When Life Interrupts Obedience...

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Think back to the last time you started something and paused, or gave up completely. Why did you stop?

I was reflecting on the moment I decided to obey God and re-enroll in school. The Lord had given me many signs to go back, so I couldn’t pretend I was unsure of His will. I finally obeyed and signed up for classes. Then BOOM! I got pregnant.

As anyone who’s ever been pregnant would tell you, pregnancy and graduate school, though doable, are not a great mix. You may find yourself falling asleep in the middle of writing a paper, especially during that first trimester, when sleep seems to be the only thing your body wants to do. So, understandably, I quit school. I stopped taking classes as soon as I found out I was pregnant.

But here’s the thing: God’s plans didn’t change.

Pregnancy is a valid reason to pause. But how did I know the Lord wasn’t going to give me the strength to endure or the grace to continue?

There’s something I’ve learned about walking with God: He always gives the strength and grace for whatever He has called you to do, regardless of your “reality.”

Sometimes, He even allows life to shift in a way that reveals where our faith really lies. For me, my faith was in my own physical strength (or ability to stay awake). So when I felt like I had no more strength, I stopped. But my pregnancy wasn’t a surprise to God.

He knew I would be pregnant before He told me to start school. He knows that having a child would be a huge responsibility that would change everything. So if He allowed it, could it be that He wasn’t counting on my strength at all, but on His grace that is sufficient for me?

What’s Stopping You From Walking in Obedience?

Let’s go back to the original question: Why did you stop doing the thing God told you to do?

Was your faith in your finances? Or in the support you were expecting from others so that when those things fell through, you gave up, too?

Here’s the truth: The change in your circumstances was not a surprise to God. He knew what would happen when He asked you to take that step of faith. He may have even allowed those challenges so you would learn to trust Him alone. They weren’t permission to quit.

Whatever caused you to stop moving forward in obedience to God, that’s where your faith was. And if that “thing” isn’t God, it’s time to redirect your faith back to the One who has no limitations.

Whether the money comes or not,

Whether the strength shows up or not,

Whether the help arrives or not,

Keep going.

Because the One you’re trusting is not limited in grace, strength, ability, or resources.