Our Burning Bush Story (Bailey Wakefield)

To be honest, when Grayson FaceTimed me from Waco, TX in July on what was supposed to be a casual work trip, and he proceeds to hit me with a “umm…. Would you pray with me about moving here?” at 10pm on a Sunday out of no where, all I could do was laugh.

“There’s no way he’s serious. That’s insane. We have two small children. All of our family is here. He’s lost his mind.… BUT, I’ll pray about anything I guess. So sure. I’ll pray about it.” — THAT was my initial reaction.

It felt almost silly at first to even consider moving our family 12 hours away. It didn’t make sense. And if anyone knows me at all, I’m a realist.

My scripture reading, devotions, and everything, was weirdly stirring my heart to be open to Waco, literally every day after he initially brought it up. But I remember vividly telling the Lord “I know you speak through your word, but I need it soooo plain. If you really expect me to move our family 12 hours away, I need a real life burning bush!! Pleaseeee!” But I never actually prayed for anything specific. I just left it vague. Well, I pray that for about 3 days and although my quiet time, devotions, and scripture reading was still oddly aligning and nudging my spirit to be open minded to this whole ordeal, I feel like I was honestly in denial.

Fast forward to about a week later and we go to a splash pad in Pulaski, TN. We were meeting my brother, sister in law, and their kids there, and would be telling them the news and what we were praying about. We were nervous, but told them and they were so supportive and amazing about everything, which was super encouraging to us.

As we were leaving, my sister in law, Ambur, asked if there was anything specific she could be praying for us. Grayson was quick to jokingly say “Please pray for Bailey a burning bush because she’s being stubborn and in denial.” We all laughed because we all knew it was probably true. I told Ambur that I had stopped praying for a burning bush after 3 days once I didn’t get one. I felt silly because I knew God didn’t owe me that. He doesn’t owe me a burning bush. I knew what He was speaking, I was just having a hard time listening. She proceeded to tell me that I wasn’t silly and sometimes, God does blatantly answer things for us. She told me a story she had recently read in book about a girl who prayed for an abundance of white roses. She knew if she saw an abundance of white roses that it was the Lord and she would know what decision to make.

So we said our goodbyes and I immediately got in the car and started praying. I told myself that I would pray for a burning bush one more time. But this time something specific. I thought about something I hadn’t seen in years. I’m not sure why sunflowers came to my mind, but it was instantly what I knew I was supposed to pray for. And not just one or two, but I prayed for an ABUNDANCE of sunflowers.

Side note: I drive the interstate every day to Ardmore High for work. I KNOW what’s on the side of the roads and I knew there were no sunflowers. So I may or may not have selfishly prayed for sunflowers because l knew I wouldn’t see any and then that would confirm this wasn’t meant to be and I could go on about my life as normal because like I said, this all makes ZERO sense.

So I’m praying for about 10 minutes, zoned out in my own world “Lord, if it’s Your will we go to Waco, I need you to make it SO clear for me. If you want us to go there, show me sunflowers. But not just a couple. I need enough to where it’s undeniably You.”

I didn’t tell Gray I was praying for a burning bush again. Like I said, to be honest, I felt silly. And I also just wanted this for me. He didn’t need the confirmation, I did. My faith was the one struggling, not his. So I didn’t say a word to him. Well, he looks over at me and says “I was thinking… why don’t we pray for sunflowers to be our burning bush? I don't know the last time I have seen sunflowers.”

……………..

I looked at him in disbelief. “Why did you just say that??” He goes “I just remember you liked those when we were dating and we never see those.”

I told him that that’s exactly what I had been praying for since we got in the car.

I kid you not, not three minutes after we said it out loud, we look to the left and there’s a field of sunflowers… rows and rows…Sunflowers for days.

Apparently, Grayson’s Waze app had taken us a back way— not on the interstate— and we didn’t even realize it. and it led us to pass by a SUNFLOWER FARM.

We were both in tears and disbelief of God speaking so fast, and so clearly.

That sunflower field was such a beautiful, tangible way for God showing up for us. Letting us know He’s close. That He listens. That He cares.

Even about our silly, and probably unnecessary requests.

Rows and rows in bloom, just because He can.

It was one of those unmistakable God moments. A moment of holy clarity.

Even after that day, God has kept showing up — over and over — confirming this was His plan. He’s been revealing Himself to us in ways we’ve never experienced before, and He’s continued to work out detail after detail, removing obstacles we didn’t even know how to move.

Now, we’re stepping into this next season — not because it makes sense on paper, but because the safest, most satisfying place to be is where He calls— even if it doesn’t make sense.

🌻🌻🌻🌻

🎵*cue The Lord Will Provide by Passion*🎵

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬

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A little bit about Bailey...

Bailey Wakefield is a wife, mom of two, and follower of Jesus. She currently lives in Decatur, Alabama but has worked in Limestone County Schools for the last 8 years. Bailey and her family are preparing for a big move to Waco, Texas, where they will step deeper into sports ministry together at Baylor University. Bailey has a heart for encouraging others to trust God in both the ordinary and the uncertain, and she hopes her words remind people that He is faithful in every season.