Sometimes the hardest time to move forward is when things are going great.  I know that sounds kind of crazy, but it is definitely true. Sometimes it is more difficult to move forward when everything is going well than it is when you face tough circumstances.

When times are tough, you have to make choices. You have to implement change. You have to take steps just to get through to the other side of the rough circumstances. You have to move. Everything depends on it.

But when things are going well, it is much harder to take steps that will get you to the next level. Our mentality is, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” And that’s a shame, because times like these are the perfect times to take strides to build yourself, or your church, or your business, to even greater things.

When things are going well, it isn’t time to relax and take a break. No, it’s time to move ahead with excitement and energy.

That is where we are as a church right now. Last year, we faced a pretty tough set of circumstances with some back taxes that had been neglected. On top of that we owed a balance on a couple of properties that the church had bought. We were making it, but God had greater things in store for us, and incredible lessons to learn.

We decided to place our faith where our mouth is, and set out to see what God was planning. We held a “Paid In Full Sunday,” where every bit of the offering that day went to the tax penalties, or one of the two properties.

Honestly, we didn’t know what to expect, and would have been excited if we raised enough to pay the tax issue in full. But, like I mentioned, God had bigger things in mind. When it was all said and done, everything was paid off, and our church is now debt free.

So, now what?

God did some pretty amazing things through that, but what do we do with that now? It’s easy to think we can just coast for a while, since we have no significant bills or payments. We can take it easy, right?

That isn’t our plan. We’ve thrown around a few ideas of what might be next. More missions? Building projects? Extra staff? Those are all strong possibilities, and have some great potential. But right now, we aren’t sure just where God is leading.

We just know that he is. And we expect it to be big.

But the lesson I have learned through all of this is that our best times to move forward with greater enthusiasm and excitement are when things are going well. The best time to capitalize on that excitement is right now, while it is high, and step out into the next big thing together.

Doing so accomplishes two things:

The excitement is high enough to get more people involved

Now is the perfect time to move ahead with where God is leading us, simply because the energy level is so high. People are excited. And excited people are more willing to get involved. When the excitement dies down, momentum is lost. We need to strike while the iron is hot.

It’s easier to avoid complacency

When the energy fades, people tend to accept the slower pace as the norm, and become complacent. When people become complacent, things begin to stagnate. And stagnancy breeds death. Moving forward in such a time as this avoids the pitfalls associated with complacency.

In the long run, a time like we are facing right now is the perfect opportunity to plunge into what God has lined up for us. But not everyone sees the big picture. Now, more than ever, it is critical to cast the vision, encourage people, and above all, pray for what God has in store.

And as you see God moving, the energy and excitement will grow even more.

Question: How are things going where you are: personally, at work, at church? Can you see what God is doing next? You can leave a comment by clicking here.