I Serve A Savior: A 12-Day Devotional By Josh TurnerSample

I Pray My Way Out Of Trouble

*An excerpt from Man Stuff, p.44

“Then [God] said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD’s presence.’ At that moment, the LORD passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12

All through my teenage years, I’d been praying about getting a record deal and running the scenarios through my mind of how all that might happen. One day, at the house by myself, I got on my four-wheeler and rode around the fields behind the house praying, asking God some hard questions about country music as a career. I asked honestly, “God, is this even possible? Can I make it to Nashville?”

I kept riding and finally got quiet enough to hear His still, small voice. It was almost a whisper: “Josh, if this is what you want, I’ll give it to you on one condition: you have to trust Me no matter what. I’m going to create My own path for you, different from anybody else’s.”

Here I am, sixteen years into this career of mine, and I’m still trusting Him. I still have days when doubts are thick, but thinking about that moment from years ago and what He’s done since always puts those fears to rest. I didn’t want to be a flash in the pan; I wanted to be a legend in country music. No matter how rough things have been or will be, I learned a long time ago the power of listening to God’s whisper. When God makes a promise, He always keeps it.

For Reflection: "I Pray My Way Out Of Trouble" - Live From Gaither Studios