God just ignores me

Seriously, I have all these great plans and ideas of how to make God famous. If He would just stop managing global affairs for a minute and listen to me, He’d know how awesome and perfectly planned these ideas are! I’ve got it all worked out, and if he would just follow the plan, the world would be in awe of Him!

But God just ignores me. I think He appreciates the effort, but He is proving time and time again that even my greatest plans pale in comparison to what He wants to do. And, like the loving father He is, I’m sure He just pats me on the head, smiles, and says, “Thanks, but I’ve got this one covered.”

Nine months ago, our family received a very clear leading from God about some major next steps in our life. But with that leading and sensing came all sorts of questions and thoughts. “When? How? What about…? Are we crazy? Was that really God? We must be crazy!” What has also continued to happen all throughout this journey is that with each new piece of the puzzle becoming clearer, I try to figure out all the next steps, the perfect timing, and all of the other details. And each time, God reminds me that I neither can nor need to figure everything out on my own.

Why do we try to figure it all out? Is it just me, or do you do the same thing?

I am reminded once again of the psalmist’s words in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Maybe it’s human nature, or maybe it’s just how I’m wired, but even though I am accustomed to living by faith, and desiring to do that at even deeper levels, I still try to make plans that I am confident would make God the most famous. I am simply leaning on my own understanding, and I am evidently a fool for doing so.

I am learning a lot about miracles right now. We are in the midst of one as we are in process of selling our house in a buyer’s market with very slow selling rates. Just the other night, I was thinking about miracles in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit very clearly reminded me that each of those miracles was PRECEDED by obedience. Like you, I want to see miracles happen, but miracles don’t just “happen.” Obedience and faith are still prerequisites for the miraculous.

So, what about you? Perhaps you’re trying to figure out how it’s all going to work before you step out in faith. I promise you; that’s a dead end! Do you try to figure it all out? Do you need to just relax and know that God’s got it? Or do you need to just be willing to take some steps of obedience first? Where are you in this journey?