For most of us, loving Jesus comes easy, yet when it comes time to let go and trust God, many of us struggle. I know I have (and still do from time to time). When you feel like you are the glue holding your family together, it can be hard to hand it all over to the Lord without knowing His plan.
When you are called by the Holy Spirit to do something outside your comfort zone without knowing the outcome, how do you step out in faith? What if something bad happens? What if the life you’ve worked so hard to build falls apart? What if obeying God means hardship for you and your family?
These are the thoughts that have kept me up at night.
I am your typical, type A personality. A control freak to the core.
I live by my lists and my planner. If we are planning to go out of town, I start packing a month in advance and make a checklist to make sure we don’t forget anything.
I consider it my responsibility as wife and mom to make sure everything runs smoothly for our family. If things go wrong or something gets missed, I consider it a personal failure.
Does any of this sound familiar?
I was born again over ten years ago. Sadly, I wasted a lot of time since then trying to maintain control over every aspect of my life. Oh, the countless hours spent planning and worrying!
There were times when I mustered the courage to step out in faith with amazing results. It led to making cherished new friends and even a job I loved. But one time, it led to broken relationships and heartache. It caused me to doubt God’s plan and my ability to do what He asked of me.
I always knew God loved me, but I also believed God helps those who help themselves. (This is WRONG and I’ll tell you why later in this post.)
When my daughter was born, I felt the heavy weight of responsibility on my shoulders. After all, it was my duty as her mother to provide a happy life for her. To help her learn and grow. My lists grew and the stress mounted.
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Stepping Out In Faith…
A couple of years ago, I again felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit leading me to do something big. I felt that God was calling me to write and minister to other women like me.
I didn’t feel qualified and I had no clue where to start. I wasn’t sure if I could do it and I worried it would interfere with my other responsibilities. Slowly but surely, stumbling every step of the way, I started this blog. I didn’t know if it would actually help anyone, and I still don’t. But I have since seen God work in my life and provide confirmation as I put myself out there, inch by inch.
What Helped Me Learn to Trust God
To Trust God, You Must Seek Him.
The Bible instructs us repeatedly to seek God and assures us that if we do this, He will bless us and provide for us.
But seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mathew 6:33
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
God gave us His Holy Word so that we may know His heart. Study the Bible. Fill yourself with His Word and let it transform you. Work diligently to obey His commandments and He will not disappoint you.
I know from experience when you are seeking God and actively striving to obey Him, you can’t mess things up! When you are filled with God’s word and acting in faith He is free to work in ways you could not imagine. And He is too big and too powerful to fail, no matter what mistakes you make along the way. He often uses them for your benefit!
You don’t have to figure it all out, you just have to pursue a relationship with Him and He will do the rest.
Let Go of What’s Comfortable-Step Out in Faith
God wants more for His children than just an easy, comfortable life. He wants to challenge us and help us grow in our faith to be powerful and triumphant. He wants us to give up our own ideas of what life should be in exchange for something far greater.
Luke 9:24 states, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
This verse isn’t just referring to Christians that are martyred. Luke is saying that anyone that holds on to their worldly life of comfort will miss out on a victorious life in Christ. And those that live for Him instead will have eternal life.
Commit to letting go of the comfortable life you imagined and choose to believe that what God has in store for you is far better. Dare to dream big dreams that are centered on serving Him. Then watch Him go to work.
Will there be struggles? Yes. Will you feel like giving up? Probably. The devil loves to put obstacles in your path when you are trying to do God’s will. But we worship the God that moves mountains, and there is nothing you cannot overcome through Him.
Serve Like Jesus Did.
One of the simplest ways to start stepping out in faith is by serving others. Jesus taught us by example to serve others.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
During a time of personal struggle, I cried out to God for guidance. His response was clear: go and be a blessing to someone worse off than yourself. I wasn’t sure how it was going to improve my situation, but I started volunteering at a local non-profit that cares for severely disabled and critically ill children.
Just being around these kids that were suffering constant seizures, most in wheelchairs and tube-fed, gave me a new perspective. It became clear that my troubles were minor in comparison. The other thing that stuck with me was the hope and love that these kids possessed despite their circumstances. I was humbled and inspired.
Volunteering also led me to be recommended for a job I loved that I never would have gotten otherwise. See?! God is good to those who serve Him!
Sacrificing our time and using our gifts to serve others allows opportunities for God to provide confirmation of your good work, which in turn builds trust in Him. Watch as He blesses your obedience and let it strengthen your faith. Humble yourself in service and He will lift you up.
God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10
Practice Faith Amidst Trials.
When life throws you a major curveball it can be easy to panic. To question God’s plan for your life. It’s times like these we must rely on His promises and carry on as though the battle is already won. Praise Him and thank Him as though he has already solved your problems and wait patiently while He works. Imagine how you will feel when the trials are over and choose to believe in your heart He will get you to that place of peace.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
It is really that simple. Our Lord wants so badly for us to trust Him and to place our burdens at His feet. This is why the saying “God helps those who help themselves” is completely false! Nowhere in the Bible does it teach this. Rather, the Bible tells us that God helps the faithful that seek and serve Him.
God doesn’t promise a life without trouble, in fact, He tells us that trials are inevitable. What He does promise is that He will be with us, help us and work everything out for our good.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned… Isaiah 43:2
If you are going through a personal time of trial, I highly recommend It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst. My church has been studying this in our women’s Bible study this summer and it has been LIFE CHANGING!
Choose Hope Instead of Fear.
I don’t know about you, but fear has kept me from doing a lot in my life. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of the unknown. I tend to imagine the worst-case scenarios in every situation.
Now that my trust in the Lord is growing, I still think of all the “what if”s. But I choose to believe that even if the worst does happen, God is powerful and loving enough to see me through it to my benefit. I’m grateful to say, He has never failed in this!
As Christians, we were not meant for a life of fear.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Fear is a weapon of the enemy. It keeps us stuck and prevents us from growing in our faith and leading others to Christ. Don’t let fear win!
I used to be afraid that obeying God’s plan for my life would mean hardship for my family. I worried that if I worked less to spend more time writing and ministering as I was called, that we’d suffer. But guess what? I chose hope and did it anyway.
Related: 4 Biblical Tools to Improve Your Mental Health
Since I have sought to know and to serve Him, my family and I have never gone without as I once feared. On the contrary, we have been happier and more blessed than ever before. We still have our struggles and stresses on occasion. But they don’t seem nearly so bad now that we live confident in the fact that our God keeps His promises.
The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
In Conclusion
Remember that heartache I spoke of earlier that initially caused me to doubt? God used it to change my heart and make me a better Christian. In hindsight, I learned so much about God’s love that it changed the way I love others. It has made me a better wife and mother and a more patient person.
After a few years, He mended the relationships that were broken and they are better than ever before. In fact, all my relationships have gotten stronger because of what I learned through that trial.
God is so good and so faithful! He can take any suffering and find a way to work it for good.
God is worthy of our trust. His plans for us are good and He is powerful enough to work miracles for those that seek and serve Him.
I hope this post encourages you to step out in faith so that you experience God’s goodness in ways you never have before!
