It’s happened more than once. God gives me a task, and I get started on it. Then, out of the blue He sends me to work on something else that seems totally unrelated. I know from experience that He picked the order for a reason. I need to do things His way. If I don’t, things won’t work out right.
Has God ever done that to you? What did you do?
I used to question. I’d think, “God, what are you doing? I was working on what you told me to work on, but now you send me to work on something else. Why are you having me do that?”
Although it might sound like I was questioning the wisdom of God, I was really trying to understand what He was doing.
If you are standing in one of those situations right now, where God has changed your direction and you don’t understand why, let me encourage you.
Your original goal might just be delayed for reasons that you may or may not ever know. Sometimes God has other things He needs you to do before you finish. Sometimes God is lining up something for someone else, and you need to be a part to make that a reality.
Here’s a thought. If the only detours you ever take are the ones that you understand, you would be walking by sight. That is not what we are called to do.
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Corinthians 5:7
We usually apply that verse in other ways. We think in terms of exercising our faith in God until it comes to the detours in our life. We walk by faith in the decisions that God brings our way concerning moving or a job. We walk by faith when someone is sick. We walk by faith when bad things happen.
However, when we think we have things all figured out, we want to plug in our next steps according to what makes sense to us. When God sends us on an inconvenient detour, you and I want to question. We tend to remind God that He has us doing something else.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Psalms 37:23-24
God orders our steps, and He knows our needs. If God sends you off on another task in the middle of the current one, do it. You may not ever know why, but do it.
When you and I get off task, we are distracted. When God chooses the order and seemingly takes us off task, He knows what He is doing. He is doing it for a reason. Although we may not always be consciously aware of it, we do serve a God of order. Everything He does has order.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25:23
Today’s challenge is to ask God for clear direction. Ask God to give you a heart for following Him when He changes the order of your tasks. Believe that He does have a reason even if you cannot see what He is doing. Trust and believe that your faithfulness to follow allows God to use you to make a difference.