so me and tbV have been in a place of really trusting God for the future and for just general every day life and i haven’t wanted to blog about a lot of it because when you start mentioning stuff and people start responding to ‘save you from the crises’ then it kinda cancels out a lot of the trust element…
but i will say this. when you are trusting God and not having a backup plan, then when things are going well and it appears that you are fine and sorted and when the provision arrives and so on, then it is an amazing place to be.
when it doesn’t or it hasn’t yet or it looks like it might not, then it’s not so much fun. in fact, it can get kinda scary and you know, i think that’s the point.
i just don’t want people to get all romanticised by the idea of trusting God without a backup plan – as i like to say I’m pretty sure that, when David got back from killing Goliath, when Gideon got back from slaying all those Midianites and when Daniel was let out of the lion’s den, they all three had to go and change their pants, or robes, or something.
i would imagine you can trust God but still crap yourself at the same time. possibly cos trusting God, like Love and Forgiveness is not a feeling but a choice and an action linked to that choice. But maybe that’s just me.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3.5,6
I don’t wanna give a cheesy christian response.
but seriously, you both are inspiring.
um, hang in there.
your faith has concrete… I was gonna say the “B” word but thought that may not be fitting for blogging 🙂
What type of work do you do that allows you the time to write? Film has always been a assign of mine, but I am trapped in the corporate world working 9 to 5. Do you think I should just save up and quit, and go into film school and try get into that? How did you manage to do it? Reading a few of your articles, it seems you worked as a pastor then saved up and now you writing a book. So the question really is how much faith should we have versus how much practical planning? Is planning or Saving a lack of faith? Should I just have faith and quit my job and pursue my dreams? Is there a compromise between faith and preparation or should we just have pure faith and trust and follow our dreams? What did you do?
well brad, i was working as a pastor last year and resigned in december and so have been unemployed since january and it really has been a case of trusting God cos we definitely didn’t have any money saved up [both from the perspective of not really being able to but also in terms of my not being completely happy with the idea of saving cos of some stuff i see in the Bible altho i know a LOT of people, maybe most, disagree with me on this – ‘do not store up treasures on earth where moth, rust destroy’ – i think if you’re saving for something specific that’s different but saving for the sake of having money if something happens less so] and He has really provided in so many cases but it has also been tough especially in times when resources start getting low or rent looms and we don’t see where it’s coming from… but rent has been paid and we have always eaten and it’s been a great learning and trusting time.
i really felt God was saying that for this period i needed to quit my job and trust him for the next step and in terms of that it really does look like that was from Him as we are in the process of finalising what that step will be and it totally came out of nowhere and so i wouldn’t give general advice to anyone and say ‘just quit and hope God provides’ – i would encourage you to first seek God and let Him know [not that He doesn’t already but it’s good to say it] the desires of your heart and then look around for opportunities – if you’re saving specifically for that and then quit and go for it i don’t see that as a lack of faith – or alternatively maybe there is a part time course or something you can do while you’re still working [i just attended a screening of my buddy’s short film that he did after attending a course at Josh Gen church in Tableview – so a whole bunch of people were able to learn about film and producing and directing etc etc and made a bunch of short movies that were pretty decent] – so ja ask God for opportunities and see what happens.
oh and since getting close to understanding the next move, val and i have gotten some transcription work for this month so at the end of april and may we will again be getting a salary which will really help – we felt that once we knew the next step and this opportunity came up for work that it was okay to take it…
Some mornings I see a pair of beautiful birds looking for worms in the grass. They are so sweet looking and innocent. They have no clothes besides feathers and no house, maybe a nest somewhere or not. I greet them everytime I see them and Im sure they look at me in amusement at how i surround myself with possessions. They have no ruck sack, no suitcase, no bank account or shops to shop at. God provides for them as a father to His children. Shouldn’t we also be like these birds and have faith that God will provide?