Trusting God’s Call When it Doesn’t Make Sense

Have you ever felt so ill equipped for something, but knew God was calling you?  Your thoughts might have been racing and telling you that this calling couldn’t be from Him. Or possibly you believed that God was calling you, but didn’t think that he could make it happen. He couldn’t possibly pull all the things together to make it work. I want to share my journey during a specific season of my life, one that was all about trusting God’s call when it doesn’t make sense.

God, is that even You calling me to get a college degree? That’s where my mindset was. I wasn’t not sure if I was really called or if God could make it happen.

It was not even a year after I suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, and was still recovering. I couldn’t walk well, drive, and my memory was terrible. But the calling was there, and I could not shake the feeling that God wanted me to go back to college.

Facing Doubt and Fear After a Life-Altering Experience

I began to overthink and wonder if I had to heard God wrong. Everything about me mentally and physically wasn’t where it should be. How could I be going to college again at 29 years old, homeschooling 3 kids, and recovering from a major medical condition? God had to be wrong, right? Trusting God’s call for my future felt scary.

Have you ever felt this way? You feel a strong pull to do something, but nothing about it makes sense, except the feeling that God is calling you.

God Speaks Through Scripture, Even if We Resist

I would hear Scriptures repeating in my mind. It was the story of Moses and how God called him to bring Israel out of slavery, that caught my attention. The story of Moses arguing with God and making excuses was something I could identify with.

“Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” -Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV)

Moses was explaining to God that he couldn’t talk well. This excuse didn’t deter God. On the contrary, God reminded Moses that He is God, and that He is the one that opens and closes the mouth. He was also the God that would go with him and help him speak. If we continue reading further in the passage, we’ll see that Moses continues to argue with God until finally God says that Aaron will help Moses speak.  

This story reminded me that I was much like Moses. I was simply making excuses to not go back to college and not trusting God’s call.

Learning to Discern Between God’s Voice and Your Own

So what now? Should I follow this feeling and go to college? I didn’t. Instead, I began to wonder if I just wanted to believe it was a calling. Doubts crept in as to whether it was truly from God or just my own desire. The struggle to know the difference between His will and mine was real.

My dear friends, I want to remind you that God is good and faithful and he will equip you where he calls you. All He asks is to trust in Him.

Surrendering Your Plans and Trusting God’s Timing

Trust God’s call, submit to his plans, and not your own. Don’t trust your earthly knowledge but turn to God. He is the mighty Creator, and He will make your paths straight. Give him all your plans, even the ones that sound and feel ridiculous.

It was mid-January, and I decided to submit my college plans to God in the only way I knew, I prayed to Him. Closing my eyes, I asked Him if this was what He wanted me to do, I would listen even though my mind and body were still failing me. I trusted Him with the details and surrendered my will. As I prayed, I got bold and told Him that He would have to do it through me, because I had no idea how I would do it on my own.

Trusting God’s Call Comes With Prayer and Petition

My prayer finished with a request and clarification. If He really wanted me to go to college, the college would call me in the morning. (For the record, they did have my number and I was chatting with them, the previous summer, so it had been a long 6 months since we initially talked and God started the call). I said Amen, and all of a sudden peace came over me, and I slept soundly.

This is the beauty of what happens when you surrender a situation, or even more so, your life. He gives you peace and guards your heart.

God Will Make A Way, Even When it Seems Impossible

Our Heavenly Father doesn’t call us to anxiety or worry. But, He does call us to prayer, petition, thanksgiving, and telling Him our desires. When we lay them at His feet, He overwhelms us with peace, and guards our hearts and minds. We can sleep soundly, realizing that God has always been in control, not because of our goodness, but because of His goodness.

We know that God is good because of the way He revealed himself to Moses, he said,

“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming,

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”

Exodus 34:6

I still can’t get over what happened in the morning.  As I was making breakfast for my children, I received a phone call. You guessed it, it was from the college! They asked me if I wanted to attend. Answering them, I said, “Your call is an answered prayer!” And I proceeded to tell them about my prayer the night before.

God Cares About Your Desires

I love how God always goes above and beyond what we can think or imagine. My husband and I knew we didn’t have the money for me to go to college, but God made a way where I thought there was no way. The college helped me fill out all the papers I needed for me to get a full scholarship. God went before me and was working on answering the prayer, before I even prayed it. Trusting God’s call is learning to rest in His provision.

Your Heavenly Father is not only interested in your prayers, but also in you as a person. He’s not a God who is far off, but is near.  Don’t be afraid to tell Him your fears, concerns, dreams, and desires. He already knows what is on your heart, and He wants you to talk to him. So, step out today and talk to Him. How about starting right now?

Let’s Pray:

Lord God, You are so mighty and powerful. You created the world and tend to it, and yet You care so deeply about me. Thank you so much for caring about all the details of my life. Words can’t express my gratitude for being near to me during difficult times. You are not far off. Help me to learn to pray more often about all my concerns and to put my trust in You. Lord, You are worthy of all honor and praise. Amen.