you don't have to know

One year, for my birthday, a dear friend told me to get in her car and not ask any questions as she drove me to a surprise location.

It was hard to not ask questions but the anticipation was so exciting. However, nowhere in my mind did the thought that I didn’t trust her to take me cross my mind. I trusted that she knew where she was taking me. I simply enjoyed the ride with joy, thinking about the kind and thoughtful gesture by my friend.

Life is a lot like this experience, expect we have a harder time trusting the Lord. We desperately want to know every move and destination that God has for us and rather than enjoying the journey that He has us on, we spend more time asking questions:

“What’s next, Lord?”
“What’s my purpose, Lord?”
“Where are you taking me, Lord?”
“Why are you taking me here, Lord?”

And the list of question goes on. A list that most often chokes the joy and trust we should have in the Lord who faithfully leads us.

So much of our walk with God can be questions rather than living out the freedom of knowing the greatest Answer found in Christ. We don’t have to know everything about our next move, next destination, next season, etc. because the God who called us out of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13), the One who gave us life and calls us His own, knows the end from the beginning.

We find encouragement in His Word when we see how God engaged with fallen humanity. Every person He chose to lead His people had to deal with not knowing in totality what God was truly doing.

Consider Abraham, when God told him to pick up his belongings and his family and go to the land that He would show Him (Genesis 12).

Consider Jeremiah, whom God called and sent to be a prophet to the nation at a young age (Jeremiah 1).

Consider every disciple of Christ who followed Him without knowing the journey they would embark on? (the Gospels)

Consider Paul whose literal path on the road to Damascus was intervened when Christ revealed Himself to him and his life was forever changed (Acts 9).

All of these people, and so many more in the Bible, while still struggling with doubt, still believed and trusted the Lord. And they obeyed. They believed He was worthy to be followed. Their eyes were opened to see that it was His story they were a part of all along. They weren't dwelling on what was next. They were present to what God was doing in them and through them now.

And because it’s His story, we don’t have to waste time trying to figure life out. That burden is no longer ours. We can approach each day with a seeking heart to know the One who knows the story fully. The One who numbers our days (Psalm 139:6). The One whose purposes have been revealed since the foundation of the world.

May we detach our life from trying to find purpose by having those questions we want answered. In Christ, our purpose isn’t a destination. It isn’t an occupation. It isn’t a ministry. It isn’t our gifts. It isn’t our family or friends. Our purpose is first and foremost being His and being conformed to His image—because of what Christ has done for us—in all of the areas we find ourselves. It is the glorious responsibility to be His light of truth and grace and His witness, in whatever place. In whatever season. In whatever transition.

The pressure, from others, to know the next step can be overwhelming but we can allow the beauty of knowing the One who does, overshadow it.

God leads His children. God orders our steps. God directs our thoughts and our decisions. God ordains His purposes. God knows us. I pray that we would root ourselves deeply in these truths as we live this life of grace in Christ Jesus.

May our eyes be fixed on Him through prayer, His Word and His church.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:Genesis 12
Psalm 139:6
Job 14:5
Jeremiah 1
Colossians 1:13
Acts 9

Questions to reflect on:

1.  How has the questions you have for God regarding your life kept you from seeing what God was doing in you and through you?
2. Instead of asking What’s next, God? Ask What’s now? How can I live for you now, Lord?
3. When someone asks you, “What’s next?” Confidently respond, “I don’t know. But the One who knows will show me.”