Stuck In ReverseSample

When We Hesitate 

Hesitate while swinging at a baseball and you’ll miss it completely. Take a moment to think about how you’ll finish a 10k run once it’s started, and chances are you’ll lose the race. Hesitation signals an unsure attitude, doubt, and sometimes lack of faith and belief in what you’re doing. While there are times God wants us to wait for His answer to our prayers, there are other times when He instructs us to move forward in boldness, believing He’ll provide exactly what He’s promised.

God instructed the nation of Israel to go into the Promised Land and take it as their inheritance. But they balked at the idea and hesitated to do what God had commanded them to do. Why does the Lord allow us to face a challenge that seems beyond anything we could accomplish?

The answer is simple: He wants us to depend totally on Him—to listen for His voice and view Him as our provider for every need we have. If we can figure out a way to reach the goal or complete the task apart from Him, then we’ll no longer walk by faith but will walk in light of what we can accomplish on our own. For God to be truly glorified in our lives, we must learn to live by faith, trusting Him every step of the way.

Like the nation of Israel, have you ever hesitated and missed an important opportunity? Most of us have. When this happens, the questions you need to ask yourself are: “Do I believe God has created me for a purpose?” “Am I sure He has a plan for my life and that He’s willing to give me the wisdom and strength I need to reach my full potential?” If your answer is yes, then there’s no way you’ll continue living life running in reverse. However, if you said no and hesitated, then you’ll feel the stress that comes from being held captive to thoughts of doubt and insecurity. Never allow these to hold you back because God has placed His seal of ownership on your life. You’re His, and your life contains all you need to reach the goals He sets for you.

God has given each of us a basic promise to cling to whenever we’re tempted to doubt His goodness. It’s Jeremiah 29:11: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’”

In these few words, God’s given us a powerful promise. He’s also revealed a life-changing view of Himself. He tells us, “I know the plans that I have.” Think about these words for a moment in light of where you are today and what you would like to achieve. Can you say, “I’m on the right track”? Or do you wish you could know what God knows about your future? Is there hope? Does He really care? The answer is yes!

God created you with a plan in mind—a plan of success and blessing, not failure. So the next time you’re tempted to hesitate and doubt, remember:

· God wants you to move forward each day.

· Even if you can’t see tangible progress, He can.

· He’s at work in our lives on all fronts, preparing us for something greater and better.

· When we trust Him, He always moves on our behalf.