Trust and Obey

Sometimes I find myself not knowing the next step to take. I long for clear, big painted pictures of God's plan. I want to know what He has next. I want to do what is most pleasing to Him. I want to be as close to Him as I possibly can. But how? How do I get there? How do I know what that next step is? Where do I find the road map that lays out His plan? Yes, you can answer, "The Word." I agree with you, but that seems so incredibly overwhelming. I mean, good grief, where do you start. More applicable for me this night is remembering a few simple, specific truths from that Word.

Sometimes it means doing the seemingly mundane things in life. Just doing what I know is right. Just pray. Stop in the middle of the pain, the confusion, the sense of helplessness, the hurt I feel for my friend, the words that I feel I don't have to speak to her, the inadequacy I feel, the fear I want to keep me from sharing the Gospel, the temptation to please man rather than God, the unbelief, the sin. Just stop...and pray. Take the next step. Live the next five minutes. Take the thoughts of those five minutes captive to Christ. Ask for grace to listen, to learn, to forgive, to believe, to help, to understand, to surrender. Once those five minutes are over, thank Him for His grace. Ask for help for the next five minutes. Take the next step. Keep living life.

Often, I just need to remind myself of the promises of God. I am promised so many things in Him, and I take them for granted. I forget that He promises to finish the work He started. He promises to never leave or forsake me. He promises to be like a husband to me. He promises a covenant relationship with me. He promises to fulfill the desires of my heart. He promises to purge me of sin. He promises to heal my broken heart. He promises His friendship. He promises and inheritance. He promises to make all things right one day. He promises to be always sovereign, always powerful, always holy, always right, always just, always pure. May I not forsake these promises, but may they ever be on my heart and mind.

I was talking with a friend tonight about some of these things, and a hymn came up in our conversation. The words are so simple, but they seem to sum up my thoughts quite well. May this be the cry of my heart:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

• Refrain:
  Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
  To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.