stepping out in faith — Devotions — Kristine Brown, Author

This morning as I was writing our devotion, I had to stop mid-sentence.

Something I battled weeks ago came crashing in on my day. Back again for more.

Truth be told, I thought I was winning the battle. I’d pushed the problem back far enough that I started to hope it was gone for good. Now with this surprise attack, an array of emotions came crashing in with it. Anger, frustration, and defeat top the list.

So I erased my first sentence and started over here. I hope you don’t mind.

Because friend, it’s easy to talk about taking risks and stepping out in faith when things are going great. But those are rarely the times when God asks us to do something hard, or even scary.

It’s the moments when our vulnerability leaves us exposed. When our only hope is to trust Him to work in our situations. To trust Him like our lives depend on it.

Developing Deeper Trust

I hate it when I start to feel like I’ve won a victory in my life only to face another surprise attack. But I’m learning that those are the moments when God beckons me to trust Him on a new level.

I grabbed the words below from an article I wrote a few years ago, because I wanted to share them with you here. We’re not alone in our struggle to trust God. And we can find encouragement from others who’ve walked this road. Others who learned the secret to holding onto hope...

When we rely on God’s sovereignty instead of our strength, we will discover faith like never before.

A Woman Who Held onto Control

“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it,” (Genesis 3:6 NLT).

“The planner in me dislikes not knowing. I want everything written down in orderly fashion in my ultra-efficient organizer. I want to be able to cross out one item at a time on my to-do list while smiling with satisfaction. Planning makes me feel in control, and I like being in control.

So when I come face to face with unexpected circumstances, I feel self-sufficiency slip away. That’s when fear finds its place in my heart.

Genesis 3:6 shows how Eve had this same struggle with needing-to-know the details. Eve gave in to the temptation to know more. It was a tactic of the enemy who knows our weaknesses.

We can be just like Eve when facing the unknown. We can be very convincing as we talk ourselves into taking the beautiful fruit! We want wisdom to be able to figure things out on our own and answer all those what-if questions. What if it doesn’t work out? What if something bad happens?

But focusing on the unknown gives fear an edge. God wants us to release our need to know and trust Him with the plan.”

Is there a problem persisting in your life right now? Are you struggling to trust God with each unexpected attack of the enemy? Friend, this is when we need to hold onto God’s promises more than ever. Let’s resist the urge to know the why and instead rely on His sovereignty.

God is for us. In the midst of battle, that’s all we need to know.

A portion of this devotion is an excerpt from an article by Kristine Brown, “10 Women in the bible Who Struggled to Trust God’s Plan,” originally published on Crosswalk.com.

Several years ago, I had a ministry opportunity come calling. Literally.

That was the first time I realized how much I struggled with taking risks for God.

After spending days analyzing the possible outcomes of stepping out in faith, I withdrew. Remember our devotion last week? The one about Abigail and her bold action? I guess you could say I did just the opposite of what Abigail would do, but I also learned something important about myself. I wanted to discover how to become a woman who isn’t afraid to take a risk when God asks.

So I began with a question:

What am I afraid will happen if I take this risk?

Fear is a wicked foe in our lives. It comes in disguised as other things. We may believe we’re proceeding with caution or using discernment, both of which are good things. So how do we know what is holding us back? How do we separate an unholy fear from the Holy Spirit’s promptings to stay put?

Thankfully, we can look to God’s Word and pray for guidance. He is faithful to lead us and give us peace, whether we take the risk or see warning signs ahead.

A Woman Who Trusted God with Her People

When I asked myself the question above, the answer became clear. I was afraid of how my decision would affect my family. And although it’s wise for us to consider how open doors will affect our loved ones, we can’t give into fear over their future. We need to trust God with the people we love most when we move ahead with His calling.

One woman in the Bible who demonstrated trusting God with her people was named Joanna. She took a risk, even when it could’ve meant life or death. Her story gives us a great example of risk-taking faith.

“Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager...” Luke 8:1-3 NLT

Joanna’s name is only mentioned briefly in Scripture. But the words used to describe her show her willingness to go where her Savior led and help in whatever way she could. Joanna was among the devoted women who traveled with Jesus during his time on earth. She either had a terrible disease or was overcome by evil spirits. Jesus healed her, restored her, and accepted her.

Most amazing of all, Joanna supported Jesus and the apostles “out of her own means,” (Luke 8:3). Why was this such an integral detail in Joanna’s story? Joanna had connections with Herod the Tetrarch. Her husband Chuza held an important job at the palace. He was Herod’s household manager - his right hand man.

We remember Herod the Tetrarch as the one responsible for having John the Baptist beheaded. Luke 23:11 reveals how he treated Jesus. “Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him.” Yet the wife of the man appointed to oversee his entire estate faithfully followed Jesus.

She also supported Jesus’ ministry with her family’s finances. Joanna’s role in Jesus’ ministry was a risk, but her connections to the palace didn’t deter her from her calling. She gladly risked it all for her Lord.

God rewarded Joanna for her dedication. She was among the first to see the empty tomb and learn that Jesus Christ - her Healer and Deliverer - had risen, just as he promised. Instead of caving to fear, Joanna trusted God to take care of her and her people.

God is faithful. When we feel compelled to take a risk for Him, we can trust Him with our family’s future.

Blessings,

Kristine

A portion of this devotion is an excerpt from an article by Kristine Brown, “3 Women in the Bible Who Took a Big Risk,” originally published on Crosswalk.com.