In the Arise sister write-up on A NEW BEGINNING PART 1, it was mentioned that embarking on a new beginning may require taking some risk and faith is very necessary at this point. One of the things mentioned in same write-up which we can do when faced with such new beginnings is TRUST AND OBEY.
“Sometimes, when we get that urge to change paths, that’s God directing us and trying to gently nudge us into the path He has planned for us to take. When you’re sure it is God moving you to venture into this new beginning, yield to him, trust him and above all obey! He’s going to be with you each step of the way and will guide you along till the end. All you have to do is take that leap of faith”.(Extract from A NEW BEGINNING PART 1).
To me, new beginnings are never easy but faith, fortified by trusting and obeying God enables us to take the necessary steps during this period. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Trust and obey is not really easy especially when we are uncertain about the future. Notwithstanding, this is when we exercise our Faith. Here are some things which can help us to exercise our faith by trusting and obeying during such new beginnings;
- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
As I grew up I noticed I always felt secured when my father or mother held my hand. I remember once during university days, I lived in a town away from my parents. I had malaria and could barely walk. I was carried to the hospital by my friends and was admitted. The joint pains, headache and all made me feel like it was the end of my life. After a day at the hospital, my mother showed up. I felt so comfortable at this point having her around. Interestingly, at that moment I felt confident I will be leaving the hospital any time soon because I felt I had someone around who truly cares for me and was there for me so I felt secured. With this state of mind, and the drugs I took, the next day I felt better and was discharged from the hospital. This sense of feeling secured when I had my mum around was as a result of a close relationship. Then what more of our Security in God our HEAVENLY FATHER who loves us more than we can ever imagine?
Our relationship with God builds that Confidence in us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). With this confidence, I can step into the new beginning while being strong and courageous knowing the Lord God goes with me and will never leave nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6). This knowledge of God, which emanates from a relationship with God edifies and ability to trust and obey in the time of embarking on new beginnings.
- GOD’S PROMISES IN THE BIBLE
The bible is the word of God and God honors His word. Those who delight in the word of God, meditating on it day and night are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. (Psalm 1:2-3). This means the new beginning is a season and meditating on God’s word will enable you bear fruit in this season.
- PAST EXPERIENCE OF COPING SUCCESSFULLY DURING OTHER DIFFICULT TIMES
This is not to say we have to anticipate that the new beginnings will come with difficulties. Rather, those past hard times we overcame can edify our trust that we can take-on the new beginning no matter what it has for us. In Deuteronomy 8, though the Israelites were on their way to the promise land (a new beginning) with so many good things promised by God, they were called to remember God and how He brought them out of the difficult times in the wilderness. This knowledge of the things God had done for them and how they overcame difficulties in the past was to urge them to stay confident of God and to keep trusting and obeying even more in the promise land. The confidence build from past experiences can help us face the new experiences in the period of new beginnings.
So, What’s that new, risky turn in your life right now God is leading you to take? Take a leap of faith today, TRUST AND OBEY and take that first step!