Lost In Obedience
When Obedience Leaves You Lost: Finding God's Direction in Uncertain Times
Have you ever found yourself doing exactly what you believe God wants you to do, yet feeling completely lost and confused about where you're headed? You're not alone. Sometimes our greatest moments of uncertainty come not when we're running from God, but when we're trying our hardest to follow Him.
The Story of Joseph's Search
In Genesis 37, we find young Joseph, around 17 or 18 years old, sent by his father Jacob to check on his brothers who were tending flocks in Shechem. Joseph obediently set out to complete his father's assignment, but when he arrived, his brothers were nowhere to be found.
The Bible tells us that "a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, what seekest thou?" This stranger wasn't just a random encounter - he was God's provision at exactly the right moment.
What Does It Mean to Be Lost in Obedience?
Joseph's situation reveals an important truth: obedience does not always bring immediate clarity. Joseph was doing exactly what his father asked, yet he found himself wandering, confused, and unable to complete his mission. He wasn't in rebellion - he was in faithful obedience, but still lost.
Many believers today find themselves in similar circumstances. They're not running from God, but they're simply lost while trying to obey Him. They know they're where they're supposed to be, they sense God is doing something, but they have no idea what the next step should be.
Why Does God Allow Confusion in Our Obedience?
Obedience Sometimes Leads to Confusion Before Purpose
We can be squarely in God's will and still not understand where we are or why we're there. Sometimes we wander for a while, and that's part of God's process. We want answers immediately, but God's timing rarely aligns with our impatience.
Persistence in Obedience Positions Us for God's Next Move
Joseph could have easily given up, returned home, and told his father, "I tried, but they weren't there." Instead, he kept searching. His persistence in obedience positioned him for God's intervention through the "certain man" who provided the direction he needed.
When we don't know what to do next, we should continue doing what God has already given us to do. Keep reading His Word, keep praying, keep serving, keep obeying in the areas where His will is clear.
How Does God Provide Direction?
God Sends Messengers at the Right Moment
The "certain man" in Joseph's story wasn't accidental or coincidental - he was providential. God is the God of providence, and He sends help at exactly the right time. Sometimes we entertain angels unaware, whether they're literal angels or simply people divinely placed in our path.
God's Direction May Lead Through Difficulty
The direction Joseph received from the stranger led him to his brothers, but it also led to betrayal, a pit, slavery, and imprisonment. However, it eventually led to promotion, provision, and the preservation of Israel. God's directions don't always lead to comfort, but they always lead to purpose.
What Should We Do When We Feel Lost in Our Obedience?
Keep Searching
Don't give up when obedience becomes inconvenient or when waiting on the Lord feels like it's no longer worth your time. Many believers obey until obedience becomes uncomfortable, then they quit. But persistence in faithful obedience is what positions us for God's next move.
Stay Open to God's Messengers
Be mindful of the people God places in your path. Don't be dismissive of conversations, encounters, or messages that might seem insignificant. God often uses ordinary people and everyday situations to provide the direction we need.
Remember God Won't Let You Miss His Plan
When you're walking in obedience, God will not allow His plan to be missed. There's a difference between missing God's plan and dismissing it. God will communicate with you if you're willing to be communicated with - through His Word, through His people, and through circumstances.
God's Ultimate Vision for Your Life
Even if you feel like God has never given you a specific vision, He has given you the ultimate vision: to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Your purpose is to look like Him, walk like Him, and be like Him. This vision was given to you when Christ died on the cross and you accepted Him by faith.
The Bible is like a mirror - when we look into it, we see what Jesus looks like, and God helps us make the adjustments needed to become more like Him. This is what obedience looks like: getting into God's Word and allowing Him to transform us step by step.
Life Application
This week, if you find yourself feeling lost in your obedience to God, remember that confusion doesn't mean you're out of His will. Instead of giving up or changing direction, commit to continuing in the obedience God has already made clear to you. Keep reading His Word, keep praying, keep serving, and keep your eyes open for the "certain messengers" He will send to provide direction.
Ask yourself these questions:
Remember, God's steps for your life are ordered by Him, and even when you fall, you will not be utterly cast down because the Lord holds you with His hand. Keep searching, keep obeying, and trust that God will provide direction at exactly the right moment.
Have you ever found yourself doing exactly what you believe God wants you to do, yet feeling completely lost and confused about where you're headed? You're not alone. Sometimes our greatest moments of uncertainty come not when we're running from God, but when we're trying our hardest to follow Him.
The Story of Joseph's Search
In Genesis 37, we find young Joseph, around 17 or 18 years old, sent by his father Jacob to check on his brothers who were tending flocks in Shechem. Joseph obediently set out to complete his father's assignment, but when he arrived, his brothers were nowhere to be found.
The Bible tells us that "a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, what seekest thou?" This stranger wasn't just a random encounter - he was God's provision at exactly the right moment.
What Does It Mean to Be Lost in Obedience?
Joseph's situation reveals an important truth: obedience does not always bring immediate clarity. Joseph was doing exactly what his father asked, yet he found himself wandering, confused, and unable to complete his mission. He wasn't in rebellion - he was in faithful obedience, but still lost.
Many believers today find themselves in similar circumstances. They're not running from God, but they're simply lost while trying to obey Him. They know they're where they're supposed to be, they sense God is doing something, but they have no idea what the next step should be.
Why Does God Allow Confusion in Our Obedience?
Obedience Sometimes Leads to Confusion Before Purpose
We can be squarely in God's will and still not understand where we are or why we're there. Sometimes we wander for a while, and that's part of God's process. We want answers immediately, but God's timing rarely aligns with our impatience.
Persistence in Obedience Positions Us for God's Next Move
Joseph could have easily given up, returned home, and told his father, "I tried, but they weren't there." Instead, he kept searching. His persistence in obedience positioned him for God's intervention through the "certain man" who provided the direction he needed.
When we don't know what to do next, we should continue doing what God has already given us to do. Keep reading His Word, keep praying, keep serving, keep obeying in the areas where His will is clear.
How Does God Provide Direction?
God Sends Messengers at the Right Moment
The "certain man" in Joseph's story wasn't accidental or coincidental - he was providential. God is the God of providence, and He sends help at exactly the right time. Sometimes we entertain angels unaware, whether they're literal angels or simply people divinely placed in our path.
God's Direction May Lead Through Difficulty
The direction Joseph received from the stranger led him to his brothers, but it also led to betrayal, a pit, slavery, and imprisonment. However, it eventually led to promotion, provision, and the preservation of Israel. God's directions don't always lead to comfort, but they always lead to purpose.
What Should We Do When We Feel Lost in Our Obedience?
Keep Searching
Don't give up when obedience becomes inconvenient or when waiting on the Lord feels like it's no longer worth your time. Many believers obey until obedience becomes uncomfortable, then they quit. But persistence in faithful obedience is what positions us for God's next move.
Stay Open to God's Messengers
Be mindful of the people God places in your path. Don't be dismissive of conversations, encounters, or messages that might seem insignificant. God often uses ordinary people and everyday situations to provide the direction we need.
Remember God Won't Let You Miss His Plan
When you're walking in obedience, God will not allow His plan to be missed. There's a difference between missing God's plan and dismissing it. God will communicate with you if you're willing to be communicated with - through His Word, through His people, and through circumstances.
God's Ultimate Vision for Your Life
Even if you feel like God has never given you a specific vision, He has given you the ultimate vision: to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Your purpose is to look like Him, walk like Him, and be like Him. This vision was given to you when Christ died on the cross and you accepted Him by faith.
The Bible is like a mirror - when we look into it, we see what Jesus looks like, and God helps us make the adjustments needed to become more like Him. This is what obedience looks like: getting into God's Word and allowing Him to transform us step by step.
Life Application
This week, if you find yourself feeling lost in your obedience to God, remember that confusion doesn't mean you're out of His will. Instead of giving up or changing direction, commit to continuing in the obedience God has already made clear to you. Keep reading His Word, keep praying, keep serving, and keep your eyes open for the "certain messengers" He will send to provide direction.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I truly walking in obedience to what God has already shown me, or am I waiting for new direction before I obey what I already know?
- Have I been dismissive of people or situations God might be using to speak to me?
- Am I willing to trust God's timing and process, even if His direction leads through difficulty before it leads to my purpose?
- How can I better position myself to hear from God through His Word and through the people He places in my life?
Remember, God's steps for your life are ordered by Him, and even when you fall, you will not be utterly cast down because the Lord holds you with His hand. Keep searching, keep obeying, and trust that God will provide direction at exactly the right moment.
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