Are you struggling with a “word from God”?
Do you feel there is something you need to do, but you aren’t quite certain about it yet?
Do you wish you had greater “peace” before you struck out to follow a dream – a dream you feel is God-given?
Are you sensing a desire to plant a church, revitalize a church, launch a new ministry effort, or surrender to vocational ministry?
If any of those or a similar scenario is your current story I may have a word of encouragement for you – or perhaps a word of challenge.
In my experience, peace often doesn’t come until obedience begins.
Seldom do I have complete peace prior to beginning to obey what I sense God is calling me to do.
Many times the direction God appears to be leading me doesn’t make sense. I’m restless. I don’t sleep well. I may even question myself and what I’m sensing.
I’ve previously written steps I take to discern God’s will (You can read that HERE and HERE), but after I’ve done those processes, and I’m still sensing God’s leading, the next place for me hasn’t always been an overwhelming sense of peace. The next place for me is one of obedience.
I’ve learned I may have to get my feet wet (Read Joshua 3) before the waters begin to part and peace begins to fill my heart.
When we agreed with God (and the search committee) He was calling us to leave an enormously successful church plant to go to an established 100 plus year old church almost a third of the size – where budgets were stretched and I was expected to preach three times as much and visit far more hospital beds – and to wear a tie on Sunday – it was difficult to get peace about any of those things.
It wasn’t until we agreed, and I showed up to tell the leadership of our church plant we were leaving where God gave me an overwhelming sense of peace. I had to obey first though.
To finish the story, we are a different church in many ways today. I preach once a week and very rarely have on a tie. And, the church has grown beyond our imaginations and the budget is healthy. But, we couldn’t see all this going into the process.
Are you in one of those times of discernment? Do you sense God’s leading? Do you believe God is calling you to a new level of faith and dependence on Him?
The next step may be to get your feet wet.
Improve this post. Share your stories of where peace came in obedience.
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And getting wet is not always pleasant! Still waiting to dry off here…But God is God and even if he slays me, still will I trust Him!
Amen
Ron, you are spot on brother! Keep the insight coming.
Thank you.
Ron! What an incredible post! This is an undeniable truth. Many times, I have understood the fact that peace is lost due to our disobedience.
Thank you. I'm currently living it!
I have felt this way for a while now but sadly, everytime I get close to the water I get scared and back away. I need someone to run up behind me and push me in! Praying for faith to be obedient.
I love a good push! I have some great friends and my wife who often oblige. Sometimes though, it's all up to me.
Twitter: tijuanabecky
says:
Definitely feeling this. Love the saying that "it may be Friday but Sunday's coming." Feeling God calling me to a new level of faith.
Amen.
My experience has been the same as yours—in order for peace to come, obedience must come first. However, I have to say that the way that you articulated that thought was far superior than what I could do (and have tried to do in the past). Good work! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this matter. I found it extremely inspiring.
Thank you Margo.