The Blessing of Following God’s Lead
God is more trustworthy than we would ever be. I didn’t understand why God was calling me to say yes to Him. It didn’t make sense to me. Honestly, God doesn’t promise that our obedience will ever make sense to us. It is beyond our understanding. But the one thing He promises us is that He loves us and He will never leave us. There are a few things we can learn from our obedience. When we follow God’s lead, we can discover immediate blessings, permanent, and unexpected blessings. The biggest thing we learn has to do with ourselves. Our intimacy with God is deepened. Our relationship with Him is strengthened. We come to learn how incredibly brave we are.
Have you ever taken a leap of faith, unsure of what would come next? This is what it looks like to trust God. We are giving up our right to know the outcome of our obedience. What does obedience mean? In simple terms, it means “to hear God’s word and act accordingly.” Obedience is not just about action, but aligning ourselves with God's will. We could act on something with zero attitude of trust. It is more than hearing. It is more than action. It is believing God’s word and allowing that to turn into motivation to act with God accordingly. Obedience doesn’t always hinge on understanding. This is so perfectly relevant within our lives. This can be best seen throughout the example of Abraham. In Genesis 12, God asks Abraham to take a huge leap of faith.
“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you…So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.”
Abraham said yes to God even though he was unsure what was going to happen next. Like Abraham, I followed God into a place I did not know. When we initially say yes to God, we can feel anxious. But there are three things we can gain when we trust God:
Peace in Uncertainty: Trusting God allows us to let go of anxiety and worry about the future. When we trust that He is in control, we experience a deep sense of peace, even when circumstances are unclear or overwhelming.
Emotional Stability: Trusting God grounds us emotionally. Instead of being tossed around by life’s challenges, we can feel more secure, knowing God’s plans are good. This emotional stability helps us handle stress and uncertainty with calmness and resilience.
Renewed Confidence: Trust in God builds a strong sense of confidence. Knowing that He guides our steps and has a perfect plan for our lives gives us the courage to take bold steps of faith, knowing that we are never alone.
Following God can also lead to unexpected blessings. I trusted God and followed Him to Seattle. I didn’t know what was in store for me but I believed in a God who had all the results. I would land in Seattle and this adventure would almost feel too much. When we step out in obedience, it can lead to something we don’t expect. When we put our trust in God, it can lead to immediate blessing. But sometimes the blessing is delayed. Actually, this may just happen more than we would like.
Joseph trusted in God but it wasn’t what he expected. He was a slave for 13 years before he saw God’s promises. When life is not what we expect, we can learn to trust in God through remaining faithful and trusting even when we can’t see the outcome yet. I discovered the unexpected turns of a redemption story. I encountered a new relationship that wouldn’t have occurred without that initial step of trusting God. What step of obedience is God asking you to take today, and how will you trust Him with the outcome?
You can subscribe to my newsletter for encouragement and updates on the blog series. We can find peace and clarity through God’s Word. Even if you don’t understand the full picture, obey in the small steps and trust that God will guide your steps. Trusting God is never in vain