Unfamiliar Territory...

“And the Lord told Abraham, ‘leave your native country, your relatives and your father’s family and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing to others'” Genesis 12:1-2

I absolutely love Abraham’s story.  He is noted as the father of faith and for great reason!  I mean come on, when you read the above scripture you would have to have great faith to even comprehend what God was asking of him.  When I first read this scripture, I imagined God saying to Abraham, “leave everything behind that you know to be familiar.  Everything that feels comfortable.  Everything that feels ‘like home'…..and follow me to a new place.”  Now come on, let’s be honest….God said a whole lot in that scripture, but left out a whole lot at the same time! lol  I look at this scripture and it shows me two things in particular: (1). Abraham was told to leave everything behind and (2). He had no idea where God was asking him to go.

“So Abraham departed and did as the Lord instructed.”-Genesis 12:4

God gave Abraham little to no instructions, yet the Bible says in verse 4: “So Abraham departed and did as the Lord instructed.”  That is mind blowing to me.  God basically told Abraham, to leave this familiar place and go to a new place that you don’t know…..but I’ll let you know when you get there.”  ……and Abraham did it!!! Now I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t say that I wouldn’t at least question God on this.  I mean like c’mon you got to give me more instructions then that. lol  In fact, I was looking for the verse where Abraham at least asked for further directions, but he didn’t!  He just did what God told him to do. Imagine that, right?  Not talking back to God, not questioning Him when He tells us to do something, but just being obedient. 

Recently, I started in a new position working in the field that I’ve always wanted to be in.  Although this has been a long time coming, it’s still unfamiliar territory for me.  Going to school for something and actually being put on the job for something are two completely different things. I had to trust God to get the job, but now I’m realizing I have to continue to trust Him to do the job.  I also believe that this new job symbolically marks the new season that God is entering me into.  The season of the unfamiliar.  The season where I will be taken out of my comfort zone in order to further follow God’s will for my life.  See Abraham may not have had many details on where God was taking him, but by faith Abraham knew that there were things that God had for him in this new, unknown, uncharted place.

“For some of us, we’ll forfeit the great promises of God because we are too busy being comfortable.”

Imagine what awaits us outside our level of comfort.  There are some things that God can only give us by stepping outside of our “familiar” places.  For some of us, we’ll forfeit the great promises of God because we are too busy being comfortable.   I can imagine that Abraham had some fears about this unknown territory that God was trying to take him in, but his level of trust and reliance on God outweighed his doubt.  That is why the Bible tells us to have faith like Abraham, the kind of faith where if God said it, then that’s good enough.  I have to admit, I do have some fears and hesitations about entering this new, unknown, unfamiliar season of my life……but I’m determined to have faith like Abraham that follows the word of God. So allow me to personalize verse 4 and say, “So Leah departed and did as the Lord instructed.”    

-Leah

Bible Study

*I encourage you to read the full story of  God's call to Abraham starting in Genesis Chapter 12!

Life*

“Write the vision, and make it plain.....for the vision is yet for an appointed time...”- Habakkuk 2:2-3

When I first graduated from college, I met with one of my mentors who sat down with me as we discussed my future direction/goals both career and personal wise.  I told her that I wanted to go into marketing and long-term, I specifically wanted to focus on brand development.  She quickly replied, “that’s nice, but where do you really see yourself long-term and think outside of your career.”  Although this conversation took place two years ago, I still remember sitting on her couch being asked this question as if it were yesterday.  I remember really thinking hard about this question….where did I honestly see myself in the long run?  What was most important to me when considering my “goals” and “achievements” of my future?  I had never really thought of that question outside of an interview or my career plans.  I was completely stuck. Lol.  Finally after not saying anything for what seemed like 30 min (in actuality it was probably like 3 but everything is intensified when you’re put on the spot lol) I had finally came up with a reply.  I told her, “well long-term, I’d really love to be a wife and mother and have my own family.”  I remember her smiling as if I had just said the magic words that were going to unlock the next level in a video game lol.  She told me to always have that in the back of mind when making any future plans….in fact, her exact words were, “never lose sight of your main objective.”

This little session I had with my mentor two years ago has stuck with me ever since.  Sometimes, we really should sit down with God, the one who created us in the first place about our future plans and objectives.  Now….let me be very clear by saying this is by NO means a dialogue.  This is not the opportunity for you to go back in forth with God about everything you want to do in life and then pray over it and ask God to “make it happen, cap'n!“ No.  Rather, use this time to find out where your heart really lies.  What are your hearts desires? What motivates and encourages you and how can you use those passions to promote and elevate the Kingdom of God?

" *Everything pertaining to this person's life is subject to change depending on the move of God."

I feel like now is another point to interject and say once again, this is not your time to shine and tell God exactly where You’d like Him to place you in life, but rather close your mouth and open your heart to hear the plans that HE has for you.  The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you…” Not, I know the plans that YOU have for you. Lol.  I have to laugh a little when I read this scripture.  I’m a planner.  I like to have everything figured out before I set out to accomplish something……there’s just one problem with that…..it doesn’t leave a lot of room left for God’s plan.  I think we get so caught up in fulfilling our selfish goals and pursuits that we completely disregard the plan and direction that God has on our lives. I like to think that when we accept Christ as Lord over our lives, our name now comes with a big fat asterisk next to it with a little note at the bottom that says: *Everything pertaining to this person’s life is subject to change depending on the move of God.

"Don't be so caught up in your own plans and aspirations that you limit an all powerful God."

Although God does give us a vision and goals to achieve, He still has full control and can switch things up however and whenever He sees fit.  I encourage you to get quiet before God and really listen to how He speaks to you on the direction He wants to take you in your future.  Let Him produce those long-terms goals in you and never forget your main objective.  Don’t be so caught up in your own plans and aspirations that you limit an all powerful God.  Here’s the truth….whatever plans you come up with on your own for your life…will NEVER compare to the great and mighty things God already has lined up for you.  Remember, He has your absolute best interest at heart….your plans for your life may result in you being happy……but His plans will result in you being satisfied. 

-Leah

Bible Study

*For more on this subject, check out the following scriptures:

Jeremiah 29:11

Isaiah 58:11

Habakkuk 2:2-3

Psalm 18:30