Woman to Woman: Trusting God Without All the Answers

I had one of those conversations with the Lord the other day; you know the ones where He’s clear on the directive, but short on details?

My heart eagerly moves toward obedience, but my mind races with incessant questions.

Experience reminds me, obedience first, but resting in God without all the answers, continually challenges me to walk by faith, not by sight.

Many people lament their lack of ability in hearing God speak to them regarding decisions or the need for direction in their lives. Admittedly, I felt much the same way for many years, until realizing I had no problem hearing God’s direction.

My problem centered on reluctance in moving forward when I still held so many unanswered questions.

The need for answers paralyzed my efforts at obedience, strapping me to a defeated walk by sight rather than by faith. A mindset that not only hindered my spiritual walk but kept me in a perpetual cycle of anxiety and control seeking. Resting in God without all the answers seemed both my ultimate freedom and my worst nightmare.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Acknowledging my need for rest amounted to the first step only. The next step embraced an attitude of mindful pausing, including the surrender of my own need for certainty.

Regardless of the many definitions or ideas we entertain about rest, resting in God without all the answers requires a level of abandonment we resist. a Incorporating the following five mindful attitudes positions us for a walk based in faith, not sight.

Rest involves silence. Resting in God means silencing the noise in your soul. Anxiety, questions, fear, and control seeking cause soul disturbance. What needs silencing in your soul? (Psalm 62:1)

Rest involves stillness. The noise of emotion in your soul often speaks louder than God’s still, small voice. Drawing you away from God’s Word resulting in responses of fear, shame, defensiveness, or anxiety. (John14:27)

Rest involves dying to self. Choosing anxiety or worry over resting in God without all the answers cripples your faith and trust in God. Relinquishing your need for answers to all your what ifs, how to’s and questions involves dying to the selfish need for control. (1Peter 5:7)

Rest involves a place of quiet. Separating yourself from the noise and distraction around you, provides a place to hear and dispel the noise of your soul. Busyness keeps you in avoidance mode, unable to properly confront the true issues troubling your soul. (Psalm 131:2)

Rest involves faith. Walking by faith means trusting God’s timing in His revealing all you need to know for each step of your journey. Surrendering your need for all the answers before you step out in faith leads to truly resting in God.

Lingering in these five mindful attitudes of rest provided a nourishing respite from the soul noise stealing my peace. Shifting my perspective from a “need to know” all the answers before resting, to a “need to trust” God for the answers unfolding with each step of faith and obedience.

The most shocking discovery I made was encountering a level of soul rest far exceeding any I foolishly thought I secured for myself. Resting in God without all the answers truly held me in the safest, peace-filled, and liberating place of serenity my soul has ever known.

Reflection:

What signs of lack of trusting God revealed themselves to you?

Which mindful attitude can you work on implementing today?