In one week, my husband and I went from not being able to picture our life a year from now to having a pretty good idea of what it would entail. The Lord had surprised us tremendously with His new plans. But…we weren’t facing any fewer unknowns.
Instead of asking, “Lord, what do you want us doing?”, our questions became, “Lord, how are we possibly going to do that?”
In this season of having a direction but not clear steps (plus numerous obstacles), my husband began saying:
“We don’t know how, but we know Who.”
If you’re in a similar season, I hope this little phrase also encourages you that…
We Know Who To Ask
How do we know the next steps, or how to get there, or how to pay for it? How do we know which decision to make, when to share, what to say? There are so many questions we don’t have answers to every day, and so many hurdles that seem completely in the way.
But God. He explicitly tells us to pray about everything and to present all our problems to Him (Ph 4:6). To ask in His name (John 14:13-14). That we can do nothing apart from Him anyway (John 15:5).
More than inviting and commanding us to ask, He also promises to listen (1 John 5:14-15). And to give wisdom freely when we ask (James 1:5). And to guide our every step (Ps 37:23).
We Know Who to Trust
One of the scariest parts of unknowns is the vulnerability. What if we don’t know how, and when we try, we fail? What if we have to just sort of guess, with faith, and it doesn’t turn out as hoped? What if obedience ends up being really hard, painful, and discouraging?
We can’t control what we don’t know, but so often we try to by worrying. There is good news as we ask God to guide us and to help us not to worry. No matter what, we don’t have to lean on our own limited understanding. We can trust God (Proverbs 3:5).
God might bring us through difficulties, might shape us in ways that feel senseless, might even let us fail sometimes…but He never leaves or forsakes us (Deut 31:8). He never neglects to work all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). He wastes nothing, and will bring His work in us to completion (Ph 1:6).
The answers to some of our “how” questions might be “can’t.” But we can always trust God.
We Know Who Will Keep Surprising Us
Not much in life is actually predictable, but God surprising us is. As Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
When you’re knee-deep in not knowing how something will work out, take comfort. The possibilities you see are not the only ones. With God, all things are possible (Mt 19:26). The end you think you’re nearing is not the conclusion of God’s plan. The best you can come up with does not compare to the best God has for your life (Eph 3:20).
You and I will be surprised by the Lord, and knowing who He is – kind, loving, faithful, true, reliable, gracious, joyful, patient, gentle, and so much more- we can expect His surprises are good gifts (Luke 11:11-13).
If you are also in a season of not knowing how things are going to work, what about who God is keeps you moving forward?
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