Accepting the Invitation
How to overcome "I came, I saw, now I must leave." Instead, consider experiencing the joy of knowing your plus one is Jesus! Don’t miss the chance to be part of something special!
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV).
When you receive an invitation, do you feel important?
Do you wonder who else was invited?
Do you anticipate what you can expect at the event?
What gift should you bring?
What should you wear?
It’s 5:30 p.m., and I walked into the house after a long day at work. I put my bags down to open the mail. On top of the pile was what looked like an invitation from our new neighbors. As I take the letter opener and slide it under the small opening in the envelope flap, I feel my heart race. “You’re invited to Andrea and Robert’s wedding on November 5th. Please RSVP online by October 15th.” By now, the thumping of my heart is so hard that I lay my hand over my chest and feel the rise and fall of my anticipated nervous system working overdrive, pushing the blood flow to a maximum through my body. Immediately, I turn to my phone’s calendar, hoping I already have something that will prevent me from responding with a yes. Not because I don’t want to celebrate their wedding, but because I can’t bear being in large groups of people, especially in a crowded room with strangers.
Fear of the unknown, riddled with insecurity, can prevent us from forming meaningful connections with the people God intends for us to engage with. Fear hinders God’s intended work in our lives. The work begins with living to your true, God-given potential and using the gifts He has given you in everything you do and everywhere you go. Sometimes, an invitation is not for a celebratory event but a call to meet a need in the lives of others as part of God’s greater plan.
Maybe God placed a person on your heart because you have gone through something similar and can relate. God calls on you because “you are the one!” If you ignore the invitation, you miss out on what God has planned for you. He wants you to accept your invitation and bring him as your plus-one. When you acknowledge his presence, God can work through you in ways you couldn’t imagine.
Even when God’s invitations come in unexpected or uncomfortable ways, you are still called to minister to others. He wants you to engage with those around you, to build connections, and to get to know his people better. God understands something you may not yet see, and that’s why He chose you for that moment.
Reflection Questions:
What is it that frightens you so deeply?
What makes you pause and second-guess yourself?
What support or reassurance do you need to conquer this fear and push through to the other side?
When my husband came home, I shared the invitation with him. I immediately expressed my feelings and tried to convince him that we should decline. However, his insistence on attending—whether I went or not—motivated me to accept the challenge and go with him. He’s the social one! I gave myself permission to set boundaries and a way out, should my internal nervous system become out of control. When I felt boxed in and overstimulated, every room became an escape room, so I stepped outside. There were a few people outside, and I started to feel more relaxed. I struck up a pleasant conversation with a couple, which turned into a great time filled with laughter and meaningful talk. I got to know them, and we realized that, in this small world, we had many mutual acquaintances who were not connected to the couple getting married. We shared many laughs, as their stories inspired me and our enjoyable conversation made the time pass quickly. It helped to know they, too, were outside trying to escape the crowd. By the time I was ready to leave, I felt much better and was grateful for having accepted the invitation. It was enjoyable to meet some new people. I still returned home mentally exhausted with a human hangover, but grateful I attended the party.
Learn to embrace your quiet strength and let God’s Holy Spirit do all the leading. God LOVES speaking to you!
TRUST Him with the outcome and bring him along as your plus-one.
What stirs your excitement, and what triggers your fear when you receive an invitation?
Let's dive into those emotions and explore what God may be working on in you.
Our background knowledge, shaped by our experiences and observations of our parents and other adult influences in various situations, often determines how our bodies respond both inwardly and outwardly. This knowledge can also lead to misunderstandings and fear. The way adults react with either fear or excitement in certain situations can influence us as children. Witnessing their reactions to disappointments and failures can make us hesitant to accept new opportunities, as we fear failing before we even have a chance to learn from our mistakes and successes. As a result, I often choose not to engage at all.
Have you ever felt like this? The core belief in your capabilities surfaces whether you accept or decline an invitation God has put in your path.
There are several habits that might hold us back from fully embracing God’s invitation, including:
We are content with our circle of friends and don’t need to focus on making new relationships, yet God may have purposefully connected us with others, and we miss what He is trying to show us or how He wants to use us.
God invites us to ->Seek Courage from JesusWe believe that we need a "Club Membership" where others must tap us on the shoulder to initiate interactions. This requires organizing the right moment and feeling a sense of obligation to ensure that experiences are safe, meaningful, and conducted in an organized, planned, and expected manner. We want to be wanted. We wait to serve others outside our weekly routine when on a mission trip, a church mission project, or a community volunteer project. We fail to recognize the daily opportunities God surrounds us with at the grocery store, gas station, doctor's office, workplace, and when we go out to eat, and the list goes on.
God invites us to ->Embrace God’s InterruptionsWe hold back from seeing beyond our own understanding of the preferred way of living.
God invites us to -> Different Can Be DelightfulWe don’t want to let go of holding on to safety and comfortable places.
God invites us to ->Unleash What Keeps You Captive
We want to be comfortable and hold on to our routine and the rhythm of our lives, creating a blind spot so that we can’t see what God wants to grow in us. Instead of self-examination to identify what holds us back, we remain in our cozy corner. What is God inviting you to or towards?
Why not delight in the presence of Jesus and feel the warmth of his joy as you anticipate what comes with being invited to his gathering?
Get ready for thrilling rewards when you accept your invitation!
As you prepare for the unexpected occasion, indulge in the divine delicacy of heavenly manna. When invited to a party, you are often served an extra special meal along with delightful desserts. That is what Jesus has waiting for you! Jesus eagerly awaits your arrival to join Him at His table. Why not draw strength and inspiration from Jesus’ example? He desires to give Himself to you and be your plus one!
Accept the invitation and bring Jesus along!
Check out Session 3 in the True Reflection: Focusing on Your Precious Identity with Purpose women’s Bible study, coming available for purchase in April 2026. In Session 3: Becoming Spiritually Free of Lies and Labels, points you toward reinforcing the truth and God’s plan for you. Check it out at www.lisa-stenger.com
