Faith In Action

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.” Hebrews 11:1-2

I’m always amazed by the faith of those we read about in Scripture. Those who left everything behind at a moments notice to follow God’s leading. Even those who maybe hesitate for a moment, but then walked in step with where God was leading. 

It’s easy for us to skip over all the humanity of those stories. To think, just because we see the end. Just because we see how God was moving intros situations. It’s easy for us ON THIS SIDE of those accounts to be in awe of the their God sized faith. But to gloss over the actual human parts of those stories. They didn’t know how it would work out. A lot of times, these people didn’t even know if they would live through what God was calling them too. They had no idea every step they would have to take. 

All they had was God’s leading and the promise that He would not forsake them. 
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We have those same promises.

We have the same promise that God would not forsake us (and that does NOT mean we won’t experience trouble or pain).

He is still wanting to lead us.

He is still calling us to carry out His mission.

He is still calling us to the things unseen.

I mean, at the very essence of FAITH, is the willingness to walk towards the unseen and the unknown. 

Which to the world, seems reckless.

According to worldly wisdom, this is not prudent. 

This is idiotic. Scary.

But that’s how the world has always viewed those walking in step with God.
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I share this to lead up to this, and in no way comparing our story with those we read in Scripture, or even with events of the world today (we were in no threat of death, we are still pretty comfortable). But perhaps just on a small scale to encourage you where you are right now. 

If you weren’t aware back in January we packed up our lives, sold our house, and moved back East.

TL;DR – We knew God was calling us back to Canton.

Gave up a comfortable life style. Great job. Good community. Good church.

To head towards everything completely unknown.

We didn’t even have a house to go to here in Ohio.

We didn’t have a place to live until the DAY we got here.
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Which leads me to this.

My first born, my baby girl Peyton, came home from youth group last week with some things written down on a piece of paper. She was prompted by her youth leaders to write down things she had been praying about, and things she was really struggling with. One of those items was that she was praying that daddy (me) would find a job (still waiting on that one). And the last one she wrote was that she felt God wasn’t listening to her.

So we sat down and I asked her what she meant by that last one.

First I reassured her, that God doesn’t get mad when we doubt, or ask questions, or even yell at Him. In fact, He welcomes those things. It’s often bringing those things to Him that leads us to where He is taking us, and to stronger faith. She explained to me that she felt God wasn’t listening to her prayers, because again, she had been praying for a job for me and so far He hasn’t opened that door. 

So I invited her to take a step back with me. To look at the big picture and too see how in fact God was listening to her, and that He was answering her prayers.

• We talked about how God had opened this house we are currently living in literally within HOURS of us getting here.

• We talked about how God had given momma a baller job, with incredible bosses.

• We talked about how God had given us a new home we get to move in in a few weeks. How the owner had picked our family out of SO MANY applications, even with me not having a job (a literal move of God). And at a super great price.

• How God had given us a home in a GREAT school district that all our kids are going to thrive in. 

She saw how God was indeed answering her prayers. 

Now, some things are coming along a bit slower than we would like. But not to be cliche, we often want God to rush everything. His timing isn’t typically in line with ours. And that’s okay. His promises are STILL TRUE.

Just like those stories we read about in the Bible, when they were walking into the unseen. I wonder what their peers thought. Maybe they thought man they are crazy! They don’t have every single detail planned out? How will they provide for their family? The disciples, when Jesus walks up to them and says “follow me” literally dropped their work, left their families, and went with him for over 3 years. Just left everything behind. Didn’t take time to pray over it. To poll Facebook and get the general consensus on all the (religious) experts on whether it was a wise, prudent, or even safe decision. No. They dropped everything. Left the comfortable and followed Jesus to places they had no idea they were going.

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Maybe you find yourself in a season like the one we are in. Where God is asking you to just stop worrying about conventional wisdom. What the world says. What even the religious people close to you would say. Where He is just asking you to simply, FOLLOW HIM. And you have no idea what that means, or even what He is leading you towards. 

I promise you. If you do, He will take you to places and He will bless you (I’m not speaking financially) beyond anything you could have ever imagined. He will prove that His promises are true. He will show you that His way is so much better than anything you could have ever planned for. 

He will honor you laying down everything to walk in His leading.
He will not leave you.
He will not forsake you.
Take the next step.

Peace.