“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)
We all come to a place in our lives where we are forced to navigate that which is unfamiliar. In the expected or unexpected circumstances that cause us to change our course, God promises to be with us, to sustain us, and to give us victory while facing the unknown.
We encounter seasons which we have no previous context for. They cause us to change the way we do life because life has suddenly changed…with or without our permission. Changes in our personal lives happen without notice. The loss of a loved one, the ending of a job or relationship, or the beginning of something new all require a process. And God remains consistently faithful through it all.
None of us have life completely figured out. Even if we try to learn from those who have lived before us, we still have our own race to run. We each are responsible for our own decisions and personal relationship with God. Though the parameters of God’s Word apply to everyone, the details of each unfolding story will look different because God creates originals, not copies.
When life happens, when things change, while navigating the unexpected, don’t let your faith waver.
God’s plans are better than our own, but they also require us to leave our comfort zones while facing something bigger than ourselves. Embracing the unknown is what shows that we trust in God more than in our own ability.
Imagine being brought to the edge of a forest and being given a choice to traverse through it or to go home. You aren’t given a detailed map, nor do you know how to get to the other side, or what will be encountered along the way. Human nature tends to avoid this uncertainty and yields towards the comfort of what has already been known and understood. But if God leads us through that forest called life, why not go along for the adventure? Why not follow the path that He illuminates, step by step, even if we can’t see that far ahead of us?
God promises to be with us but He also expects us to do things on His terms, not our own. Our perspectives, biases, and opinions often hinder us from exploring the opportunities that frighten or intimidate us. We are our own greatest obstacle to overcome. Satan himself doesn’t have the authority to derail us from God’s perfect will for our lives, but we do. We become our biggest enemy when we refuse to recognize that God is with us and resist following His lead. Faith and obedience are our responsibility, but the outcome is God’s. And trusting Him requires us to navigate that which we have never known before, as we are led into victory.
