Purpose in Your StrugglesSample

ORIENTATION TOUR

Read

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you."

- Genesis 12:1

Reflect

The sign read: “Guided tour to the places that matter to you!”

The advertisement was for the Orientation Tour at our latest duty station. I was not keen on being herded on and off a bus, but I was tired of getting lost. I needed someone to show me. As hard as it was for me, I signed up. I got on the bus, and you know what? The tour was a pleasant surprise. I not only learned physical locations of places, but I also discovered great resources my new community had to offer. An added bonus was meeting some other newcomers.

The promise of God to Abraham in Genesis 12:1 was for him to go to “a land that I am going to show you.” Sounds like an Orientation Tour to me. Yet I cannot compare the tour Abraham signed up for and the tour I took. I had a good idea of the stops along the way. Abraham knew nothing. God asked Abraham to “get on the bus” and trust that God would show him the places he was to go. Sisters, dedication is joining God’s tour before you know where it is going or what you will experience.

The New Testament book of Hebrews describes Abraham as a man who lived by faith. Abraham could tell you specifically what he left behind to follow God’s call, but what was ahead was a big question mark. The call for each of us to follow God is not a call to trust in a plan, but to trust a person. God would show him places along the way, but as we saw in our first journey, Abraham’s Orientation Tour was not so much about geography as it was about relationship. 

Abraham had a willingness to go where God would lead. God had much to show Abraham. He has much to show you. Are you willing to take his tour?

Respond

“Dedication is joining God’s tour before you know where it is going or what you will experience.” What thoughts come to mind when you read this phrase? What is your usual reaction when you are asked to go to a place about which you know nothing? What does Hebrews 11:9–10 have to say about Abraham’s true destination?

Prayer

Lord, help me grow in grace as I walk with you. Teach me to trust you even when I cannot see where you lead. Amen.