Let me start with an apology for disappearing for a few months. As much as I write about purpose, I’m still surprised when God unveils a new phase of my own. This one came with a lesson that I hope encourages someone. It all starts with Proverbs 19:21:

God’s purpose always prevails—and it’s always better than our plans—but how do we know when we’re following His purpose and not just our own well-intended plans?

You see, I had plans. I spent years assembling different aspects of my purpose into a beautifully structured five-year plan. It was clear. It made sense. And yet…it was exhausting. My British friends would say, “It was a slog.” The more I pressed into my plan, the more drained I felt. I kept wondering why I wasn’t getting the traction I hoped for.

Then came the humbling realization: I hadn’t actually asked God about every part of my plan. I had taken certain pieces to Him, but this big one? I held onto it tightly, assuming it was part of His purpose simply because I wanted it to be. God had brought me to a beautiful place…I’ve never loved a people and a place as much as I do here. I was sure this is where He was calling me for the long haul.

Why didn’t I ask? Maybe it was stubbornness. Maybe I was afraid of the answer. Either way, I kept striving forward.

Then, friends of mine who were completing their coaching training invited me to an intense two-day coaching program so they could practice. I gladly took them up on it. Through their questions—the kind that force you to pause and truly listen to your own answers—I realized my carefully constructed plan was just that: mine. God’s actual purpose for me was bigger, bolder, and directly opposed to the plan I had been clinging to. He was calling me and my husband out, but I didn’t want to let go.

That realization brought everything to a standstill. My husband and I were now facing a decision so big that we needed absolute confirmation we were hearing God correctly. We knew our own desires could be clouding what we thought we were hearing. So, we turned to a moment from Judges 6:36-40 when Gideon, unsure of God’s call, laid out a fleece to confirm what he heard.

Inspired by that, we did the same. We asked God to tell two people (who didn’t know each other) to share with us the exact thing we believed He was calling us to do—within a month. We told no one but simply asked friends and family to pray. Within 48 hours, five people (who had no connection to one another) reached out with the exact confirmation we had prayed for.

And here we are, turning our lives upside down to move across an ocean to follow God’s call. But here’s the crazy thing: it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice. It doesn’t feel like loss. It feels like an invitation to an epic adventure with God. He has called us, and He will provide everything we need. I’m preparing for the tearful goodbyes, but I also look forward to the new hellos He is preparing for us.

So, what about you? Is there something in your life that feels like a slog, something that is draining you more than it should? If so, I encourage you to pause. Ask God to show you where your plans may be taking priority over His purpose for you. Ask Him to make His purpose unmistakably clear. And then listen—really listen. Write down everything you hear.

If you think you hear His purpose for you but want confirmation, perhaps God is inviting you to lay out a fleece. His loving-kindness desires clarity for you. Choose a fleece that is personal to you—one that alleviates your fears and brings peace. But remember, a fleece is not a magic trick or a shortcut to decision-making. It’s a way to confirm a word that God has already given you. Approach it with a desperation to hear only from Him, fully trusting that He will answer.

Here’s what I can promise you: If God asks you to let go of something you’ve been holding onto, He will replace it with more joy, peace, and adventure than you can imagine. You won’t be losing anything; you’ll be stepping into something far greater.

Are you ready for the adventure?

With joy and wonder,

Ashley