Transitions

"Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you." Genesis 12:1 (ESV)


Someone asked me again yesterday, why didn't I wait until I had another job lined up before I resigned my current pastorate. Good question. It certainly would make sense in this economy. It would certainly be more comforting to my wife and son. It certainly would have allowed me to spend less time wondering where my next job and paycheck were going to come from.

What it would not have done is forced me into the presence of God much like Abram must have been forced into the presence of God when he took a step of faith to follow God's command in the verse above. Abram was forced to look to God for direction when he left his country, people and even his own family home, all to follow God to a place that only God knew. That is walking by faith, not by sight!

In the months since my resignation I have spent a lot of time talking with God about what He wants from me. I still have lots of questions about that. But I have found some answers as well. God has shown me very clearly that one thing He wants is my trust. He has spoken through the book Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. He has spoken through the men who have been studying that book together on Thursday evenings. He has spoken that message through the devotional book I use featuring the writings of AW Tozer (the gift of a good friend three years ago). I have heard God say that He wants me to trust Him to show me what is next even though I wanted to know long ago.

God has shown me that it is as important that I travel this road with Him as that I arrive at the destination. It's as though I want to jump on the highway and quickly travel to my destination but God is saying, take the back roads, so we can talk and I can show you some things. I think I have often missed things along the way, things that God wanted to show me and tell me about.

Much like Peter as he walked to Jesus on the water, there are waves around me that tempt me to take my eyes off of Jesus. My truck is in the shop. Our family pet of eight years is getting older. Our son was recently injured in a work fall. We are expecting a grandchild to be born next month in Thailand. All these issues and many more make me want to say to the LORD, I need to know now where you are taking me.

But then I remember that is not trust. God knows (and knew long ago) about my truck and dog and son and grandchild. But He wants me to trust Him. Trust Him for a job, trust Him for an income, trust Him for shelter, trust Him for transportation and trust Him for my daily bread. If I had not been willing to resign before I knew where I was going, then I would not have been learning these important lessons about the God who loves me enough to direct my steps. I am wondering what else I need to learn as I wait on Him.