Leaving Control For Faith

I got am email article from Relevant Mag that I read this morning from an author Amy Lee Morrow. She wrote about persecution and this Q&A really resonated with me...

What kind of struggles have you experienced along the way?
When our son had a serious accident or my husband went on a dangerous trip, I could ask for prayer; when my Bibles were confiscated by custom officers, or I found myself in an unsafe place because God called me to go there, God gave peace beyond understanding. But when I knew of an internal conflict in our organization or the working relationship with friends came to an end, the struggles were different and much more difficult to handle.

Most struggles for me also come from when relationships are not going the way that I feel they ought to be. I hate not being able to correct conflicts that I have with others, or when friendships seem to be fading when it was so good, or when you really want things to grow. Especially when you really see how great a friendship could be and when you have invested a lot of your heart into a relationship. Many examples come to mind right now, from my church leading, and from close friends outside of work.

I have also been trying to be really patient with God lately (I am sure God needs to be patient with me as well), because I don't seem to be getting clear direction on what is next for me. I am usually alright with this because of some stability. But right now I can go anywhere and I don't know where God is leading. I try not to think too far ahead either. I was reminded in a sermon on heard yesterday on my computer by Rob Bell. It was about leaving control for faith. Part of what Rob Bell talked about was God leading the Israelites around with a cloud...Numbers 9...

15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

God gives them direction a day at a time or a moment at a time. On the journey we do not know what the next step looks like. We do know what relationships will not work out. We have very few guarantees. There is so much that we do not know. But we still most know that God has a plan and will lead when the time is right. I must still keep faithful and love God and love others right where god has me.