When truth makes no sense, wise people allow faith to lead reason to the place of understanding – Tolulope Ilesanmi
When there is understanding, obedience seems easier. When we understand a request or direction or vision, we can better buy into it and our response is more enthusiastic and committed. It will seem that obedience in this case costs us nothing; it can almost be like a natural response from us.
Sometimes, even when you see the bigger picture, and you understand the vision, obedience can be hard because it will cost you something. By obeying, you might become more vulnerable, more “boring,” and less animated. Obedience might cost you time and resources. It could make you seem unsure of yourself. When we understand and commit to obey God’s leading, he honors our obedience. The very fact that you decide and move to obey God is pleasing to Him. He will honor your obedience.
However, there are times when we do not understand and we will still be called by God to obey. I doubt Abraham understood why he had to sacrifice Isaac, the same child that represented his covenant with God and the promises that God had made. Joseph could not have understood that his journey to the top will take 13 arduous years. Peter, an experienced fisherman could not have understood why he had to cast his net into the sea, in daylight, after a night of zero catch.
There are numerous accounts of these tales and I am sure you are beginning to see a correlation between “faith in God” and “obedience without understanding.” At some point in your walk with God, you will likely be called to obey His leading and you will not understand it or maybe you understand some part and the rest is fuzzy. As long as you are sure God is the one leading you, obey Him, this is the stuff of faith and God will more than honor your obedience, when you do not understand. Jesus spoke of this idea when he encouraged Thomas to believe that He has risen from the dead
- 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
How then do we obey God when we do not understand and, quite frankly obedience makes no sense? Here a couple of thoughts that I have found helpful
- The All Sufficiency of God – The Omniscience, Omnipresence and Omnipotence of God
- God loves you deeply. I cannot over emphasize this. He loves you regardless of where you are at, where you have been and what you have done. This is the basis of our faith in God – that He first loved us with an undying, unfailing and everlasting love. It will be unnatural and extremely difficult, dare I say, impossible, for God to not love you. His love for you is Him seeking your good for your own sake, not His.
- His thoughts are not your thoughts and His ways are not your way
Your knowledge is very limited. No matter how mature in God you are or in a discipline, draw a circle, however big, to represent your knowledge. Now take everything outside that circle and blow it out to the ends of the universe and maybe you can start to, marginally, represent the difference between you and God
God is there with you as you take those steps of obedience. You might not feel Him and you might feel empty but He is there. As you honor Him by taking those steps, He will be there for you and you can lean on Him for strength. Yes, obedience will cost you but it will not cost more than what God can give. And He will sustain you if you allow Him
Here is my encouragement to you: engage in any practice/discipline that opens you up to God. As you do that, God will come to comfort you and help you gain a better understanding. The better understanding will not necessarily address your concerns. Rather, you will gain an understanding that allows you to see that the One who calls you is FAITHFUL and GRACIOUS and so He will not let you fail!
Do not hold back from God, open up to Him and discuss your fears. Take a seat before the Most High, and just speak to Him without a format or preconceived result in your mind. Be quiet enough to let Him guide your thoughts and speak to you. Celebrate the Almighty and celebrate your life. As you do this, you will recount the many times He came through for you
Even if you misunderstood the instructions of God, and you obeyed it regardless, I want you to know that God will still honor you. The very fact that you step out to obey Him is proof of your trust in His goodness and greatness and He will not fail you.
HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU LORD