“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”

Lucille Ball

Monopoly over Barbie any day of the week! I have always been business minded ever since I was little. While other girls were playing with dolls, I was dressing up in my mother’s business suits and high heel shoes that were twice my size. I’d walk around “pretending” to be the boss (some say that still hasn’t changed)!

When I was 16 years old my business dreams came true. I went to work for an aerospace company called Rockwell International. I was fortunate to obtain an internship at a very young age and was thrilled to meet the brilliant engineers that worked on the space shuttles and Space Station.

Many of these engineers were close to retirement. I would come in to the office and see them with their feet on their desk, drinking coffee, reading the morning paper. Most of them would lament, looking over the top of their eye glasses and big bellies, “I should have. I could have. I would have.” while counting down the days until retirement.

Watching this habitual activity, I vowed to myself that I would never be like them. I would never say, “I should have. I could have. I would have.” I knew at the end of my life I would say, “I was. I did. I became.” Pretty lofty vow for a 16 year old!

That was my driving force for over 20 years. I actually did achieve a lot of worldly success and even found myself on international television and radio and then one day…

The Wilderness happened!

I ended up in a Wilderness season of life that lasted over 7 years. My view has since shifted tremendously, yet still is curiously connected to that vow. When I hear about people setting goals and the steps needed to achieve them something inside of me just doesn’t feel right. The banter is always the same. It’s about my goals, my ambitions, and my success.

But what if it’s not all about our goals? What if it’s about partnering with God and coming into the New Year asking Him, “What are Your goals this year and how can I come along side and partner with You in what You want to accomplish?” The focus has been shifted. This question comes from a tremendous level of trust, of surrendering control, and embarking on the greatest journey you will ever be on.

Many enterprising people experience a “let down” effect when they do succeed in obtaining their goals. However, asking a different question will give you a different answer. The complete joy of fulfilling God’s goal for you is never a let down, but rather the biggest high you could ever imagine.

This year, as you begin a new chapter of your life, God already has the plan laid out for you. Find a quiet place to go and ask Him what His plans are for you. Partner with Him in ways you never have before.

You will experience peace, health, and incredible joy because you will know you are exactly where you were meant to be.

Then you will really be able to say with conviction, “I Am sent me. I did do all He asked me to do. And I am becoming more like Him every day!”

 “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

Sherry Lynn Ward

Author of “A Journey Out of the Wilderness” 

Sherry is an avid blogger, author, and speaker whose unique calling is being a Sherpa to those in the Wilderness season of life. 

One fateful decision landed me smack in the middle of my own Wilderness…

Though I was obeying God’s voice, I spent the next several years “walking on water,” even though it felt more like I was treading water. A Journey Out of the Wilderness is for people going through a rough time—a Wilderness experience—where you feel as though you are “down for the count” and ready to give up. Wilderness Wanderers feel as though they are doing laps around the mountain, passing the same tree over and over again wondering, “Will this never end?” However, being in the Wilderness will be one of the most transformational times of your life.