Sometimes, you simply have to trust that things will work out. If we had known all of the answers, no faith would have been needed. God wanted us to trust Him.
Isn’t it wonderful although scary that sometimes we just have to let that desire to be in control and know every detail go? This is when you really see God work. This is real Faith! When God moved it gave us permission to move. We simply had to have faith that if God started this process He would finish it.
I am reminded of the children of Israel and how they moved when the cloud moved. Nehemiah 9:19, “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night.
Please don’t misinterpret what I am saying. We certainly did not see moving clouds and pillars of fire, however, God certainly gave us evidence that He was moving because of the sequence of events that were taking place.
There are times when we are praying and God has not moved, I feel that those are the times we should be still, especially if we have received nothing to indicate that he is working on our behalf or given us permission to move. There certainly are other times when He is working and we don’t see anything happening. There again we can’t get ahead of him. Someone once said the only thing worse than waiting is wishing you had waited.
Genesis 16: 1-6
Genesis 15:1-6- Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
In this case Sarah through impatience jumped ahead of God. She did not allow God to complete the process in the way he had already communicated to Abraham that He would. Her faith was not strong enough to watch the promise unfold in God’s timing and God’s way.
I am certainly not an authority on this subject however, I think there are times when we certainly must count the cost before moving forward. And there are other times when God tells us to do something or presents an opportunity to us that we simply must pray about and move forward quickly, trusting that if He brought it to us, He will protect us through it.
Genesis 12:1-4- The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
God has given us the ability and the freedom to make choices and as long as what we desire or choose does not contradict his word or fall into the category of being sinful we are free to make our own decisions. Through prayer we learn God’s perfect and best will for our lives. Do you want God’s good, better or His best for your life? Sometimes decisions are not good or bad, sometimes they are good, better or best. The main thing is not to go through life over analyzing things to the point you become paralyzed with the fear of making a wrong decision and do nothing. Or trying to force God’s hand when He has clearly closed a door.
Simply pray and God will reveal the direction you should go. Although you may have to wait, you will be answered. It is always better if you allow God to go before you. Be willing to wait and have faith in His perfect timing. He always leads us right.
Most importantly walk closely with Him so you will know His voice when he speaks to you John 10:4-5 – After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
Be blessed and get ready to STEP OUT ON FAITH!
