We all like to be in the know. We all like to make informed decisions. And, this is not necessarily a bad thing. On the flip side, many of us also know the frustration of having meetings hijacked—whether they are family meetings, board meetings, or committee meetings—by someone who paralyzes the progress by overanalyzing every scenario.

While the desire to make the best possible decision is understandable, even wise, when it comes to following Jesus the need to have all the answers—if not kept in check—will most certainly knock our faith out of phase.

God loves us more than we can imagine. Those words are easy to say, and even easy to believe when we are sitting on the sidelines. However, when God calls us to get in the game without much in the way of an explanation our mind naturally races with questions.

While this can understandably make us feel unsettled, God’s desire is that we trust in the plan in spite of our lack of understanding.

Why?

The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (chapter 11 verse 4). In this chapter, he also writes about the faith of Noah, Abraham, Abel, and Enoch. Heroes of the faith who obeyed through faith – not through understanding.

Why? Why did they obey so radically? Why did God not give them an explanation?

I have seen in my own life and the lives of others that God continually calls us to those places that do not make sense for two reasons: so that we will know His love in greater portion than we otherwise would and also in order to grow our faith—which in turn grows our opportunity to prove—not only to ourselves but those around us of God’s great love for mankind.

When we follow Him in faith, sometimes we find the understanding we initially desired on the other side of obedience—sometimes we don’t. Nonetheless, to keep our need for answers in phase requires that we exercise our faith.