When my son was younger, he would always try to walk in front of us when we were at the mall or a store. He would try to anticipate where we were going without fully knowing where. Sometimes he would think he knew where we were headed and go straight to it, while other times he would look back constantly to make sure he was right. I find myself doing this with God all the time. I try to anticipate where He’s leading me or what He wants me to do. I think I know how He’s going to do something or what He’s planning, but I find myself constantly looking back for approval. In those cases, I’m trying to lead God rather than to be led by Him.
Noah was a man who didn’t seem to have that problem. When God looked at mankind during his generation, He saw only Noah was doing what was right in His sight. He gave him the plans for the Ark, and Noah got to work. Genesis 6:22 says, “So Noah completed all these preparations and did everything exactly as God had commanded him” (TPT). He didn’t try to get ahead of God. Instead he waited until God told him to get in the Ark. He even waited for God to tell him to exit the Ark after it had come to rest on the mountain. All throughout this story, we see a man who didn’t jump ahead of God, but rather waited on God.
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (NLT). Waiting patiently can be difficult. When we know God has a plan, the best thing we can do is to wait for His timing. It takes bravery and courage to stand still while you wait for God to show up, especially when it feels like you’re getting left behind. God doesn’t operate on our timetable, nor does He do things the way we think He is. I’ve found it causes more issues to jump the gun than to simply wait. I’m still tempted to try to go ahead of God, but I know His way and timing are better than my own. He sees the whole plan and knows exactly where He’s leading. Be patient.
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Devotions by Chris Hendrix 