A Prayer to Trust God with What Comes Next - Your Daily Prayer - November 2

A Prayer to Trust God with What Comes Next
By Rachel Wojo

Bible Reading
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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A few weeks ago, I was on a Zoom call with a friend when she told me she had just realized she would have to hop off to take a call from her employer. She already knew what they were going to say. 

Her time was up. She’d been looking for a remote position in the company, but none were available. Her mother lives with her and had just fallen and broken her pelvic bone, so working a job in person wasn’t an option. This call would make it official. She would be jobless.

I could see her face in that little square before she took the call. She was brave. She had seen this coming for a little while, and she was prepared. But she still had to sit there and hear the news.

I was so sad for her. 

Several times since then, I’ve thought about the look on her face. Just because you know what is coming doesn’t mean you are ready for it. My sweet friend had done all the thinking a person can do, and she knew where things stood. But none of that made it easier to sit through it. 

Maybe today you’ve been trying to figure out the best next step, but the doors just keep closing. You’ve prayed and weighed the options. You’ve made your lists and brainstormed ideas, but your mind is, as my mom used to say, “plumb worn out.”

I learned Proverbs 3:5-6 when I was a teenager, but it wasn’t until I became an adult that I latched onto the verses as ones I hold for life. Proverbs contains the wise words of Solomon, and chapter 3 opens with him talking to his son. “My son, do not forget my teaching…” Why did Solomon write these reminders? Because his son would be walking through an unpredictable future. 

Recently I’ve honed in on the word “lean.” “Lean not on your own understanding” means don’t even put a little of your weight on it. Don’t be prone to trust it like you would the handrail as you walk down a set of stairs. The only truth we can fully trust, fully lean on, is God’s Word. 

Depending on the translation, verse 6 says, “in all your ways submit to him” or “in all your ways acknowledge him” or, simply put, know him. 

You see, when the path ahead is foggy, God isn’t asking me to know the way. He’s asking me to know Him. 

He rarely reveals the whole path ahead. I often think that’s because we couldn’t handle even the knowledge of what lies ahead. But He will make the path clear for us. That He promises. 

If you’re standing in front of a closed door today, you don’t have to guess why it’s closed or what will open next. You’ve probably done the calculations and determinations. But your understanding won’t hold you up when it does. Only God can do that. Lean on Him today.

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father,

I’ve turned this issue over in my mind a million times, and I’m tired of trying to figure out what’s next. I confess that I’ve tried to lean on my own understanding, and it’s wearing me out. 

Thank You for not having to figure it all out. You’ve asked me to trust You with all my heart, and I want to do that today.

Even when the news doesn’t surprise me, it still hurts. Thank You that I can grieve the pain of an ending and yet trust You for the road ahead. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Don’t miss this:

If you could use some words to pray through closed doors, I wrote Praying Through Life's Battles: 90 Days to Strengthen Your Faith for you. You can order it now at battleprayers.com. Until next time, remember, God sees you, hears you, and He knows your needs.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/olegbreslavtsev

Rachel Wojo is an inspirational author, public speaker, and podcaster known for her popular blog, rachelwojo.com. Through her biblical approach and personal life experiences, Rachel empowers women to discover strength and hope in everyday situations. Despite enduring the loss of her mother, adult special needs daughter, and father, Rachel remains resilient. She has authored the uplifting book,  Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments  and recently released the 90-day devotional, Praying through Life’s Battles. Rachel is crazy in love with her husband, Matt, and cherishes her motherhood with six children on earth and two in heaven.

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