That is it God, I am going to be obedient and follow your lead, even though it scares me. No, it actually terrifies me because I now have no safety net. Oh wait you are my safety net."
Have you ever had one of these conversations with God? You have been praying and then an idea that seems to come from left field comes to mind, something so out there that you start to question "do I really hear God's voice." At first, you are totally against it because it makes no sense by your human standards.
You begin to pray and process what God has asked you to do and your heart softens to the idea and in fact an overwhelming peace comes. Not a just thought of "oh it will be alright," but I am talking about a deep inner peace like no matter what mountains are shaken I know that the Lord has me in His hands type of peace.
This is the season of life my family finds themselves in. We were seeking God for what He wants our family to do. My husband's job had completely changed over the last six months and it wasn't something he enjoyed any more, in fact it was hard for him to go to work as he was not doing something he was passionate about. We want to be open to where God wants to take our family and what He wants to do with us. My husband had a nice secure job with benefits, lots of holidays, great working hours, steady income.
Needless to say it was a bit of a shock when one day my husband came home and lets me know gently that he feels that God wants him to quit his job. "What?" (Add a bit of crazy drama) Immediately I begin to think, why would God want you to quit your job when you don't have another one, doesn't God know we just bought a house and have mortgage payments, I can't call the bank and tell them sorry we won't be paying this month's payment because we felt God told my husband to quit his job." I can only imagine what the mortgage broker would say on the other line. Doesn't God know that we need to feed our family? Does he not remember that we just had a new baby?
God would never ask us to be uncomfortable would he?
God would never tell us to quit our job, or move house or leave what is comfortable or make a fool of ourselves for His sake…. Would he??? Looking through scriptures you don't have to look very far to find the answer is "yes He will! In fact at some points in your life He is likely going to ask different things of you."
All of our walks are different, just like all of our struggles and sins are different so it looks very different from person to person, but in your walk with God there are probably going to be times when God asks you to go against what the norm/society says and do what He is asking.
Take Noah for example, God tells him to build an ark because He is going to flood the whole world. 'Build a what, cause it is going to flood? I definitely didn't hear God right,' must have come out of his mouth a time a time or two, considering the earth had never had any rain and there had likely never been a flood. Noah was the laughing stock of the whole city when he began to build this boat, but in the end he and his family were the only survivors of the greatest flood to ever hit earth.
Another that comes to mind is Abraham, he was a 75 year old man who was living in the great metropolis of Ur when he hears God calling him. He is a complete city man used to the comforts of the city life. What does God ask him to do, to leave his life behind and move to the desert. This city he was called to was in the middle of nowhere.
Can you imagine what Abrahams' friends would have said to him? The Bible doesn't give us the dialogue between Abraham and God, but I imagine Abraham would have had some questions for God and even a few "am I crazy moments too."
Look at David, a scrawny shepherd boy was called to be king; Joseph, the favourite but second youngest brother had dreams of leading his family and Mary a young virgin girl was called to be the Saviour's mum. The list goes on and one through the Bible.
The fact is that God isn't looking at things from a human standard, He looks at things through His eyes.
God might not be asking you to become a missionary or quit your job, but He might be nudging you to give more money and live more with a kingdom mindset than a comfortable mindset, or He might be encouraging you to be more vocal with your faith. When you feel the nudge that God is asking you to do something step out as long as it lines up with scripture.
God isn't going to ask you to do something that goes against his word, so line it up with the Bible, and even share it with a small group leader and have them pray with you about it. I am not saying that all crazy ideas out there are from God, which is why they do need to be tried and tested before put into action.
In our story, my husband knows me enough to leave me to ponder and pray over this cause these are questions that only God can answer. Well, after time of prayer and more prayer I felt total peace about him quitting his job. So a week later he gave his notice. This was over a month ago.
I can honestly say that even though things have not worked out how we envisioned, we have peace that God has had His hand on us and He has opened up other opportunities. His ways are not always our ways!! I do know that we are in the centre of His will and that is the best place to be.
What is God asking you to do today?
Genevieve Wilson is married with two children who served with YWAM for eight years in Brisbane and now serving in mission in Canada as a modern day abolitionist.
Genevieve Wilson's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/genevieve-wilson.html