Obedience. Easy. Right? Then why is it so hard for us to obey God? The One who created us. The One who loves us. The One who only wants the best and highest for us. The One who knows us better than anyone. The One who would do anything for us- and has done everything for us!
Lately God has been teaching me about obedience and what it is. Sometimes we know without a doubt what God is calling us to do next, but we still have trouble with obeying without any hesitation. Why? I think that sometimes it is so hard because we cannot see where this step of obedience is going to take us or we only know what God is calling us to do but only have that and nothing else. There is no path plainly marked out to see. There is not even a clue as to what will happen next and all we have to go on is what God told us (which may not be very much- but it is all that we need to know).
But this is the best place to be and that is what God has been showing me! This is the place where all we have is God and we cannot rely on ourselves or anyone anymore- only God. This is what obedience is- knowing what God wants you to do and the only thing you can do is trust in Him to work out all the details. All you have to do is TRUST and have FAITH in God (can you find anyone better??). God keeps on bringing Abraham to mind J Here is a man that knew what obedience was! God told him that He was going to take him to a new land and what did Abraham do? He followed without asking tons and tons of questions that we tend to do when we are uncertain about what is next (like where will this lead me in 5 years or having to know all the details before he obeyed). Abraham simply followed God and let God deal with the details!
Here is a poem that I shared in the beginning of the race, but I feel that I need to share it again:
I said: “Let me walk in the fields.”
He said: “No, walk in the town.”
I said: “There are no flowers there.”
He said: “No flowers, but a crown.”
I said: “But the skies are black;
There is nothing but noise and din.”
And He wept as He sent me back –
“There is more,” He said; “there is sin.”
I said: “But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun.”
He answered: “Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone!”
I said: “I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say.”
He answered: “Choose tonight
If I am to miss you or they.”
I pleaded for time to be given.
He said: “Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem so hard in heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide.”
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, “My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”
Then into His hand went mine;
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light divine,
The path I had feared to see.
~ George MacDonald
What can be better than walking hand in hand with God?
