“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
All the questions.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a new season of life or a decision you had to make? Maybe you are there right now, wrestling with thoughts about what you should do, or not do, or how you will move forward. In seasons of stretching or uncertainty, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the unknowns. “What will happen if…” “Should I do…” “Why is this…” “How could they…” “When will this…”
We often have more questions than answers, but there’s one thing I’ve learned from walking with God – He doesn’t always give us all the answers we want.
Typically, I want to know everything before it happens. I want assurance that I’m making the right choices. I want to know that my plans will work out without any setbacks. The problem is that there are no guarantees that things will always go the way we expect them to go. No one can see the future. We can’t predict or control everything.
Also, I want to figure things out. Do you do that, too? Do you try to see what God is doing so you can stay two steps ahead rather than fall behind? Are you worried you’ll miss what God is doing if you’re too slow? Are you worried you’ll disappoint Him or even disappoint yourself? Sometimes we stall out because we fear making the “wrong” choices. We want to get it perfect, right?
God doesn’t always give us all the information we want, but He does give us what we need when we ask Him for it. He gives us just what we need so we can continue trusting Him and moving forward when we can’t fully see or know what’s ahead.
The more we think through and try to reason out our circumstances, the more anxious and overwhelmed we become. Maybe that’s where you are today – anxious and overwhelmed with all the weights of life you just can’t carry. When I find myself stuck in patterns of worry, doubt, fear, or indecision, there is only one place I’ve found that gives me the peace and answers I so desperately seek.
At the feet of Jesus.
When we are weary, worn out, heavy with burdens and cares, there is only one place left where we can turn for rest. I say this from experience and believe this to be true – we find all the rest we need at the feet of Jesus.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
We were never meant to figure things out or control life. God doesn’t want us to bear the weight of the worry, even for a minute. He tells us to not be anxious and to bring our requests specifically and directly to Him.
There is a lot of freedom we can experience when we bring our requests to God. Our situations may not change when we give everything to Him, but we will experience the peace of God that protects, sustains, and guides us in the midst of what we are going through.
When we surrender to God in each season, we give up the need to know everything. We give up the right to plan and control everything. We even give up the results to God when we make our requests. Suddenly, it’s no longer about requesting a specific answer or result but asking for His will to be done rather than ours.
Trust produces peace. We may not have all the answers, but we believe that God has heard our requests. Life isn’t about perfection or figuring it all out. It’s about trusting God. If you’re in a place of decision or anxiety about your future or the unknowns of a situation, I challenge you to lay each of those requests at the Lord’s feet. Give up the need to know everything or the need to figure it out. Trust that God will give you what you need for that request, even if it seems uncomfortable or not what you expected.
Takeaway action/Challenge: What do you feel the need to control? How are you relying on your own planning or reasoning to undertake this new season in your life? Where are the new areas where you know you need to trust God in your life right now? What can you let go of and set at His feet?
