Facing Uncertainty: Stepping Out in Faith and Finding Provision

Do you ever feel pulled in so many directions that you think you might come apart at the seams?  As women we have so many responsibilities, school, church, home,  job, children, add some aging parents into the mix and you have the recipe for a case of overwhelm.  Then add to that mix Bible study and worship and all the things that go along with being a woman after God’s own heart.  Whew! 

The Old Testament story of Abraham found in Genesis 12:1-4, tells us how to deal with that feeling of overwhelm.  I’ll warn you ahead of time, it won’t be easy or fun at first. The Bible tells us that Abraham trusted God and he moved immediately out of obedience to God. This passage is where God calls Abram.  God comes to Abram (He is not yet Abraham) and tells him to move from Ur to Harran and finally to Canaan.  God makes a promise to Abram that he will be a great nation.  That his descendants will be the children of God. Abram was called to leave his friends and family to go to a place where he had never been before.  Abram gave up all he knew for the promise that God had given him.  

Has God ever asked you to walk away from all you knew? 

He did it for my husband and I.  It was a really uncertain time, but our faith grew in leaps and bounds.  We left family behind (including our adult children), our church where we were happy and growing and had close friends, my husband left his job that was very comfortable and familiar and we left our ministry. We left our “forever house” and property that we had worked so hard to make just right. 

We stepped out in faith and God provided every time.  We needed to head to the town we were hoping to move to for job interviews, but money was tight and we didn’t know how we would pay for the gas, hotel and meals while we were exploring our options.  The night before we left a friend of mine brought a friend of hers over to our house to buy some items I had for sale.  The lady bought most of it and paid for our trip with just a few dollars left over.  We had to cross the Mackinac Bridge and had the people in front of us pay our fare.  At the restaurant where  we had lunch, the manager offered us a free dessert. God took care of all our needs and then some. And we got the jobs and found a place to rent until we could purchase a home.  What a good God He is!  

HOW TO BEAT OVERWHELM

When we have way too much on our plates and we are frozen not knowing what to do next, let’s ask God to show us what His priorities are.  I often find when I am overwhelmed and tired that I haven’t been spending quality time in God’s word.  Maybe I have just been going through the motions or maybe I haven’t been meeting with God at all. Those are the times when I am the weakest.  When the task at hand seems un-doable, watch for the miracle of God and His provision as we act in faith. We have to first decide to do what God is asking us to do.  We have to take that first step. We have to have that little mustard seed of faith, then watch as God grows it into something huge. 

CHALLENGE TO YOU 

Is God asking you to trust Him and take a step into something of greater service and usefulness to Him?  Don’t let the comfort and security of your present circumstance make you miss out on God’s provision for you as you follow His plan.