037 | "I Thought You Said Go": What My Son's Bike Ride Taught Me About Getting Ahead of God

Hey, friend! I hope you're having a great day. Have you ever been so sure you heard from God — only to realize you may have been listening to yourself all along? I'll be honest — this episode was born on my living room floor, surrounded by notes from The Well Conference for Creatives. I was reviewing what I'd learned in a session on writing and speaking through story, and one story from my own life kept rising to the top. So today, you are officially my guinea pigs, and I am so glad you showed up. It's the story of a bike ride. My kids Jason and Amber were little, and I was a fairly new single mom. We had just settled into our first apartment together, and I had saved up enough to get them both bicycles — which, trust me, was a big deal. Jason had just mastered riding without training wheels and could not wait to take our first real ride through town. So off we went — me in the lead, ground rules set, confidence high. And then Jason's confidence got even higher. Before I knew it, he was out front. I debated pulling him back. I gave him the reins. And as we approached a busy road — 45 miles per hour, packed with summer traffic heading toward Lake Michigan — I called out to him. No. No, no, no, NO!   He heard go.   Cars screeched from both directions. Strangers poured out of their vehicles. And when the dust settled and everyone was okay, Jason looked up at me with those big hound-dog eyes and said, "I thought you said go."   I have never forgotten that moment. Because I do the exact same thing with God. In this episode, I share how that bike ride became one of the clearest pictures I've ever had of what it looks like to get ahead of God — to be so confident in our own momentum that we stop listening closely, or worse, start hearing what we want to hear. We walk through biblical examples — from Adam and Eve to Abraham and Sarah — and then I share a practical measuring stick from James 3:17 that I've started using to test whether what I'm about to do is actually what God is calling me toward. 🔑 Key Takeaways Confidence Is a Gift — Until It Drowns Out God's Voice. The same growth that builds our faith can, if we're not careful, start to make us think we're the ones doing it. "God's Too Busy for My Problem" Is Not Humility — It's an Excuse. When we use that line, we're often just giving ourselves permission to go our own way without asking. Getting Ahead of God Always Costs Us Something. Adam and Eve. Abraham and Sarah. And honestly — me. The Bible is full of stories where running ahead of God's timing led to pain that could have been avoided. James 3:17 Is Your Discernment Checklist. Pure. Peace-loving. Considerate. Submissive. Full of mercy and good fruit. Impartial. Sincere. If what you're about to do can honestly pass each of those tests, you're probably in step with God. When God Leads, You Don't Have to Strain to See What's Coming. Following God's lead isn't passivity — it's the wisest thing we can do. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord will soar — not stumble into traffic. 🌿 Key Themes Knowing God's Will • Hearing from God • Getting Ahead of God • Faith and Discernment • James 3:17 • Isaiah 40:31 • Christian Obedience • Trusting God's Timing • Adam and Eve • Abraham and Sarah • Waiting on God • Confidence vs. Pride • Spiritual Maturity • Solo Teaching Episode • The Well Conference for Creatives 🤍 Who Will Benefit From This Episode Anyone wrestling with a big decision and wondering if they're in step with God Believers who tend to act first and pray later Those who've "run into traffic" spiritually and are trying to understand what happened Christians in a season of growth who want to make sure their confidence stays God-centered Listeners who love personal storytelling woven into practical biblical teaching Jason thought I said go. And