Faith is Obeying When I Don't Understand

Chuckle: A little girl told her grandfather she was writing a story on his word processor. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

Quote: "The act of faith is more than a bare statement of belief, it is a turning to the face of the living God." --Christopher Bryant

"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he is going" (Hebrews 11:8 NLT).

If we received such a call from God, most of us would want to know exactly where God is sending us, how long will it take us to get there, what will it be like when we get there, what are the risks to me and my family, and exactly who is going to provide for my needs? But the Bible tells us that Abraham obeyed without question based on God's call and single promise that He would bless him greatly and give him the land that God would show him as an inheritance.

God's command to Abraham was straightforward: "Go to a land I will show you." Without knowing where he was going or fully understanding why, Abraham obeyed and launched out in faith. Faith is obeying God and walking toward Him with expectation and anticipation even when we don't fully understand, but trusting that He will open doors and give us direction as we go.

I remember a time when I was sitting in my car in a WAL-MART parking lot just listening to the radio and watching people go and come while my wife shopped. It suddenly dawned on me that this was a teachable moment for me from God. The automatic doors to the store would not open until someone walked toward them. I could sit in my car all day long and those doors would never open for me -- I had to start moving and walk toward them for them to open.

What a picture of how we should exercise our faith. Instead of sitting and waiting for God to open doors for us, we need to get up and get going, and as we walk toward God, He will open doors of ministry for us and give us the understanding that we will need to fulfill our calling. You may be a skilled teacher, but are unsure where God would have you to exercise that gift. In an attitude of prayer, go to your pastor or appropriate staff member and let them know you are seeking God's will for you life -- and let God open the door and lead you to where He wants you to serve.

We may not fully understand what God has in store for us when we are obedient to His Word, but in faith we know we can depend upon His guidance, direction and protection as we obey. When God gives us a seemingly impossible task, do we write it off as impossible, or do we adjust our lives to see how, not if, God will accomplish His will through our obedience? Obviously, the later should be our reaction. That means exercising our faith by being obedient even when we don't understand what our destination or final outcome will be.

Love, Jerry & Dotse