you search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. [psalm 139:3-4]
God never takes risks.
sometimes it seems like God has chosen the wrong person in us. sometimes we feel the weight of not letting him down. we might feel ill equipped to whatever he is calling us to or unqualified for the work that is laid out for us. we fear failure.
some might call this risky business on God’s part. hoping that those people he has chosen won’t mess it up or fail or say the wrong thing or know enough. but we can rejoice in this verse today! our God takes no risk because our God is an all knowing, all seeing, all sovereign God!
he has searched out your path…- not only does he know the path you will take, he has planned it out perfectly. you cannot take a step for which he hasn’t already decided where you will plant your foot. so we can walk with no fear.
for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [jer 29:11]
the steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; [psalm 37:23]
for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [eph 2:10]
before a word is on your tongue…- he knows what you will say, even when you don’t. as God’s children, the message of his glory will pour out from our lips. if we are in his word, then his word will jump out when we least expect it! he is working through us, and his word is always effective for what he has planned. so we can speak with no fear.
and when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” [luke 12:11-12]
then the LORD said to him, “who has made man’s mouth? who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not i, the LORD? now therefore go, and i will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak. [ex 4:11-12]
for as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. [isa 55:10-11]
and so we have nothing to fear! the Lord has planned out the way, the work, and the words. we only need to step out in faith and be obedient. where do you need to lay down fear of the unknown to joyfully obey? look at joseph. he had no promise of comfort or ease or control. but he had God’s covenantal love, and for him it was enough. may that same love be enough for us to trust and obey!
~ arwen eastman