“Lean Not On Your Own Understandings”
Welcome back friends! Thank you for returning to hear more about Our Journey and how God continues to be faithful in our lives.
We left off when God suddenly came flooding into our lives and I’m excited to share what that looked like. It’s a story full of specific and beautiful pieces because God plans out everything down to the smallest, most intimate details. He’s just that good. He’s just that intentional.
Chris and I were in agreement about our next steps and where Holy Spirit was leading us. It wasn’t an easy step to take, but we felt His peace covering us. We had only shared this decision with a few of our closest friends - asking for prayer over the next steps.
This next part of the story took place over a few weeks, but we had no idea what God was doing behind the scenes until it was shared with us.
We had our friends over one night to open up about our decision but unexpectedly, they had something to share with us that would change everything!
Annie began sharing. She saw a video about the Open Heavens conference at Bethel Church and instantly felt a nudge from Holy Spirit to sow a seed into that conference. No further direction or reason was given, yet faithfully and cheerfully she followed His guidance.
A little back story: she had recently gone to a conference in Texas that set her on fire. It was so contagious that everyone who came near her felt God’s presence. She was hungry for more of Him in whatever way that was. So the idea of the Open Heavens Conference being highlighted to her made her so excited! The excitement of attending continued to grow in her, but she wanted to be in tune with Holy Spirit and His reasoning for bringing this opportunity to her attention. She was hopeful for an opening for her and her husband to attend; a dream she had had for many years - so she leaned into Him for clarity.
She continued sharing with us about a conversation Chris and her had recently. At one point in this conversation, Chris looked at Annie and said “I just wish I had my own Believer’s Conference to go to.” (This was the conference Annie had attended). She said that when she heard those words, her spirit leaped with joy. Holy Spirit revealed the reasoning for her sowing a seed into the Open Heavens Conference; the seed sown was for Chris and I to attend! Not only that, but in this revelation, she believed the trip would be completed provided for; we wouldn’t have to worry about anything.
Tears began streaming down my face as she shared this unexpected and sweet surprise. I saw in her a pure excitement at this opportunity the Lord had opened up; an opportunity that began with her obedience.
Closing out the evening in prayer, I felt the Lord come rushing in, a sudden consuming like nothing I have ever experienced before. The hope that filled my heart was beautifully smothering.
I think back to the Israelites when they were leaving Egypt (Exodus ). In verses 1-4, God tells Moses to have the Israelites camp between Migdol and the Red Sea, but they were to be facing the Red Sea. Now if you look at this positioning on the map, you would see the issue this would cause. The Israelites would be trapped with no way to escape when the Egyptians showed up.
But God….
When the Egyptians made their pursuit, the Israelites immediately responded in fear and blame. They told Moses that he should’ve listened to them and left them in Egypt rather than bring them to the wilderness to die. Now look at Moses’ response:
“But Moses said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.” (Verses 13-14)
How many times do we find ourselves trapped and immediately questioning the power of God? But as Moses states, “The Lord WILL fight for you, and you must be quiet.” In these times where you feel trapped, the Lord asks you to trust in Him and lean into His presence.
The silence you bring to His feet will reveal the power in His voice to all that surrounds you; all that you may be fearing.
Now, look at how the Lord saves the Israelites. I’m sure none of them expected this to happen next!
“Then the angel of God, who was going in front of the Israelite forces moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them. It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. There was cloud and darkness, it lit up the night, and neither group came near the other all night.Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.” (Verses 19-22).
You want to talk about “guiding me along the right paths for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3)! First off, God made Himself a wall between the Israelites and those who were wanting to harm them. Then He commands Moses to, literally, part the sea! This allowed the Israelites to reach safety.
Reading through this story, I couldn’t help but find many connections to my own story at this time. I found myself feeling stuck and trapped in many different moments; but God showed up and opened doors I never even knew were there.
Proverbs 3:5-6 has been a verse at the forefront of my spirit:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Too often we try to figure things out for ourselves, but God wants us to look to Him. He sees so much more than we do and can create opportunities that no one else can. But we have to trust Him.
Are you trusting in God during difficult seasons? Or are you trying to create your own escape?
I promise friend, His way out is far greater and more fruitful than anything we can try.
Xoxo,
Sarah
