Walking in Faith
Walking in Faith When God's Plan Doesn't Make Sense
Have you ever found yourself hiding in fear, only to have someone call you a "valiant warrior"? Have you ever made choices that seemed completely wrong to everyone around you, yet somehow they were part of a divine plan? The stories of Samson and Gideon reveal a profound truth: God's ways are not our ways, and His timing rarely matches our expectations.
The Mystery of God's Chosen Vessels
Consider Samson—a man set apart from birth as a Nazirite, blessed by God, yet someone who made one questionable decision after another. His parents received clear instructions from an angel: don't drink wine, don't eat anything unclean, and raise this boy as one consecrated to God. Simple enough, right?
But then Samson grows up and announces he wants to marry a Philistine woman—someone from the very people oppressing Israel. His parents were horrified. This went against everything they knew about God's law. What they didn't know was that "this was of the Lord, for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines."
God had a plan that made no sense to anyone watching. Sometimes the very thing that looks like rebellion or foolishness is actually God positioning someone for His purposes. This doesn't excuse sin or disobedience, but it reminds us that we see through a glass darkly while God sees the complete picture.
But then Samson grows up and announces he wants to marry a Philistine woman—someone from the very people oppressing Israel. His parents were horrified. This went against everything they knew about God's law. What they didn't know was that "this was of the Lord, for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines."
God had a plan that made no sense to anyone watching. Sometimes the very thing that looks like rebellion or foolishness is actually God positioning someone for His purposes. This doesn't excuse sin or disobedience, but it reminds us that we see through a glass darkly while God sees the complete picture.
When God Calls the Unlikely
Then there's Gideon—a man literally hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat in secret because he was terrified of enemy raiders. The angel of the Lord appears to this trembling man and declares, "The Lord is with you, valiant warrior."
Gideon's response? Essentially, "Are you talking to me?"
He questions God. He asks why Israel is suffering if God is truly with them. He demands signs—not once, but multiple times. He needs reassurance over and over again. This is not the profile of a mighty warrior. This is someone paralyzed by fear, overwhelmed by circumstances, and convinced of his own inadequacy.
Yet God saw something different. God called him not by what he was, but by what he would become.
The same God who created Gideon knew exactly how he was wired. He knew Gideon would need extra reassurance. He knew Gideon would test Him repeatedly. And remarkably, God allowed it. He met Gideon where he was and patiently worked with him until this fearful tree-cutter became the leader of a victorious army.
Gideon's response? Essentially, "Are you talking to me?"
He questions God. He asks why Israel is suffering if God is truly with them. He demands signs—not once, but multiple times. He needs reassurance over and over again. This is not the profile of a mighty warrior. This is someone paralyzed by fear, overwhelmed by circumstances, and convinced of his own inadequacy.
Yet God saw something different. God called him not by what he was, but by what he would become.
The same God who created Gideon knew exactly how he was wired. He knew Gideon would need extra reassurance. He knew Gideon would test Him repeatedly. And remarkably, God allowed it. He met Gideon where he was and patiently worked with him until this fearful tree-cutter became the leader of a victorious army.
The Power of Obedience Over Understanding
Before Gideon could lead Israel to victory, he had to do something uncomfortable: tear down the altars to Baal that belonged to his own father and community. These weren't just random idols somewhere far away—they were in his own backyard, part of his family's worship practices.
God didn't give Gideon the full battle plan first. He didn't explain the strategy for defeating the Midianites. He simply said: "Deal with the demonic strongholds first."
Gideon was so afraid he did it at night with ten servants. But he did it. And only after he obeyed this uncomfortable command did God begin revealing the next steps.
This principle holds true today: we must bind the strong man before we can plunder his house. We need to deal with spiritual opposition before we can walk in the fullness of what God has for us. Taking authority over the enemy isn't optional—it's essential.
God didn't give Gideon the full battle plan first. He didn't explain the strategy for defeating the Midianites. He simply said: "Deal with the demonic strongholds first."
Gideon was so afraid he did it at night with ten servants. But he did it. And only after he obeyed this uncomfortable command did God begin revealing the next steps.
This principle holds true today: we must bind the strong man before we can plunder his house. We need to deal with spiritual opposition before we can walk in the fullness of what God has for us. Taking authority over the enemy isn't optional—it's essential.
When God Reduces Your Resources
Just when Gideon was gaining confidence with 32,000 soldiers at his side, God began sending people home. First, 22,000 fearful soldiers left. Then God whittled the remaining 10,000 down to just 300 based on how they drank water.
Imagine being Gideon in that moment. You're already scared, you've finally got some backup, and God keeps reducing your army. The enemy is in the valley below with forces that vastly outnumber you, and God says, "You have too many people."
Why? "So that Israel may not become boastful, saying, 'My own power has saved me.'"
God often strips away what we think we need so that when victory comes, there's no question about who deserves the glory. Those 300 men who remained weren't necessarily the strongest or most skilled—they were simply the ones who stayed alert while drinking, keeping their eyes on their surroundings rather than burying their faces in the water.
Sometimes God is looking for people who remain watchful and aware, not necessarily those who appear most qualified.
Imagine being Gideon in that moment. You're already scared, you've finally got some backup, and God keeps reducing your army. The enemy is in the valley below with forces that vastly outnumber you, and God says, "You have too many people."
Why? "So that Israel may not become boastful, saying, 'My own power has saved me.'"
God often strips away what we think we need so that when victory comes, there's no question about who deserves the glory. Those 300 men who remained weren't necessarily the strongest or most skilled—they were simply the ones who stayed alert while drinking, keeping their eyes on their surroundings rather than burying their faces in the water.
Sometimes God is looking for people who remain watchful and aware, not necessarily those who appear most qualified.
The Faith Chapter's Unlikely Heroes
Hebrews 11, often called the "Faith Hall of Fame," lists both Samson and Gideon among the heroes. Samson, who made terrible choices with women and ultimately died in what could be seen as a suicide mission. Gideon, who was paralyzed by fear and needed constant reassurance.
These men are listed right alongside David and Samuel and the prophets. Why? Because "without faith it is impossible to please God."
Their faith wasn't perfect. Their obedience wasn't flawless. But they believed God existed, they sought Him, and they ultimately did what He called them to do—even when it made no sense, even when they were terrified, even when everyone around them questioned their decisions.
These men are listed right alongside David and Samuel and the prophets. Why? Because "without faith it is impossible to please God."
Their faith wasn't perfect. Their obedience wasn't flawless. But they believed God existed, they sought Him, and they ultimately did what He called them to do—even when it made no sense, even when they were terrified, even when everyone around them questioned their decisions.
Walking Forward Without All the Answers
Here's the uncomfortable truth: God rarely gives us the complete blueprint. He doesn't usually tell us the "why" behind our trials. He doesn't explain every detail of how things will unfold.
Manoah, Samson's father, asked the angel, "What shall be the boy's way of life and his vocation?" The angel essentially responded by repeating the few simple instructions already given. No career counseling. No detailed parenting manual. Just: don't drink, don't eat unclean food, and trust Me.
When we demand to know everything before we step out in faith, we're essentially saying we don't trust God's character. We're saying we need to understand before we can obey.
But faith means trusting God's heart when we can't see His hand.
Manoah, Samson's father, asked the angel, "What shall be the boy's way of life and his vocation?" The angel essentially responded by repeating the few simple instructions already given. No career counseling. No detailed parenting manual. Just: don't drink, don't eat unclean food, and trust Me.
When we demand to know everything before we step out in faith, we're essentially saying we don't trust God's character. We're saying we need to understand before we can obey.
But faith means trusting God's heart when we can't see His hand.
Your Day of Decision
"Today is your day. Today is your day to choose. Today is your day to receive. Today is your day to be transformed from glory to glory."
God isn't waiting for you to be perfect. He's not waiting for you to have it all figured out. He's not even waiting for you to feel brave or adequate or ready.
He's simply asking: Will you trust Me? Will you obey what I'm showing you right now, even if it's just one small step? Will you tear down the idols in your life before demanding to see the full battle plan?
The harvest won't come in because we have inspiring words on our walls or good intentions in our hearts. It comes when ordinary, imperfect, sometimes fearful people say yes to God and step into what He's calling them to do.
You might be hiding in a winepress right now, convinced you're nobody special. But God sees a valiant warrior. You might be making choices that others question, but God might be positioning you for purposes you can't yet see.
The question isn't whether you're qualified. The question is: Has God sent you? And if He has, He will be with you.
That's enough.
God isn't waiting for you to be perfect. He's not waiting for you to have it all figured out. He's not even waiting for you to feel brave or adequate or ready.
He's simply asking: Will you trust Me? Will you obey what I'm showing you right now, even if it's just one small step? Will you tear down the idols in your life before demanding to see the full battle plan?
The harvest won't come in because we have inspiring words on our walls or good intentions in our hearts. It comes when ordinary, imperfect, sometimes fearful people say yes to God and step into what He's calling them to do.
You might be hiding in a winepress right now, convinced you're nobody special. But God sees a valiant warrior. You might be making choices that others question, but God might be positioning you for purposes you can't yet see.
The question isn't whether you're qualified. The question is: Has God sent you? And if He has, He will be with you.
That's enough.
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Walking in Faith
June 15th, 2026
Don't Grow WearyDon't Grow Weary: Finding Strength for the Good Work God Has Called You To Have you ever felt exhausted from doing the right thing? Maybe you've been serving faithfully, giving generously, or consistently showing up for others, yet you find yourself running on empty. The weariness sets in, and what once felt purposeful now feels like a burden. This struggle is as old as the early church. In Galatians 6:9, we find this powerful encouragement: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Notice the scripture doesn't say "if" we grow weary—it assumes we will face this challenge. The real question isn't whether weariness will come, but why it happens and how we can overcome it. Understanding What "Good" Really Means Before we can avoid growing weary in doing good, we need to understand what "good" truly means. In our culture, "good" has become diluted. We use it to describe used items on marketplace listings or mediocre experiences. But biblical "good" means something entirely different. The 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines good as "valid, legally firm, not weak or defective, complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind." When God looked at the light He created in Genesis and declared it "good," He wasn't giving it a passing grade—He was declaring it complete and perfect. The "good work" we're called to isn't just any charitable activity. It's work with eternal purpose. First Corinthians 15:58 clarifies this: "Always excel in work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless." There's a difference between a beach cleanup and taking a friend to lunch with the intention of having a Jesus conversation. Both can be good, but one has temporary benefits while the other can have eternal impact. The question we must ask ourselves is: What is the outcome and purpose of what we're doing? Is it bringing others to know Jesus or helping them become more like Him? Three Reasons We Grow Weary 1. We're Not Filled With the Right Things Imagine going to the movies and loading up on popcorn, candy, soda, and all the treats. It tastes amazing in the moment, but afterward, you feel terrible—bloated, greasy, and unable to eat a proper meal. You've filled yourself with junk that can't sustain you. The same happens spiritually. When we fill ourselves with watered-down teachings, social media snippets of faith, or inconsistent spiritual intake, we're consuming junk food for our souls. We might survive, but we won't thrive. First John 2:15-17 warns us: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." What we consume determines how we respond. When someone complains about traffic, do we join in the negativity, or do we respond with gratitude for a paid-off car and enough gas to sit in that traffic? Colossians 2:9-10 reminds us that "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him." When we fill ourselves with Him, we become complete. We won't grow weary because we're sustained by what truly nourishes. The solution? Desire God over the things of this world. Build yourself up in your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:20). 2. We Don't Have a Big Enough Appetite We eat to have energy for activity. If we don't eat enough for the task ahead, our muscles get sore, we become weak, and we can't complete what we set out to do. The same is true spiritually. Hebrews 5:12-14 addresses this directly: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food... But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Milk keeps us alive, but solid food makes us grow. If we're satisfied with occasional church attendance—the spiritual equivalent of Easter and Christmas visits—we're living on samples, not sustenance. We need a consistent, deeper pursuit of God. Our appetite determines our capacity—our capacity for giving, for serving, for doing the good work God has called us to. If we don't grow our appetite, we won't have the strength for what He's calling us to do. Think about starting a workday without breakfast. At first, you're fine, but as the day wears on, every task becomes harder. Rolling up an extension cord feels like climbing a mountain. That's what happens when our spiritual intake isn't enough for our spiritual assignment. Matthew 5:6 promises: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Consider the woman with the issue of blood. Her hunger and desire for healing drove her to push through the crowd, reach out, and touch Jesus. Her faith—fueled by her hunger—made her whole. How is our hunger for God? Are we pushing through obstacles to touch Him? 3. We Don't Exercise What We Have Eating provides energy for completing tasks, but if we never complete those tasks, the energy just sits and gets stored as useless fat. Similarly, when we continuously take in spiritual knowledge without exercising it, that knowledge becomes useless. Jesus told a parable about this in Luke 12:16-21. A rich man kept building bigger barns to store his abundance, planning to take life easy. But God called him a fool, saying, "I will demand your life from you tonight Then who will get what you have accumulated?" The passage concludes: "That's how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God." Are we hoarding the revelations we receive in our daily Bible reading? Are we keeping the testimonies of what God has done in our lives to ourselves? This hoarding reveals either a lack of trust in God or a shallow personal relationship with Him. First Peter 4:10 instructs: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Exercising what we have means being disciple-makers, helping others become more like Jesus. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." That's the multiplication effect God desires—we receive from Him, share with others, who then share with others, spreading like wildfire. The Promise of Harvest The principle of sowing and reaping runs throughout Scripture. When we sow into our relationship with God, we reap knowledge, revelation, and testimonies. When we sow those things into others, we reap increase to replace what was sown. Second Corinthians 9:6 tells us: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." God doesn't leave us empty. When we sow into good ground, He replaces what we've sown. Luke 6:38 promises: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom." When we sow our knowledge, revelations, and testimonies into others, we don't just reap personal increase—we reap a harvest of transformed lives. We're in a season of harvest, and it takes us doing good without growing weary to see that harvest come. Let Your Light Shine Jesus declared in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We're not meant to lose our flavor or hide our light under a basket. Instead, we're to let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. That's the ultimate goal—that our family, friends, and community would come to glorify God because of what they see in us. Your Challenge This Week This week, evaluate what you're doing. What are the outcomes? Are you pursuing things that bring temporary satisfaction or eternal purpose? Are they helping others become more like Jesus? Begin to take in more of what is good. Desire Him more. Let the first thing you do when you wake up be reaching for Him with hunger and desire. Then exercise what you gain by sharing it with others. Don't grow weary in doing good. In His season, in His timing, you will reap if you do not lose heart. The harvest is coming, and you're called to be part of it.
June 1st, 2026
Living From the Inside Out
May 26th, 2026
The Superpower of Prayer
May 17th, 2026
Call to Nurture
May 12th, 2026
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Don't Grow WearyDon't Grow Weary: Finding Strength for the Good Work God Has Called You To Have you ever felt exhausted from doing the right thing? Maybe you've been serving faithfully, giving generously, or consistently showing up for others, yet you find yourself running on empty. The weariness sets in, and what once felt purposeful now feels like a burden. This struggle is as old as the early church. In Galatians 6:9, we find this powerful encouragement: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Notice the scripture doesn't say "if" we grow weary—it assumes we will face this challenge. The real question isn't whether weariness will come, but why it happens and how we can overcome it. Understanding What "Good" Really Means Before we can avoid growing weary in doing good, we need to understand what "good" truly means. In our culture, "good" has become diluted. We use it to describe used items on marketplace listings or mediocre experiences. But biblical "good" means something entirely different. The 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines good as "valid, legally firm, not weak or defective, complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind." When God looked at the light He created in Genesis and declared it "good," He wasn't giving it a passing grade—He was declaring it complete and perfect. The "good work" we're called to isn't just any charitable activity. It's work with eternal purpose. First Corinthians 15:58 clarifies this: "Always excel in work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless." There's a difference between a beach cleanup and taking a friend to lunch with the intention of having a Jesus conversation. Both can be good, but one has temporary benefits while the other can have eternal impact. The question we must ask ourselves is: What is the outcome and purpose of what we're doing? Is it bringing others to know Jesus or helping them become more like Him? Three Reasons We Grow Weary 1. We're Not Filled With the Right Things Imagine going to the movies and loading up on popcorn, candy, soda, and all the treats. It tastes amazing in the moment, but afterward, you feel terrible—bloated, greasy, and unable to eat a proper meal. You've filled yourself with junk that can't sustain you. The same happens spiritually. When we fill ourselves with watered-down teachings, social media snippets of faith, or inconsistent spiritual intake, we're consuming junk food for our souls. We might survive, but we won't thrive. First John 2:15-17 warns us: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." What we consume determines how we respond. When someone complains about traffic, do we join in the negativity, or do we respond with gratitude for a paid-off car and enough gas to sit in that traffic? Colossians 2:9-10 reminds us that "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him." When we fill ourselves with Him, we become complete. We won't grow weary because we're sustained by what truly nourishes. The solution? Desire God over the things of this world. Build yourself up in your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:20). 2. We Don't Have a Big Enough Appetite We eat to have energy for activity. If we don't eat enough for the task ahead, our muscles get sore, we become weak, and we can't complete what we set out to do. The same is true spiritually. Hebrews 5:12-14 addresses this directly: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food... But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Milk keeps us alive, but solid food makes us grow. If we're satisfied with occasional church attendance—the spiritual equivalent of Easter and Christmas visits—we're living on samples, not sustenance. We need a consistent, deeper pursuit of God. Our appetite determines our capacity—our capacity for giving, for serving, for doing the good work God has called us to. If we don't grow our appetite, we won't have the strength for what He's calling us to do. Think about starting a workday without breakfast. At first, you're fine, but as the day wears on, every task becomes harder. Rolling up an extension cord feels like climbing a mountain. That's what happens when our spiritual intake isn't enough for our spiritual assignment. Matthew 5:6 promises: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Consider the woman with the issue of blood. Her hunger and desire for healing drove her to push through the crowd, reach out, and touch Jesus. Her faith—fueled by her hunger—made her whole. How is our hunger for God? Are we pushing through obstacles to touch Him? 3. We Don't Exercise What We Have Eating provides energy for completing tasks, but if we never complete those tasks, the energy just sits and gets stored as useless fat. Similarly, when we continuously take in spiritual knowledge without exercising it, that knowledge becomes useless. Jesus told a parable about this in Luke 12:16-21. A rich man kept building bigger barns to store his abundance, planning to take life easy. But God called him a fool, saying, "I will demand your life from you tonight Then who will get what you have accumulated?" The passage concludes: "That's how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God." Are we hoarding the revelations we receive in our daily Bible reading? Are we keeping the testimonies of what God has done in our lives to ourselves? This hoarding reveals either a lack of trust in God or a shallow personal relationship with Him. First Peter 4:10 instructs: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Exercising what we have means being disciple-makers, helping others become more like Jesus. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." That's the multiplication effect God desires—we receive from Him, share with others, who then share with others, spreading like wildfire. The Promise of Harvest The principle of sowing and reaping runs throughout Scripture. When we sow into our relationship with God, we reap knowledge, revelation, and testimonies. When we sow those things into others, we reap increase to replace what was sown. Second Corinthians 9:6 tells us: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." God doesn't leave us empty. When we sow into good ground, He replaces what we've sown. Luke 6:38 promises: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom." When we sow our knowledge, revelations, and testimonies into others, we don't just reap personal increase—we reap a harvest of transformed lives. We're in a season of harvest, and it takes us doing good without growing weary to see that harvest come. Let Your Light Shine Jesus declared in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We're not meant to lose our flavor or hide our light under a basket. Instead, we're to let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. That's the ultimate goal—that our family, friends, and community would come to glorify God because of what they see in us. Your Challenge This Week This week, evaluate what you're doing. What are the outcomes? Are you pursuing things that bring temporary satisfaction or eternal purpose? Are they helping others become more like Jesus? Begin to take in more of what is good. Desire Him more. Let the first thing you do when you wake up be reaching for Him with hunger and desire. Then exercise what you gain by sharing it with others. Don't grow weary in doing good. In His season, in His timing, you will reap if you do not lose heart. The harvest is coming, and you're called to be part of it.Walking in Faith
2025
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