What looks like foolishness to man can actually be radical obedience to God.
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…” (1 Cor. 1:27 NIV)
Friends, in the swoop of a two-week span, we packed up all our home goods, sold our furniture, and moved by faith to a new area.
I know some may call us “hasty”. I am aware that by natural eyes it looks foolish; it was so quick. However, after prayer and seeking, I know this move is of the Lord.
I know it is of the Lord even though bedbugs awaited us at our first Airbnb (Ick! We got out of there fast!).
I know it is of the Lord even though the first school we put our kids in was a complete bomb and we had to disenroll them on the first day.
I know it is of the Lord even though we can’t yet find a home to settle in.
I know it is of the Lord even though we are traveling around towns, praying and seeking, with stuff packed in the back of two vehicles.
God never said faith would be easy. God never said faith has everything all together. God never said faith looks neat and tidy, easy or simple. God said to go and do it anyway.
“Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.” (Lk. 9:3 NLT)
God’s grace steps in as we step out. As we step out on the water to walk, grace empowers our steps in the miraculous. It doesn’t always feel good though. We may do it weak. We may do it scared. Friends, still do it.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
God never said we wouldn’t be tried; He made it clear we would come out as gold, to His glory!
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Pet. 1:7)
We are proven as gold, and trials purify us by fire — to His glory!
My friends? I think it is important for us faith-full followers to know — our faith is still working out its perfect end! It doesn’t matter what it looks like. It doesn’t matter how hard it feels. It doesn’t matter how opposed it looks. Jesus was opposed and kept walking.
So, don’t give up. I’m not! We will find a great school for the kids. We will land in the right home (pray for us!!!). Most of all, we will be positioned in the ideal will of the Lord, in the place where He wants us to be for such an hour as this. It will be good. He makes all things beautiful in His time. Until then, faith can feel hard. Extreme. Outside of the understanding of others. But, does it please the Lord? Always.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Heb. 11:6)
Prayer: Father, help me not to judge, in fear, what I have done, in faith. Keep me strong in faith regarding the decisions I have made. Give me strength, endurance, and perseverance to carry on. May all I do be to your glory. May all I walk out be done with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, no matter how hard it is! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Subscribe for all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.