Joyful Obedience

There are so many circumstances in this life that we can’t seem to understand. Situations where we find ourselves thinking “How did I even get here?” Moments where it feels that there is absolutely no good that can come from what has taken place. A problem in our life that doesn’t seem to get better no matter how much time goes on or how much work we put into fixing it.

We can go through life riding the roller coaster of emotions when it comes to problems that don’t resolve the way that we hope. Sometimes we think that God should fix all of our problems on this side of heaven and when He doesn’t, we find ourselves let down.

Disappointed.

Disappointed because we don’t feel like God is showing up the way that He should. For me, I thought I could say, “Lord your ways are higher than mine” and believe it, but I wasn’t believing. I thought His ways meant MY ways. I thought His ways meant that it would all be wrapped up in a pretty bow. And yet, I kept feeling let down.

So I let go. I let go and I decided that I will follow Him in JOYFUL OBEDIENCE even when it feels hard. That doesn’t mean that we have to act fake when something hard comes along, but will we continue to be faithful to the One who is above all? Will we keep moving toward Him, trusting that His plan is above our own? Trusting that through the trials in this life, He will get the GLORY.

We are called to obedience, friends – JOYFUL OBEDIENCE. Even when it doesn’t make sense, even when we have no desire to be walking in the trials of this life, but we are STILL called to obey.

I think of Paul during his third missionary journey. In Acts 20:22-24 Paul says, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I AM GOING to Jerusalem, NOT KNOWING what will happen to me there. I ONLY KNOW that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. HOWEVER, I consider my life worth NOTHING TO ME, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Paul knew there would be hardship ahead because the Holy Spirit had warned him AND YET, he joyfully obeys the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go. Hardship for Paul meant near death experiences nearly everywhere he went and yet he continued to obey.

When it doesn’t go my way, will I continue to obey? When it doesn’t go how I hoped, will I continue to love Him? When it doesn’t feel good, will I trust and believe that His ways are higher than mine? Will I say “Okay, God, this isn’t fun, this doesn’t feel good and I certainly don’t understand what you are doing, but I will trust You, as I walk through this valley, because I have nothing else to hope in, but You. If this furthers your name, God, I will walk through this valley with my eyes fixed on You and I know, above all else, that you will see me through.”