Time for Something New?

What keeps us from stepping forward in faith towards what we believe God might be calling us to do?  This question could be asked about our career, getting married, having children, making a purchase, making a geographic move, getting involved in a ministry, or in making any type of life-changing decision.  Many of us are guilty of "paralysis by analysis".  We analyze things so hard and for so long that we become locked up and unable to move at all.  Some decisions may be so drastic in nature that even though they make good sense we are unable to pull the trigger and make the right decision.

I have struggled with making hard decisions many times in my life because I know that they may be permanent and my family will be affected.  The term buyer's remorse exists for a reason because there are some times that we do make wrong decisions.  Some decisions cannot be reversed and yet we are called to step forward in obedience and faith trusting in God's leading when He calls us into action.  Hebrews 11:6 informs us that "without faith it is impossible to please God."  Many times we feel that we can only make a decision with the certainty of knowing the outcome; however, this is not always possible.  We can embrace the certainty of knowing that God is always sovereign and that He is the one calling us to trust Him in the deep waters through obedience.  The challenge is that at times we look for more comfort and hope than what God wants to provide us.  In essence, we choose to walk by sight rather than by faith.  God desires to be our hope and confidence in times of uncertainty.  His promise is never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

I can't help but wonder if I would have had the boldness to have left my family like Abraham in order for God to build a great nation.  I'm not sure I would have had the confidence like Moses to have stood against Pharaoh and demanded to "let my people go."  I don't see myself as the pioneer to cross over into the enemy's camp in order to claim their land as my own such as Joshua.  All of these men exercised great faith towards something new and God added great blessings to them and their families due to their obedience.  Being strong and courageous is not something that we do in our own power or might; we often have the tendency to walk in a spirit of fear. And yet, when God calls us to make a decision to trust and follow Him down a different path He has never asked us to go alone or in our own power.  God tells His people in Deut. 31:6, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Doing great things for God and tasting the rich blessings that follow obedience may never be experienced by some of us.  May God give us the wisdom and grace to trust Him in uncharted waters for our sake and His glory!