Trust will sometimes require unanswered questions.

I think this was made clear in the story of Sarah and even in my own narrative of when God had asked me to “be still”.

Why do you think there is apprehension in being still, though?

Is it because we believe it is more powerful to hold on than to let go? Is it because we believe that strength, is holding on to what is familiar and logical to our senses? Because strength is logical, organized, orderly and well composed– is it not? Or is strength actually found in letting go. Letting go of all the assumptions we have and simply trusting in the Lord- even if it requires unanswered questions at times.

I can venture to say that we have all been there before.

That we have all been in a place where we want, so badly, to understand God’s direction, yet we wrestle with taking His lead. We sometimes believe that our own understanding is better than any other, so we find ourselves in places where we question or even complain about our circumstances. Places where we have rushed or even manipulated the conditions of our lives. And places where we have truly believed, that it was most powerful to hold on to what we can see, than letting go for what we cannot. Jim Elliott expressed it best: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Allow me to illustrate the extent of what “holding on” can do.

Did you know that when a doctor places a cast on someone’s arm it’s meant to heal the damaged area, by protecting the stability of the process? The proper explanation is as follows: “…to rigidly protect and immobilize an injured bone or joint. It serves to hold the broken bone in proper alignment to prevent it from moving while it heals.” Did you also know that when a cast is too compressed it can create a sore that eats through the bone!?! The tightness of the cast can actually kill the nerves, causing the person to lose sensation of the damage it’s creating. I don’t know about you, but I find this fascinating, on many levels, yet I also find it to be a a great analogy for “holding on”. You see, even when circumstances appear to be “good or logical” they can still cause us harm, especially if we do not submit to the prompting of the Spirit. Just alike, the cast, that was too compressed, when we hold on to something so tightly, it can actually impair our awareness to recognize when something is wrong, harmful or even threatening to our well being. And this, can essentially, delay or even hinder us from the true intentions of God’s plan in our lives.

Therefore, I am learning that letting go and trusting in the Lord, really comes down to what I believe in more. Whether I believe more in what I say to myself or what God has said to me? Because our voice of reasoning sure sounds great at times, doesn’t it?! But remember, that unbelief is one of the enemy’s most favorite points of entry, because it questions the faithfulness of God. Bringing confusion into our hearts, and doubt, towards the credibility of who He is. But we know differently, because Scripture tells us that “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13). For God is not faithful to us, He is faithful, period. And that is the true nature of who God is.

So where do you stand today?

Do you stand in the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Because, when I read this Proverb, I am convinced that it was meant for life situations, such as this one. God is giving us a directive with a promise, but He then gives us a safeguard to this promise in Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” You see He is reminding us of His Sovereignty. That even when we plan our own ways, God will direct our steps, for He is the One who has the last word and the last act in our lives.

Therefore, be encouraged, because God is a good God, who despite our self will and efforts, He remains faithful to fulfill His promises, because he loves us and because “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

And so, I challenge you today, to yield onto Dietrich Bonhoeffer proposition that: “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”

To which I say: Why not?!?