I don’t know about you, but I love a good plan. Whether I’m planning a vacation, planning my to-do list for the day, or planning an outing with my husband, I find joy in listing my activities, tasks, and to-dos for the day. However, if you don’t know or can’t make a plan, you tend to feel a little stressed.
Growing up in a Christian home, I am blessed that being saved and believing in Jesus was always part of the plan. I know this is not the case for many growing up. They must forge and find their own path to the Savior. Jesus still calls them the same way He called me, but apparently differently.
But my parents and grandparents prayed for me every day. It was my choice to accept Jesus or not, but I am grateful that Jesus was introduced into my life from an early age. Church, reading the Bible, and trusting the Lord were things I saw every day.
After I got saved, I thought I would always know what Jesus wanted from me and when to do it. Somewhere along my path to faith, I misunderstood a small but important part of the gospel. That being said, just because you are a Christian does not mean that you will have an easy time or that you will not face trials. It also didn’t mean I would never face my fears. But it meant that I would receive Jesus in both tragedy and triumph, fear and courage.
It’s so easy to follow the Lord if you know your next step. Like Jonah, we too hear God’s call and are faced with the choice of obeying or running away. But it’s a little more difficult to follow the Lord when the steps in front of us look like question marks. Can we even call it anxiety-inducing? Walking in obedience to the Lord as our steps are formed requires radical faith and constant trust. So how do you follow God if you don’t know the plan?
Here are two practical steps.
1. We trust what we have.
2. We obey in the face of fear and the unknown.
1. Trust what you have
Luke 1:26-29 contains these words: “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who had vowed to marry a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you blessed ones, the Lord is with you.'” When Mary heard his words, she was very troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this was” (NIV). Notice that when the angel of the Lord called Mary, verse 29 says that she was “very troubled.”
If Mary, the mother of Jesus, was “very troubled” when she was called to give birth to God’s Son, how could she have accomplished this momentous task? Because she trusted in what she had, not in what she didn’t have.
Not much is going on at the moment for Mary, a virgin girl. Although she was betrothed to Joseph, women had little power or value. Additionally, she had to explain to her future fiancé that although she was pregnant, it was not his child. Imagine that conversation. The fact that God chose teenagers to bring His Son into the world still baffles me.
The beauty of this story is that while Mary faced many unknowns and may have been afraid, she considered what she did have more comfort than what she didn’t. And what did she have? The promises of her ancestors and the faithful grace of God.
God was pleased with Mary even before she was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Why else did God choose her and call her highly favored (verses 28-29)? God also told Mary that Jesus would be given the throne of the reign of David and Jacob, saying, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33) These were likely influential ancestors, warriors, and defenders that Mary respected throughout her life. If God is faithful to them, he will surely be faithful to her.
Mary didn’t know how this story would turn out. She says in verse 34: “Mary asked the angel, “Since I am a virgin, what will happen?” (Luke 1:34). Even in Gabrielle’s answers, it’s clear that much of her immediate future is unclear. “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy one who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, will bear a child at an advanced age, and she who was told that she could not conceive is now six months old. For the word of God never fails’ (Luke 1:35-37, NIV).
We read the ending of the story, but Mary lived it. By faith she decided to say, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Mary answered, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her (Luke 1:38, NIV). how? Because she clung to the existence and promise of what she had. We are encouraged to do the same.
2. Choose to obey even in the face of the fear of the unknown
Faced with the terrifying unknown, Mary had no idea what the future held for her. What mother would love to give birth in a dingy stable, run away from a king who wants to kill you, and watch her son crucified? If she knew the path that lay before her, do you think she would still say, “Yes, may your word to me be fulfilled”? Would you?
Many times in our lives, Jesus reveals the way. He speaks to us in a radical way and we know exactly where to go next. Sometimes I feel the exact opposite. Life feels more like a bumpy road in the desert, and God’s voice is nowhere to be found. Every rolling tumbleweed is a reminder of lost opportunities and confusion.
Today I encourage you to choose obedience over fear. Choose obedience over the unknown. how? Look to see who God is right where you are. Remember God’s faithfulness not only to you but to your ancestors and family. But also remember that it’s okay to admit these fears before the Lord.
How do you actually do this?
1. No matter where you are, remember who God is. Read and meditate on scriptures that remind you of God’s character, such as Isaiah 40:28 and Genesis 1:1. Focus on the unchanging qualities of God’s love, faithfulness, and grace.
2. Admit your fear to God. Express your true feelings in your journal or in prayer. Tell God your fears. Ask the Lord to help you follow wherever He leads, even in the face of fear.
3. I’ll scare you. Even though you have surrendered, it is normal to still feel fear. But I am convinced that if God calls you to something, He will never leave you. It’s not in his character. The best thing we can do is follow, even if we’re scared and don’t know all the steps that are set in front of us.
call to surrender
Before I left my teaching job, I knew God was calling me to obedience. Like Mary, I felt honored and chosen. But I also felt scared. I asked God, “How is this going to work out?” dozens of times. Still, at the end of the day, I knew I had to surrender. Not because I wasn’t scared anymore, but because I trusted God more than I trusted fear.
If God is calling you to something and you are facing fear and unprecedented steps, know that you are not alone. It’s scary to take a divine step in an unknown place. But friends, God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) and He will guide you every step of the way (Proverbs 3:5-6). Not only does God promise to be with us (John 16:13), but through the power of His Spirit and Word we can receive His guidance (Psalm 119:105).
God is the Sovereign of your life (Isaiah 30:21), and that includes the ways you know and the ways you don’t. The path you plan and the path you don’t. And the best news ever? Jesus works everything together for your good and His glory. Because Jesus is a faithful Father who will provide what we need to diligently follow Him forever (Romans 8:28).
agape, amber
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Virojt Changyencham
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for resources on faith and mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Now, she gives hope to young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond just reading the Bible and praying more. Because even though we love Jesus, we can still be plagued by anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help you navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
