As we have kicked off the New Year I’m sure many of us have made resolutions, set new goals, and have new and fresh vision for what’s to come. These things are amazing and I say go for it, but only if the Lord is calling you to make those changes. This article is by no means meant to discourage us from setting new goals and making changes. We should have vision and make changes as the Lord would guide and give us the grace to do so. If there is some sin in our life, that’s a different topic and it needs to change and be repented of immediately. I always encourage change and seeking to grow in our faith. This article is however meant to challenge us not to underestimate the power of staying put, and remaining faithful to what and where God has us right now. For some of us maybe it needs to be our New Year’s resolution to just keep doing what you are doing and remain faithful.
There is always so much pressure from inside and outside the church as we head into a New Year to make changes and seek out some new thing. Usually to the point where we feel guilty if we don’t do anything new or different. Inevitably somebody is going to ask us, “so what’s your new year’s resolution?” It would seem kinda embarrassing to say, “well actually I’m not making any changes and just staying put with what I’m doing right now.” But is that really such a bad thing? I want to challenge us as Christians that just staying faithful and staying put is actually sometimes a lot bigger accomplishment than making some big change.
In 2nd Samuel we are introduced to one of David’s mighty men named Shammah. He was one of David’s top warriors. In one particular instance Shammah and the Israelite army were ordered to guard a field of lentils. When the Philistines came up to attack the Isrealites and take the field of beans, we are told that the whole Isrealite army left and fled except for one man named Shammah. You see Shammah had orders, and his orders were to stay put and guard the bean field. When things got really hard and scary everybody except Shammah thought we need to make a change, it just didn’t make sense and seemed silly to risk your life for some beans. Shammah on the other hand was faithful. He knew the last thing I was ordered to do is to guard these beans, and until I get new orders I am going to stay put! God blessed that faithfulness and used Shammah to defeat the Philistine army single handedly. 2nd Samuel 23:12 says “But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.” If Shammah would have made a change because that’s what seemed best to him in that moment, he would of missed out on a great victory and blessing from the Lord.
You see sometimes it’s a lot harder to just hold your course and remain faithful for no other reason than, that was the last thing God told me to do. Many times in life we will be in positions where God calls us to something, and while you are there everything seems to fall apart and it makes no sense whatsoever to stay. Maybe it’s a difficult marriage, a difficult season of life, a ministry that seems fruitless, a challenging job. There are a myriad of examples but the question we have to ask ourselves no matter what the situation is, “what was the last thing that God told me to do?” If you haven’t received new orders from the Lord, then it’s best to just hold your course and stay put. God will see that faithfulness, and there is a great victory and blessing from Him right around the corner. Don’t run and make a change before the victory comes even if it seems slow in coming. Remember God sees the beginning and the end and His timing is perfect!
We often feel stressed that we have to strive and work hard to seek and try to figure out what God’s will is, and what He wants us to do next. We waste a lot of energy in these endeavors. I am guilty as charged of this trap. Remember what Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” In other words quit trying to figure it all out, trust Him and remain faithful even when it doesn’t make sense. Put Him first in all you do and if He wants you to make a change, it will be clear and He will direct you to do so. In the meantime hold your course and remain faithful.
Remember if God is calling you to make changes with fresh vision for the New Year and His grace is supplied to do it, then by all means I cheer you on to step out in faith. On the other hand I commend you greatly if your goal for the New Year is just to stay put and hold your course when it doesn’t make sense to do so, because that was the last thing God told you to do. Either way I pray for God’s blessings upon you and that you will always know He loves you unconditionally and is with you endlessly. Also I pray that you will have the faith to hold your course and trust Him when it doesn’t make sense to do so.
There is always so much pressure from inside and outside the church as we head into a New Year to make changes and seek out some new thing. Usually to the point where we feel guilty if we don’t do anything new or different. Inevitably somebody is going to ask us, “so what’s your new year’s resolution?” It would seem kinda embarrassing to say, “well actually I’m not making any changes and just staying put with what I’m doing right now.” But is that really such a bad thing? I want to challenge us as Christians that just staying faithful and staying put is actually sometimes a lot bigger accomplishment than making some big change.
In 2nd Samuel we are introduced to one of David’s mighty men named Shammah. He was one of David’s top warriors. In one particular instance Shammah and the Israelite army were ordered to guard a field of lentils. When the Philistines came up to attack the Isrealites and take the field of beans, we are told that the whole Isrealite army left and fled except for one man named Shammah. You see Shammah had orders, and his orders were to stay put and guard the bean field. When things got really hard and scary everybody except Shammah thought we need to make a change, it just didn’t make sense and seemed silly to risk your life for some beans. Shammah on the other hand was faithful. He knew the last thing I was ordered to do is to guard these beans, and until I get new orders I am going to stay put! God blessed that faithfulness and used Shammah to defeat the Philistine army single handedly. 2nd Samuel 23:12 says “But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.” If Shammah would have made a change because that’s what seemed best to him in that moment, he would of missed out on a great victory and blessing from the Lord.
You see sometimes it’s a lot harder to just hold your course and remain faithful for no other reason than, that was the last thing God told me to do. Many times in life we will be in positions where God calls us to something, and while you are there everything seems to fall apart and it makes no sense whatsoever to stay. Maybe it’s a difficult marriage, a difficult season of life, a ministry that seems fruitless, a challenging job. There are a myriad of examples but the question we have to ask ourselves no matter what the situation is, “what was the last thing that God told me to do?” If you haven’t received new orders from the Lord, then it’s best to just hold your course and stay put. God will see that faithfulness, and there is a great victory and blessing from Him right around the corner. Don’t run and make a change before the victory comes even if it seems slow in coming. Remember God sees the beginning and the end and His timing is perfect!
We often feel stressed that we have to strive and work hard to seek and try to figure out what God’s will is, and what He wants us to do next. We waste a lot of energy in these endeavors. I am guilty as charged of this trap. Remember what Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” In other words quit trying to figure it all out, trust Him and remain faithful even when it doesn’t make sense. Put Him first in all you do and if He wants you to make a change, it will be clear and He will direct you to do so. In the meantime hold your course and remain faithful.
Remember if God is calling you to make changes with fresh vision for the New Year and His grace is supplied to do it, then by all means I cheer you on to step out in faith. On the other hand I commend you greatly if your goal for the New Year is just to stay put and hold your course when it doesn’t make sense to do so, because that was the last thing God told you to do. Either way I pray for God’s blessings upon you and that you will always know He loves you unconditionally and is with you endlessly. Also I pray that you will have the faith to hold your course and trust Him when it doesn’t make sense to do so.
Happy New Year!
Pastor Anthony
Pastor Anthony