“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
– Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
For many of us, life would be so much easier if we could just have a peek at the future, see how it all ends and then go back to the beginning and continue the journey. We want to know how our prayers will be answered when they will be answered or if they will be answered. You’re not alone, we’ve all been there at different times. Let’s just say one of the “fun” things about surrendering your life to Jesus is our never-ending journey of faith.
When we say “I have given my life to Christ”, what we actually mean is “my life no longer belongs to me, it now belongs to Jesus, and he can do what he pleases with it.” You see, the thing about God is that he enjoys the journey, he enjoys us following him blindly, without knowing how it ends or how it will all make sense in the end. This is not because he wants to torture you or stress you out with suspense, he just wants you to be fully dependent on him. God wants to be our everything, not just in mere words, but in actions too. He wants to see that we are dependent on him alone in the way we live our lives daily.
The challenge most of us have is that we often feel like God gives us less than what we ask, or something totally different from what we desire. For example, you want a job in an oil and gas company that pays N1,000,000 a month but you get a job at a bank that pays N100,000 instead. You may start to feel like, God didn’t answer your prayer, or God disappointed you. God never disappoints and he knows the reason why N100,000 was what you needed at that time and not N1,000,000. The beautiful thing about God is that he knows you better than anyone else, even yourself, and while you think you know what is good for you, he knows what is best for you. Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) says “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for”. This verse should not just be a relief, but it should bring peace to your heart every time you are worried about how that thing will end. I’m sure God knew that although we know he is almighty and all-powerful, sometimes we can get worried or afraid, that is why he is saying “Hey, it’s okay, you don’t have to figure things out by yourself, I already did that, all I need you to do is trust me and follow.”
One car can never have two drivers and one ship can never have two captains, so also, two people cannot lead and be in control of your life. It is either you are in control or God is. Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.” I will tell you something for free today, your life would be so much easier if you let go and let God. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s deeper than that. If only you could close your eyes and let God truly lead, you will have the peace you desire and deserve.
Imagine God as the best kind of father there is. If any good earthly father would want his child to succeed in all their life endeavours, how much more than God? Next time you start to feel confused about God’s plan and purpose for your life, remind yourself that “God is a good father, He is on my side, and He is for me.”
God wants you to remember that faith is not faith if you already know the end from the beginning, what makes it faith is knowing that at the end of the day it will work out in your favour regardless. Even if it seems like all the odds are against you, remember that your good father is on your side and that is all that matters.
Starting now, I want you to resort to rest. Close your eyes and follow God, take one step at a time and at the end of the day, it will come together nicely, far better than you hoped or imagined. You may not know how or when, but you know that you are following the one who holds your tomorrow in his hands, so tomorrow has no other choice but to be good.
