Every Thursday I feature a “throwback” post from my blog archive. The goal is to look back and discover new lessons or opportunities to grow. This week, we’ll look at “Burn the Plows” You can view the original post here. For today, here’s a quick recap and a few more thoughts about taking big steps of faith.

Have you ever stood at the edge of a precipice, feeling both exhilarated and terrified by the unknown? Reading this week’s original post or any of the others in my archive that basically scream “Go for it! No matter how scary it is God’s got you!” always makes me smile a little.

I am a big believer in knowing your personal values¹ and letting those values guide your life. One of my personal values is “adventure” which makes it easy for me to find excitement in the unknown. It’s easy for me to say, “Let’s just do the big scary thing and trust God to work out the details.” This belief is evident in almost all of my decision-making processes, especially the ones that don’t affect other people. Trying new foods: always a yes. Riding a scary roller-coaster: bring it on. When I make decisions in a vacuum, adventure has a very influential voice.

That’s why it’s easy for me to celebrate a “burn the plows” story like Elisha’s. Honestly, my original post ends by identifying the worst-case scenario as “getting a great steak dinner.” What I need to be reminded of often, is that sometimes the risk runs a little deeper than the next meal. Honestly, for Elisha, the worst case scenario may have been a great steak dinner that night, but the next day and the following weeks are really where the consequences of a bad decision would have been felt.

For Elisha, this pivotal, “burn the plows and slaughter the oxen” moment wasn’t just about a single meal; it was a sacrifice of his livelihood, a leap into the unknown as he pursued this odd and ambiguous apprenticeship with Elijah. When facing that situation, the primary voice he needed to hear was one of wisdom, not adventure.

So, how do we balance these voices? The simple, but not always easy solution is three fold. First, we must filter the decision through the lens of our values. Then, seek the counsel of trusted people. Finally, pay attention to your fears. That last one may sound shocking but hang with me.

Filter the decision through your values.

What are the five things that are at the core of who you are? These are the things that make you… you. Everyone should have a list of core values that, for the most part, never change. For me, those are faith, relationships, adventure, integrity, and leadership. These personal values should guide our choices. For me, they serve as a compass directing me when the path get’s difficult and pointing me back to who I am when I forget. When I am living out these five things, my life feels full and purposeful. When one is missing, I am ok but things feel off. If two or three are absent from my life, I don’t feel like myself. Do you know your values? If not, click the banner below for a free assessment.

All of our decisions should get filtered through our values. If the process or the outcome of that decision violates your values, it’s most likely an opportunity you should pass on. On the other hand, if it lines up with most of all of them, it might be worth stepping into. But before you go looking for the matches and the gasoline, there’s a little more work to be done.

Seek the counsel of the wise people around you.

Wise people will often see things that are easily missed in times of excitement or fear. This outside wisdom will serve as the pull back or the push forward we need to make a decision. If your first inclination is to jump off of every cliff you see, find some trusted people that will remind you of what gravity does. On the other side, if you are adamantly opposed to ever doing anything that requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, you need trusted people that are likely to give you a little push when you need it. This part of the process should also include the key stake holders involved in your plow-fueled bon fire. If your spouse or the rest of your family is not on board, it is probably wise to step away from the pyre and keep plowing those fields.

Pay attention to your fears.

I know what you’re thinking, “We can’t let fear control us!” This is true and I agree completely. However, our fears do serve a purpose. Fears are designed to protect us by alerting us to danger. When fear arises, don’t dismiss it outright. Instead, ask yourself a series of questions: What is the root cause of this fear? Is it a genuine concern or a temporary discomfort? Use fear as a signal to pause and assess rather than as an automatic “no.”

When it comes to “Burn the Plow” moments, fear is often rooted in something like safety, security, relationships, comfort, or simply fear of the unknown. As you dig into these fears ask yourself if this is a tension that you’ll need to manage throughout, a problem that can be solved either now or in the near future, or if it’s a legitimate cause to pull back. If it’s not the third, push through that fear and move forward. Fears are important indicators that tell us to take a closer look and while its actually good to give fear a voice, it should never get a vote. Who gets a vote? Family gets a vote, values get a vote, the inner circle gets a vote. But not fear. Fear does not get a vote.

There are going to be times when God calls us to do the scary, risky, adventurous thing. But there will be times when scary, risky, adventurous opportunities come your way that are absolutely not the move. When those decisions arise, use your values as a filter, lean into the wisdom of trusted people, and pay attention to your fears.

My wife and I joke regularly that if we were both like her, we’d never do anything that scares us. But, if we were both like me, our lives would be a really fun disaster. The truth is, our relationship needs both of us. It needs my drive for adventure and her caution. Like Elisha, there are moments when we need to burn the plows and follow God with everything we have. But, we need to use wisdom and discernment to make sure that we are following the Lord’s leading and not our own desires.

Recently, we burned the plows again. My family and I moved from Omaha, NE to Asheville, NC. In the weeks and months leading up to this decision I was ready to go! My love of adventure was screaming, get the matches, lets do it! Instead, we took a step back. We prayed about it, we sought wise council, and we truly weighed the options. Then, we moved forward. Was the outcome the same? Yes. But, where we would have experienced chaos, uncertainty, and stress, we experienced peace, clarity, and confirmation.

Life is an incredible journey filled with opportunities for adventure and growth. And you’ll be faced with many “burn the plows” moments along the way. Just remember to move with wisdom. With wisdom at the helm, you’ll not only experience the thrill of adventure but you’ll also ensure that your decisions are in line with your God-given purpose. So, let’s go burn the plows! Or don’t. That’s for you to discern. Good luck!

Have you faced a ‘burn the plows’ moment in your life? Share your story or thoughts in the comments below. Let’s inspire and support each other on the journey!

1. I’m such a big believer in this that I created an assessment to help you identify yours. It’s available for free by clicking here. If you want a print version, you can purchase it here.