Joseph, my three-year-old, started kindergarten two weeks back. It’s been an interesting and amusing experience, to say the least. From the minute he gets out of bed, I have to remind him that he ought to go to school that day. At first, he agrees happily and is full of excitement for the day that lies ahead. While getting ready, all he can talk about is what they did in kindergarten the previous day. As we sit down to eat breakfast, he talks a mile a minute – sporting a milk mustache.
“I’m not going to cry today, Amma.”
“I want to be in kindergarten. I can play with dinosaur toys.”
“Appa can go to work, Joseph will stay in kindergarten.”
“I like my new friend from kindergarten. My teacher is also nice.”
His apprehension begins just as his father collects his keys and they both put on their shoes. As he puts on his backpack and grabs his water bottle, his eyes are full of questions as he looks up at me.
“You want to come with me, Amma?”
“Can I come with you to the office, Appa?”
After a round of hugs, kisses, and words of reassurance, he finds his courage yet again and bravely says goodbye. On the entire car ride there, there is no stopping his laughter and chatter. However, as soon as his feet hit the ground of the kindergarten’s parking lot, he starts to sing a different tune. Holding Paulsam’s hand tight and walking close to him, he begins to get upset as he anticipates the impending separation.
“I don’t want to go to kindergarten, Appa.”
“I love Appa. I want to be with Appa.”
“I’m very tired. I want to sleep in my room.”
“I want to go to Amma.”
“Don’t go to the office, Appa.”
No matter how persuasive Joseph is or how much he begs and pleads to be excused from kindergarten, his father kindly but firmly refuses. Little Joseph does not understand why he has to spend all morning in a strange place when home is just a few minutes away. Even though he thinks he would feel way more comfortable staying at home, he would miss the joy that comes with experiencing new things. You see, Joseph’s father knows a couple of things Joseph does not – although going to kindergarten makes him uncomfortable for a short while, he needs to go through this experience to grow. He also knows that Joseph is never truly alone. Despite being left in the best care, if ever he needed his father, he is only one phone call away.
As I now gaze at Joseph while he takes his post-kindergarten nap, I am reminded of just how much his situation is similar to what many of us go through in life. Oftentimes, God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, speaks to us in the recesses of our hearts to guide our path. Despite feeling that prompt from within, we tend to try and silence that still, small voice when it does not conform to our ideas. We hesitate to respond in obedience because we fear the disdain of some, the judgment of others, we question the rationale behind God’s request, and fail to see how this one act of obedience can bring with it lasting change.
In times when worry threatens to bring about disobedience, we would do well to remember the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Faced with Jericho’s looming and seemingly impregnable walls, Joshua goes to God for help. God’s solution? March once around the city with all the armed men for six days, and seven times on the seventh day. Then, God promised, the walls would come crumbling down as everyone gave a loud shout at the blast of the trumpets. It isn’t difficult to imagine the reaction of the people when Joshua informed them of God’s plan. From being suspicious to incredulous to downright disbelieving, they must have had a difficult time believing what God promised would happen when they carried out His orders. I believe it was the simplicity of God’s command that was the most difficult part to come to terms with. However, we do go on to read that when the people faithfully did as God commanded them, the walls of Jericho did crumble before the Israelites and they went on to capture the city.
God expects simple acts of obedience carried out in great faith. He is pleased when we step out of our comfort zone by placing our trust in Him. Learning to depend on the Lord is a process that requires our active participation. There are two parts to this. We first participate by simply having faith – believing that the one who promised will deliver. Secondly, we express our faith by doing what we believe to be true. As the walls of Jericho were tumbling down, one house stood intact – the home of Rahab. She believed that if she tied a scarlet cord in the window, God would honor the word given to her by the two Israelite spies and her home alone would be protected from the devastation that would fall upon the city. She was right. God honored that simple act of obedience and she and her entire family were spared. Moreover, she is one of the five women whose names are mentioned in the genealogy of Christ!
If we do not accept the word of God in faith, we cannot experience the fullness of God’s blessing and the fulfillment of His purpose for our lives. Hebrews 4:2 points out the bleak condition of the people of Israel in the wilderness. They were unable to enter the promised land and rest although God had promised them as “it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God“. When we humbly submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and carry out acts of obedience in faith, it activates the power of God in our lives.Â
Furthermore, let us also be instruments in encouraging others to walk out in faith to what the Lord has called them to do. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25). When Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, scoffed at prophet Elisha’s solution to cure his leprosy, his servants were quick to step in to convince their master. “If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed!‘” (2 King 5:11). When the wine ran out at a wedding in Cana, Mary, the mother of Jesus, tells the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5) When we spur on fellow believers to listen to the voice of God and obey, not only will they be blessed – but we will have the privilege of being used by God’s in carrying out His purpose.Â
So, dear friend, let me encourage you to step out in obedience and faith when you have no idea what the outcome will be. By nature, we are tempted to want to know the result of our actions before we execute them. However, since we have the privilege of serving the God who knows, holds, and shapes the future, let us trust in the Lord with all our hearts without depending on our own understanding. Let us strive to seek His will in all that we do, and he will show us which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6).
23 comments
Wow, wonderful message Eva
The will of God in all things should be what we desire as Christians. And you are right, by nature, we always want to know the outcome of things; but we won’t see the glory of God if we know the outcome.
Thanks for this wonderful post
God bless you, Victory. Always a pleasure to have you stop by.
Loved hearing about your precious little boy’s kindergarten adventures! Reminded me of my girls when they were little! Such a great post to encourage me to step out in faith when God nudges me to obey in new ways. Thank you for sharing this post! Blessings! 💗
It’s been an emotionally challenging time, no doubt. I am sure there is much I can learn from you – an older mother. 🙂
Thank you so much for this! I am reminded to trust Him beyond all understanding. God bless!
What a wonderfully inspiring message! It really encouraged me to step out and obey God even in new ways that stretch my faith a little bit. I can trust that He knows what is best for me. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for this encouragement today!!
Love this! All I can say is our heart beats for the same thing! All the buzz words:obedience,surrender, faith, so important to be faithful in the little things!
Beautiful.
I love the graphic about it being simple acts of obedience. Often we want this quick life-changing moment where all our fear is gone, but the work really happens in the small moments we’re obedient to God.
I love how you put it, Sarah.
Evangeline, I love when you said, “Simple acts of obedience carried out in great faith”! That statement is filled with so much truth. Thanks for sharing your story and the story of Jericho. Really enjoyed reading!
I can totally relate to this post. I have definitely been there. Ibwas sonafraid to come out and tell my story. As I am faithful to do so though, God continues to bless me. He will do it for anyone. We need only to have the faith and courage to step into His will.
I love how you write and this post really encouraged my heart this morning! Thank you so much …
I LOVE your quote, “Learning to depend on the Lord is a process that requires our active participation.” Having faith is not enough. We need to walk in faith and express it. And is that your voice? You have such a gorgeous voice that’s perfect for podcasting or radio. Such a joy to listen to!
Oh, thank you, Adriane. What a compliment! 🙂
Lord, help us to trust you more. I want to grow more in my trust in Him.
Love it! Thank you. I’m in the process of moving from a small town to a much larger city. I’ve been in this small town for 19 years. My kids grew up here. I got a divorce here and pursued my education here. Yet, there is not much for my twentysomething kids here so they both decided to move to the big city. I was going to stay here but when I went down to see my son’s apartment I suddenly felt led to move down there too. Since then God has been opening doors for me to move. I was fretting about the cost but God came through. I just need to be approved for an apartment. I need to have faith too that God will put me in the right place.
Thank you for sharing that with me, Alice. I sure will keep you in my prayers.
What a beautiful way you have woven this story of your little son in with our relationship with God. You are right in that we often don’t see the big picture and can’t imagine why God would allow or let us go through situations. But God can see the big picture and knows the end from the beginning. Even in difficult situations, He can bring good through them.
This is beautiful! I often see what my children do and wonder if that is how God sees us. We don’t know the full story or what is happening in the grand scheme of things, and trusting Him to guide our paths is so difficult at times, yet so important. Thank you for sharing!
[…] each passing day, my flesh fights against it and is only pleased when it bows to its own bidding. It is a constant struggle that I face every minute of the day. When I disagree with someone I have the freedom to speak against, do I let the Holy Spirit […]
Comments are closed.