Positioned For Today

Isaiah 30:19-26

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS OF the salvation story that began with Abraham, God has called his people into unknown situations and against overwhelming odds. He has never really been known for giving “doable” assignments; he is known rather for giving assignments that are beyond human capacity to accomplish. Whether crossing deep seas on foot, taking over walled cities, facing intimidating giants, or changing the world through a handful of people, the pathway is hardly ever clear to those who have to walk it. But all God asks of his people is that they move forward in faith—that they take the next step.

In some ways, that’s a huge relief. We don’t have to figure out the whole journey. We don’t have to come up with an overarching strategy for being the kind of salt and light that transforms the world in this generation. We simply need to go out and be salt and light, to take the next step that he gives us. Still, we crave a plan. We feel insecure without one. We want to know not only the next step but where it’s going to take us. We want to strategize much more of the future than God will allow us to see.

Get used to the sense of insecurity. In the hands of God, of course, we are not insecure at all; he knows exactly where we are going. But the life of faith is about positioning ourselves for God’s purposes and then trusting him to provide opportunities. We have to learn to give him room to work. And we have to tune our ears to the step-by-step directions he gives us. When we do, he will lead us past giants that used to be intimidating, over walls that used to be insurmountable, through seas that used to be impassable, and into a culture that used to resist us. He will make us shine in ways we never could have figured out on our own.

{Lord, lead me in ways that bring life, hope, and peace to those around me. As much as I want a lifelong plan, show me how to position myself for today. I trust you with tomorrow. Use me well. Amen.