By Linda Evans Shepherd (Publisher)
It was an ordinary day when I was talking to the Lord and felt Him impress something rather extraordinary on my spirit: I want you to start a women’s magazine.
My first response was not, “Yes, Lord! Here I am!” I was horrified. Immediately, I could see my future—constant deadlines, articles to gather, issues to produce, and the never-ending machinery required to get a magazine into the hands of readers.
It wasn’t like I wasn’t already busy with my own family, running Right to the Heart Ministries and leading the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
“SO? WHAT’S YOUR POINT?”
“Lord,” I protested, “only a crazy person would do that.”
Then I felt His answer in my spirit. It came with what I could almost imagine as a grin and a raised eyebrow: “So? What’s your point?” I laughed out loud.
Now, I wouldn’t technically describe myself as crazy. But I will admit to a certain kind of craziness—the kind that has caused me to spend much of my life saying yes when I believe Jesus is asking me to follow Him somewhere. Still, I had no idea how to start a magazine.
JUST THEN, THE PHONE RANG
Just then, the phone rang. It was my dear friend Karen. As we chatted, I told her about the strong impression I’d just had from the Lord about starting a magazine. She surprised me. “Did you know our friend Amber’s magazine just closed down? She was the editor, and she’s looking for another opportunity.”
I was stunned into silence. “Really?”
“Call her,” Karen said. “Let’s see what happens next.”
As soon as we hung up, I called Amber. “I think God just told me to start a magazine,” I blurted, “but I don’t know how it would—” She interrupted me. “Yes. I’ll be your editor.”
And just like that, Leading Hearts was on its way. Our first issue launched in March 2014. More than twelve years later, yes, there have been late nights and time-crunching deadlines—exactly the things I feared. But there have also been stories told, readers encouraged, hearts touched, and lives changed around the world.
HE GAVE ME AN INVITATION
Looking back, I realize I wanted to know how before I said yes. But God didn’t give me the whole plan that day. He gave me an invitation. And after I began to entertain the possibility of saying yes, He showed me the next step.
Maybe God has put something on your heart that feels too big, too complicated, or even a little crazy. But the secret of following God into the crazy is this: You don’t have to rely on your power; you go in God’s. Perhaps you don’t need to understand how everything will work before you move forward.
Perhaps you simply need enough faith for your next yes. So welcome to this issue of Leading Hearts—one of the many things I couldn’t see on that ordinary day when I finally gave God my yes.
Love, Linda.
