Faith in God’s Plan
By Pastor Colin
It can be difficult to wait on God’s plan when the odds seem stacked against us. We may feel compelled to take action based upon our own logic and reasoning. But then we hear the still, small voice of the Lord telling us to stop – to wait on his timing for his plan to unfold.
Scripture provides us many great examples of Biblical leaders who had to wait for God. Before David became Israel’s leader, King Saul who was intensely jealous of David – so jealous, in fact, that Saul and his men pursued David across the countryside to kill him. But when David had the opportunity to destroy the man who was hunting him down while Saul slept, defenseless, in a nearby cave, David’s faith in the Lord compelled him to make a different choice.
Abishai said to David, ”Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, ”Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 26:8-11a)
We may not have to fear for our lives at every turn and I’m sure that none of us has an army of the King’s soldiers hunting us down, but throughout life, each of us faces critical, life-changing decisions. And like David, we have to make a conscious choice between following our own logic or having faith in the Lord and his plan for our lives.
What are some significant decisions that you are facing right now? Are you trusting in the Lord’s plan and timing? Or are you overcome by fear of the “King Saul” in your life? Set aside a few minutes today to pray about the decisions you are facing. If you are truly honest with yourself, can you say with confidence that your choice will be based upon your faith in the Lord? Or are you placing more of your trust in your own logic and reasoning? Have faith in God’s plan for your life and be willing to wait for him: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Colin Tuggle is the Executive Pastor at the Vineyard, handling the administrative, financial, and facility issues of the church. He and his family joined our fellowship last year. Colin and his wife, Lisa, will soon be starting a Home Group designed for parents and their young children, which will meet on Sunday afternoons.
