I am a big fan of the popular Bible study called Experiencing God.* The lead author, Henry Blackaby, is a retired pastor who writes from experience about knowing and doing God’s will. He challenges his readers to think differently about how and when and why God speaks to believers (as well as how and when and why we are to respond). It is a rewarding 12-week devotional that I highly recommend to anyone who wants to walk with the Lord and experience a deeper relationship with Him.
I’ve been thinking about Blackaby’s teaching as I processed several recent changes in my life, including a new job and moving to a new state. If you’ve been through it, you know how difficult moving can be. And any time you move to a new city, you completely “start over” — a new house, new neighborhood, new church, new friends, new everything! It feels like your whole world has been turned upside down (because it has).
And then I thought about something I learned from Blackaby: “You cannot stay where you are and go with God.” In fact, unit 8 of his Bible study is all about adjusting your life to God (and not the other way around)! This is what it means to follow God… you go where He goes. You look to see where He is working and you go join Him, adjusting your life accordingly. This is also a foundational truth about being a Christ-follower: Jesus told us to “GO!” (See the Great Commission in Matt. 28:19). He never intended us to be stationery and comfortable!
And much like the 12 disciples who left everything and followed Jesus all over Israel, you and I may be called to leave what is familiar and comfortable and follow Jesus somewhere else. He may have another ministry opportunity for you in a different city, state, or country, or place you never imagined. And then what will you do? Will you go?
If you’re facing this dilemma, I encourage you to get a copy of Experiencing God and work through the lessons. For now, allow me to share a few quotes directly from this Bible study, including what I think is the theme of the entire book on page 79:
- “When God is about to do something, He takes the initiative and comes to one or more of His servants to let them know what he is about to do. He invites them to adjust their lives to Him so He will accomplish His work through them.” (p.79)
- “This is exactly what Jesus wants us to do through His lordship in our lives. We see what He is doing; then we adjust our lives, our plans, and our goals to Him. We are to place our lives at His disposal—where he is working—so He will accomplish His purposes through us.” (p.118)
- “You cannot be in relationship with Jesus and not be on mission.” (p. 226)
- “If what you’re thinking makes sense to you, it’s probably not from God. When God reveals what He’s about to do, it probably won’t make any sense at all.” (p.49)
- “When God speaks to you to reveal what He is about to do, that revelation is your invitation to adjust your life to Him. Your faith will be most clearly demonstrated by your actions…. Your adjustments and obedience will be costly to you and those around you.” (p.156)
If God calls you to step out of your comfort zone, it will create what Blackaby calls a “crisis of belief.” And what you do in that moment says everything about how much you love and trust and believe in God. Is He truly Lord of your life? If so, would you trust Him enough to move to Africa and be a missionary? Or how about walking across the street and inviting your neighbor to church? (OK, while He may not ask you to go to Africa, I know He’s already called you to be His ambassador in your neighborhood!)
- “Anytime God leads you to do something that has God-sized dimensions, you will face a crisis of belief. At that point, what you do next reveals what you believe about God.” (p. 133)
- “A crisis of belief is not a calamity in your life but a turning point where you must make a decision. You must decide what you truly believe about God.” (p. 134)
- The previous level of your walk with God will not be adequate for the new work God wants to do through you.” (p.181)
I hope some of these statements have got you thinking about your own circumstances and walk with the Lord. So, let me bring this back to where I started. It was abundantly clear to me and my wife that God was closing doors for us where we used to live and opening new ones elsewhere. And… through prayer, His Word, the Spirit, and circumstances, it was abundantly clear where God wanted us to go. That was our crisis of belief. Do we trust God enough to step out in faith and go somewhere new? Absolutely. God has always been faithful to us, and we know that will never change. He has always provided for us, and we know He always will.
Does this mean our move would be easy? Absolutely not! In fact, following God can be very difficult… but it’s always worth it. So do it! Step out in faith and trust Him with everything. That’s the only way to truly experience the Lord’s blessings, provisions, and trustworthiness.
You cannot stay where you are and follow God!
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* Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, by Henry and Richard Blackaby, and Claude King (Nashville: Lifeway Press, 2007).
