of the biggest reasons I stepped into self-employment back in 1993 while pregnant with our second child. I wanted freedom, flexibility, and the ability to be present for the people who mattered most.

Has it always been easy? Not at all.

There have been months of very little income…
Some $10 months.
Some $100 months.
Some $1,000 months.
Some $10,000 months…
And many seasons in between.

But through every season, my focus remained clear: build a life where success never costs me the people I love most.

Because if someone gains financial success but loses their marriage, their children, their peace, or their closest relationships in the process… is that really success?

Yes, I believe in treating business like a business — absolutely.
But I also believe that being intentional matters more than being constantly busy.

You do not have to live in nonstop hustle to be committed.

You do need:

✅ A clear schedule
✅ Focused work time
✅ Consistency
✅ Productivity
✅ Boundaries

And then when it is family time…

Be present.
Be there.
Be fully engaged. 💛

This world is built on relationships. Whether you are married, single, raising children, building friendships, caring for parents, or pouring into a team — relationships are part of your legacy.

I will be honest — I still have a workaholic mindset at times. I still have to watch myself. I still intentionally schedule myself. It is still a daily work in progress.

But one of the biggest secrets to my long-term success has been this:

✨ When I work, I work with focus.
✨ When I love, I love with presence.
✨ When I build, I build with purpose.

That balance changes everything.

💬 I would love to hear from you:

What matters most to YOU right now — what are you protecting while you build your future?

#LauriesLessons #WeAllHaveChoices #FamilyFirst #SuccessWithPurpose #WorkLifeBalance #BuildWithPurpose #RelationshipsMatter #IntentionalLiving #BePresent #LegacyBuilding #FaithAndBusiness #PurposeDrivenLife #EntrepreneurLife #WomenInBusiness #ChooseWisely ✨❤️

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