EJ Encalarde: Helping You Live Your Best Life Today!

View Original

Training Wheels Are Not a Crutch: Learning to Trust

This morning, I had a remarkable vision in my Stillness Time, and I believe this message is for you.

I saw myself as a wide-eyed child filled with excitement. I was on a bicycle. The back wheel was gigantic, and there were training wheels on it. I feel happy and joyful riding into a rainbow of color and light.

My earlier mindset would have thought the training wheels symbolized that I was somehow behind. Whether personally, professionally, or spiritually ~ my previous sabotaging thought process would have left me feeling defeated and not measuring up somehow.

Have you ever had those types of self-destructive thoughts?

Well, this message IS for you.

Here’s what I heard the Lord saying to you.

You have been on a journey for quite some time. Even though you may feel your progress is stuck or have been slowing down, and you haven’t been able to put your finger on it, here’s what I see in the vision…

1. The Bike with a Large Back Wheel:

A bike symbolizes a journey or progress.

Think back through this year. The falling away of mindsets or relationships has helped you progress and gain more stability. Sometimes, when we’re recovering from trauma and in physical or spiritual therapy, the painful stretching can make us feel so uncomfortable that we forget about the progress we’re making. I also see what you’ve experienced, and your journey was much more intimate because some things stuck deep in your soul.

The large back wheel could represent a strong foundation or God's support as you move forward in life.

Over the past two years, my lack of faith in God has undone me. I let fear close my eyes to what could be if I only let go of bad experiences or wrong beliefs about myself.

But this image showed me that through discovering who I am and establishing my strengths, I have been grounded in faith or strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:10).

2. The Training Wheels:

Training wheels suggest that you are in a learning or transitional phase.

I believe you have been given an enormous amount of grace and will be given more as you navigate your next season or area of growth (Psalm 32:8).

Surprisingly, I feel more confident than I’ve felt in such a long time. And even though I may feel shocked by how well I garnered the power to push through, the training wheels remind me of God’s steadying hand, helping me avoid pitfalls.

Grab hold of this because I see you bursting through years of feeling like you had to do “one more thing” to get noticed, one more people-pleasing action to be loved, or achieve one more certificate to reach the dream you’ve held in your heart.

Your training wheels have been attached so you can get to this point of realizing your unique strengths, your purpose, and your “Why.” You might have stumbled, but guess what…. It’s December, and you’re still standing!

As you continue to trust Christ to steer your life, you’ll begin to feel the weightiness of His faithfulness. Your training wheels are not a crutch. They’re an opportunity to trust God for the bigger promises you’ve been longing for.

3. Riding into a Rainbow of Color and Light:

Biblically, the rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant and promises (Genesis 9:13-16).

We are entering a season of fulfillment, hope, and divine blessing. Many of you have particular dreams you’ve been holding onto because you “know that you know” they’re a part of your destiny. Yes, they’re tied to your strengths and purpose!

Those puzzle pieces will come together in the spring, and you will be prompted to gather all that you have worked on and prepare to finalize building the project, dream, or steps toward a promise you’ve been holding in your heart.

Be comforted knowing that light often represents God’s presence (Psalm 27:1).

Riding into the light and color symbolizes moving closer to God’s glory, joy, and purpose for your life.

4. Your Joyful and Happy Emotion:

The joy I felt in the vision reflects the peace and confidence of being aligned with God’s plan (Romans 15:13).

This year started choppy, but as I walked out all my new challenges, I began to experience a newfound joy in my work. Particularly noticeable, whenever I learned that someone wasn’t “for me” and “my success,” God would send an angel to reassure me that I was on the right path. Today's joy made up for my sadness in those seasons of isolation and betrayal.

Let this vision become your confirmation. It signifies that you are on the right path and should continue to embrace His blessings with a thankful heart. Stay aligned with God’s will by staying consistent in your Stillness Time. There, revelation, wisdom, and understanding will come forth with instructions on exactly ‘how’ to build your project or dream. We’ve talked endlessly about the renewed Blended self, and now you’re about to live it!

5. Spiritual Journey and Destiny:

This vision could represent a spiritual journey where God equips you with a colorful, vibrant, and fulfilling future.

The imagery of forward motion, stability, and light suggests a readiness to embrace a new calling or phase of life, supported by divine guidance and the joy of His presence.

Take the time to pause seriously—no more patty-cake time with God. My time has been built like a muscle since 2018, and even though I slip some days, I always return to our quiet time for counsel, stability, and assurance. I’m no longer doubtful of His voice. Sure, there are times He’s quiet. But I learned a long time ago from a spiritual mentor, “The Teacher never talks when you’re taking a test.”

You can’t afford to be disconnected from God’s voice.

As you move into 2025, Use these Reflection Points in Prayer:

1. Seeking Clarity

• What specific areas of my life feel unclear or uncertain right now?

• How can I invite God into these areas through prayer and reflection?

• What does “seeking clarity” look like practically in my daily walk with God?

2. Wisdom and Understanding

• In what ways am I actively seeking God’s wisdom for my current challenges or decisions?

• How can I better align my desires with God’s purposes for my life?

• What might God be teaching me about trust, patience, or surrender in this season?

3. Connection to Scripture

• How do Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 29:11 speak to my current life circumstances?

• Are there any specific Scriptures that resonate with my vision or calling?

• How can I use Scripture to guide my steps and provide affirmation in moments of doubt?

4. Relating Vision to Life

• How does this vision align with my current circumstances, strengths, and areas of growth?

• What obstacles might I need to overcome to embrace this vision fully?

• Are there ways I might be resisting God’s guidance due to fear, pride, or uncertainty?

5. Faith and Trust

• What does it mean for me to “trust in the Lord with all my heart” right now?

• Are there areas of my life where I am relying more on my understanding than on God’s wisdom?

• How can I cultivate deeper trust in God’s plans, even when they seem unclear?

6. Growth and Calling

• How might this vision encourage me to grow in faith, character, or action?

• What steps can I take to align more closely with God’s calling in my life?

• In what ways is God preparing me for something greater through this vision?

Let these reflective questions help you deepen your connection with God through Stillness Time and discern how your vision or calling fits within His more excellent plan for your life. I see you developing a Momentum of Faith. Your past experiences and developing spiritual foundation are propelling you forward with incredible momentum.

My vision is a sincere path for us to accept His divine encouragement to embrace joy, trust in His guidance, and move boldly into a season of promise and light.