There will be times in life when you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what you are supposed to be doing with your life. There will also be times when you have no idea where God might be leading you. Even though you pray, read your Bible, and get counsel, you don’t feel certain about your next step. Here is the key to understanding the uncertain situations in your life: Sometimes God will ask us for faith when we are demanding clarity. We tend to look at situations in our lives and say, “God, show me what to do.” or “Just give me a sign.” At these moments, when we don’t hear from God, I believe He might be telling us to exercise our faith.
I am struck by God’s call on Abraham. When Abraham was 75 years old God told him simply that he was to leave his land and his family. God said He would bless him and make him into a great nation. It seems like a pretty simple request (with little clarity) as to what exactly the future would hold. What we don’t see in Scripture is Abraham questioning God or asking for more information. He simply obeyed in faith. We see the same thing later on in Abraham’s life. Many years after God had given him the child of His promise, He asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. Abraham did not question God. He obeyed until God stopped him and spared his son.
When I think about that call on Abraham’s life I think about my own son. Almost every time I ask him to do something he says, “Why?”. Part of that is because he is three years old. But, it’s also because he has his own plans and his own idea of what he wants to be doing. He doesn’t like me to disrupt his little plans. When I see my son constantly do this, over and over, it starts to frustrate me! I think “Why won’t you just trust me and know I have good intentions for you?” Maybe this is how God sees us when He asks us to make a move in faith and we question His every move?
Lately, life has been uncertain for my wife and me. We have had lots of questions about what is next for us. We have been resisting the urge to demand that God should give us clarity in the midst of this season. Instead, we have been asking for greater faith to keep walking (even though the road is not totally clear). In these times, God’s sovereignty gives me great hope.
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” — Romans 8:31-32
For the last two and a half years, I have not only served as a pastor of The Rock Church, but I have also been working full-time for a great company about 45 minutes from home. To be totally honest, for the last six months or so, I have prayed everyday that God would give me the strength to continue with the load that He had given me. I could not carry it on my own. Well, God in His grace, has been answering my family’s prayers. With the closing of our Salt Lake City location, we are feeling the opportunity for healthy change in our lives. We still don’t totally know what that looks like, but our hearts have been deeply encouraged by God’s provision in the midst of uncertainty.
So, for now, with the direction of the Holy Spirit (and the blessing of the other Rock pastors), I am stepping down as a pastor at The Rock Church. When we start the new Saturday Night Service in Draper, my wife and I are all in. We have been so encouraged by our family at The Rock. We feel we have been spoiled with so many great people in our lives. We are resolved to continue to run along side you in Draper until God says, “Go”. Where He will ultimately lead us is uncertain. But, we know when we arrive, it will be in faith.
In His Wonderful Name,
Austin
Posted in A Word from the Pastor