When I type an address into my navigation system, one of the options
that comes up is “Route Overview.” When I click on that, it gives me all
the details of my trip. There may be fifteen different instructions. “Travel
six miles on the highway, get off at Exit 43, go four hundred feet, turn
left at the intersection.” Your whole route is clearly laid out. You know
where you’re going, how long it’s going to take, and what to expect.
Knowing all the details makes us comfortable. We can relax.
In a similar way, God has a route overview for your life. Before you
were formed in your mother’s womb, He laid out your plan. He not only
knows your final destination, He knows the best way to get you there. But
unlike the navigation system, God doesn’t show you the route overview.
He doesn’t tell you how it’s going to happen, how long it’s going to take,
where the funds are going to come from, or whom you’re going to meet.
He leads you one step at a time. If you’ll trust Him and take that step into
the unknown, not knowing how it’s going to work out, He’ll show you
another step. Step-by-step, He’ll lead you into your destiny.
The difficulty of this method is that we like details. We wouldn’t
have any problem with taking that step of faith—starting that business,
going back to school, moving to that new location—if we knew where the
money was coming from, how long it was going to take, and that the right
people were going to be there for us. If we had the details, it would be
easy to step out. But here’s the key: God doesn’t give the details. He’s
not going to give you a blueprint for your whole life. If you had all the
facts, you wouldn’t need any faith. He’s going to send you out not
knowing everything. If you’ll have the courage to step into the unknown
and do what you know He’s asking you to do, doors will open that you
could never have opened, the right people will show up, you’ll have the
funds and any other resources you need.
The Scripture says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path.” “A lamp” implies you have enough light to see right in front of
you. He’s not giving you the light that shows your life for the next fifty
years. It’s more like the headlights of a car. When you’re driving at night,
with your low beam headlights you can only see a hundred feet or so in
front of you. You don’t stop driving because you can’t see your
destination, which is twenty-five miles ahead. You just keep going,
seeing as much as the lights allow, knowing you’ll eventually arrive at
your destination.
My question is, will you take the next step that God gives you with
the light you have? If you’re waiting for all the details, you’ll be waiting
your whole life. We all want to be comfortable, but walking in God’s
perfect will is going to make you a little uncomfortable. There’s a healthy
tension: you have to stretch, you have to pray, and you have to believe.
You’re not going to be sure how it’s all going to work out, but that is
what will cause you to grow, that’s when you’ll learn to trust God in a
greater way. God is not interested only in the destination. He’s teaching
you along the way; He’s getting you prepared and growing you up. He
will lead you purposefully into situations where you’re in over your head,
your friends can’t help you, and you don’t have the experience you think
you need. Too often we shrink back and think, I’m not going there. I’m
not qualified. I’m too nervous. What if it doesn’t work out? God knew
that you would be nervous, and He knew that you would feel unqualified.
That’s a test.
Are you going to talk yourself out of it? Are you going to let the fear
of what you can’t see hold you back? Or are you going to be bold and
step into the unknown? The unknown is where miracles happen. The
unknown is where you discover abilities that you never knew you had.
The unknown is where you’ll accomplish more than you ever dreamed.
Just because you don’t have the details doesn’t mean God doesn’t have
the details. He has the route overview for your whole life. He wouldn’t be
leading you there if He didn’t have a purpose. He has the provision, He
has the favor, and He has what you need to go to the next level.
You’ll Have to Be Bold
One thing I like about my navigation system is that it gives me specific
details. “Go 9.3 miles down this freeway and exit at…” The whole time it
counts down—eight miles left, seven miles, six miles. It’s all right in
front of me to see.
But God does not direct us that way. He’ll tell you to go down a
certain road. Then the first thing we do is ask for details. “How far do
You want me to go?” No answer. “Where do You want me to turn?” No
answer. “What’s the weather going to be like?” No answer. “Who’s going
to meet me?” No answer. It would be so much easier if God would give
us specifics. But that wouldn’t take any faith. Can you endure the silence
of not knowing everything? Will you trust God even though you don’t
have the details? Will you take that step of faith even though you’re
nervous, uncomfortable, and not sure how it’s going to work out?
This is what Abraham did. God told him to leave the place where he
was living and go to a land He would show him. Abraham was to pack up
his household, leave his extended family behind, and head out to a land
that God was going to give him as his inheritance. The only problem was
that God didn’t give him any details. The Scripture says, “Abraham went
out, not knowing where he was going.” I can imagine Abraham telling his
wife, Sarah, “Honey, I’ve got great news. We’re going to move. God
promised me He’s taking us to a better land where we’re going to be
blessed in a new way.” I can hear Sarah saying, “That’s so exciting! I
can’t wait. Where are we going?” Abraham answers, “I’m not sure. He
didn’t tell me.” She asks, “What should I wear? Will it be hot or cold?”
He answers, “I don’t know.” At that point, reality sets in for Sarah, who
responds, “Well, Abraham, how are we going to make a living? Where
are we going to get food for our children and staff? This seems like a
mistake. Are you sure that God told you this?”
If you’re going to step into the unknown, it’s going to take boldness.
It’s not always going to make sense. Other people may not understand.
They may try to talk you out of it. Your own thoughts will tell you, You
better play it safe. This is too big a risk. What if it doesn’t work out?
Abraham understood this principle; he knew that just because you don’t
have all the answers, and just because you’re nervous and uncomfortable,
doesn’t mean you aren’t supposed to do it. The psalmist said, “The steps
of a good person are ordered by the Lord.” If you’ll take that step, not
knowing all the details but trusting that God knows what He’s doing, then
each step of the way there will be provision, there will be favor, there will
be protection. Yes, it’s uncomfortable not knowing the details; and yes,
you have to stretch, you have to pray, and you have to trust. But every
step you’ll not only have God’s blessing; you’ll also be growing and
getting stronger.
It Is Possible to Walk on the Water
In the Scripture, when Jesus came walking across the stormy sea in the
darkness of night, Peter was the only disciple to walk on the water to
Him. He also was the only one who had the courage to get out of the boat
in the first place. I can imagine the other disciples saying, “Peter, you
better stay in here with us! The waves are big. It’s too dangerous. You
could drown.” But when Jesus told him to come, Peter stepped out into
the unknown and walked on the water. “Well, Joel, you failed to note that
he sank.” Yes, but he walked on the water more than you or I have.
Although what is familiar is comfortable, it can become a curse rather
than a blessing. Familiarity—what you’re used to, how you were raised,
the job you’ve had for years—can keep you from your destiny. Don’t let
your comfort keep you from getting out of the boat and becoming who
you were created to be.
If Abraham had put his comfort above fulfilling his purpose, we
wouldn’t be talking about him. It was a risk to pack up his family and
leave, not knowing where he was going. You can’t play it safe your
whole life and reach the fullness of your destiny. Don’t let the what-ifs
talk you out of it. “What if I fail? What if I don’t have the funds? What if
they say no?” You’ll never know unless you try. When you come to the
end of your life, will you have more regrets about the risks you took or
about the risks you didn’t take? “What if I start a new business and it
fails?” What if you start it and it thrusts you to a new level? “What if I get
into this new relationship and I get hurt again? That’s what happened last
time.” What if you get into it and you’re happier than you’ve ever been?
What if it’s a divine connection? “What if I take this new position and
I’m not good at it? What if I’m not successful?” What if you take it and
you excel? What if you discover new gifts you didn’t know you had?
What if it leads you to more opportunities?
For every major victory and every significant accomplishment in my
life, I’ve had to step into the unknown. When my father went to be with
the Lord and I stepped up to pastor the church, I didn’t know how it was
going to work out. I didn’t know if I could minister. I didn’t know if
anyone would listen to me. Every voice said, “Don’t do it! You’re
making a mistake. You’re going to get up there and look like a fool.” I
knew I was going in over my head, and I knew I didn’t have the
experience. But I also knew that when we are weak, God’s power shows
up the greatest. I couldn’t see very far down the road. I couldn’t see
anything of what we’re doing today. All I could see was this much: “Joel,
step up and pastor the church.” If God had shown me all that we’re doing
today and what it would take to get here, I would have said, “No way. I
can’t do that.” Sometimes the reason God doesn’t tell us what’s in our
future is that He knows we can’t handle it right then.
What God has in store for you is going to boggle your mind—the
places He’s going to take you, the people you’re going to influence, the
dreams you’re going to accomplish. It’s going to be bigger than you’ve
imagined. You know where it is—it’s in the unknown, in what you can’t
see right now, in what you don’t feel qualified for, in what looks way
over your head. When you have something in front of you that seems too
big and you don’t think you have what it takes to do it, that’s God
stretching you. He sees things in you that you can’t see. You may be
uncomfortable, but don’t shrink back. Keep stretching, keep praying, and
keep believing. You’re growing. God is leading you step-by-step. You
are about to step into the next level. You’ve been on that step you’re on
for long enough. You’ve passed that test, and now the next step is coming
—a new level of favor, a new level of blessing, a new level of influence,
a new level of anointing.
Take the Step of Faith
Victoria and I were driving to another city not long ago. I had my
navigation system on. At one point we were on a country road for about a
hundred-mile stretch. There were so many intersections where roads
veered off from it. I was concerned that I had missed my turn. I had to
keep looking to make sure that I was okay. I noticed that as long as I was
on the right path, the voice of the GPS was silent. I wished she would
come on and say, “You’re doing good. Keep going. You’re right on
track.” But she never said a thing until it was time to do something
different. Sometimes God is silent. You don’t hear Him saying anything.
It’s easy to think you must be off course, something must be wrong. He’s
not talking. But as with the GPS, that means you’re on the right course.
Keep being your best with what you have. Keep stretching, praying, and
believing. The next step is coming. You have to pass the test of being
faithful where you are. That next step is going to be an increase step, a
favor step, a healing step, a breakthrough step.
In the Scripture, when Joshua and the Israelites came to the Jordan
River, there was no way for them to get across. The people had heard
how Moses had held up his rod and the Red Sea had parted many years
before. I’m sure that Joshua thought that if he did the same thing, the
waters would part for him. But God had a different plan. He told Joshua
to have the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant step into the
river; then the waters of the Jordan would part. I can imagine the priests
saying, “Joshua, you want us to walk into the water? That doesn’t make
sense. We could drown in those dark waters.” They got to the shore and
nothing happened. They got to the banks a few feet away and still
nothing. Thoughts started telling them, What if it doesn’t part? What if
Joshua made a mistake? What if we get out there and can’t get back?
They could have talked themselves out of it, but instead they dared to
step into the unknown. The Scripture says that the moment their feet
touched the edge of the waters, the water upstream began piling up while
the water on the other side flowed downstream. It wasn’t long till the
riverbed was empty and they were able to walk across on dry land.
Notice that the miracle happened along the way. We think, God,
when You part the river, I’ll go. God says, “Go, and I’ll part the river.” If
you’ll step into the unknown, along the way you’ll see miracles, doors
will open that you couldn’t open, and the right people will show up. God
could have just as easily parted the water first, before the priests stepped
in. He was showing them and us this principle: when you don’t see how it
can work out, when you don’t know where the funds are coming from,
when every thought tells you to play it safe, but you take that step of faith
and do what God has put in your heart, you’re showing God that you trust
Him. That’s when Jordan Rivers will part. God will purposefully put us
in situations where we can’t do it on our own and it looks impossible—
that’s a test of our faith. If you stay in the boat, you’ll never walk on the
water. You’ll never see the fullness of your destiny. If God had parted the
water before the Israelites stepped into it, it would have been a lot less
stressful. They wouldn’t have had to pray and believe and stretch. But
here’s the key: God uses the journey to get us prepared for where we’re
going. When we have to stretch our faith, believe that He’s making a
way, and thank Him that things are turning in our favor, that is
strengthening our spiritual muscles. We’re developing
confidence in God.
a greater
The Purpose Is to Prepare You
In chapter six, I wrote about the Compaq Center. I didn’t know how
complicated it would be to acquire it. I had to step into the unknown. It
was a city-owned facility. The mayor was a friend of our family. I called
him, and he was in favor of our purchasing it. That was the first miracle.
We needed ten votes from city council members, and we had only nine,
but the night before the main vote, after two years of opposing us, a
council member changed his mind and decided to vote for us. We got the
building! Another miracle. A week later, however, a company filed a
lawsuit to try to prevent us from moving in. We were told that it could be
tied up in the courts for up to ten years. I had already told the church the
building was going to be ours, and people had given money. I would
wake up in the dark of night sweating, with thoughts telling me, This is
going to be a big mess. You’re going to look like a fool. You have to give
those funds back. But as happened for Joshua, along the way miracles
kept happening. The CEO of that opposing company eventually flew in
from out of town. Our lawyers told us it was a ploy to try to confuse
things. He said, “Joel, I watch you on television, and my son-in-law is a
youth pastor. Let’s work something out.” Two days later, the lawsuit was
dropped. We were on our way. When you go out not knowing where
you’re going, God will make things happen that you could never make
happen. You’ll see Jordan Rivers part, you’ll see Compaq Centers fall
into place, you’ll see the surpassing greatness of God’s favor. Don’t stay
in the boat. Don’t let the fact that you can’t see all the details hold you
back. You’re not supposed to see it all. God is leading you step-by-step.
When you’re in the unknown, when you’re stretching, praying, and
believing, that’s when you’re really growing. The journey is more
important than the destination. Why? Because if you’re not prepared
during the journey, if you don’t learn what you’re supposed to learn along
the way, you won’t be able to handle where God is taking you. God could
have given us the Compaq Center in the first week we prayed, or at least
the first month. That would have saved me a lot of stress, a lot of praying,
and a lot of believing. Why did He wait three years? He was getting me
prepared. I was learning to trust Him, my faith was being increased, and
my character was being developed.
It’s interesting that during those three years, as with the silence of the
lady who voices the GPS, I didn’t hear anything new. I didn’t hear God
say, “You’re doing good, Joel. Be patient. It’s all going to work out. I’ve
got you covered.” I had to trust Him when He was silent. I had to believe
that He was in control even when I didn’t see any sign of it. I had to keep
reminding myself that the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord.
I took my steps knowing that God had put the dream in my heart. I didn’t
know how it would work out. I didn’t know if we would be successful,
but I believed that I was doing what God wanted us to do.
Here’s the thing: even if you miss it, even if doesn’t work out the
way you thought, God knows how to use it for your good. God would
rather you take a step of faith and miss it every once in a while than play
it safe all the time and never make a mistake. Sometimes the mistakes,
the closed doors, and the times we miss it are parts of God’s plan.
They’re preparing us for the next open door. But if you’re concerned that
you’re going to miss the next step, you’ll never get off dead center.
The Not-Knowing Factor
Too many times we let the fear of the unknown hold us back. When
you’re in God’s will, there’s going to be a not-knowing factor. You’re not
going to know all the details about how it’s going to work out or where
the funds are going to come from. If you’re going to reach your highest
potential, you have to have the boldness to step into the unknown.
My brother, Paul, is a medical doctor. For seventeen years he was the
chief of surgery at a hospital in Arkansas and had a very successful
practice. It looked as though that’s how he would spend his life. But
when my father went to be with the Lord in 1999, he felt God leading
him to come back and help us pastor the church. His colleagues told him
that he was having a midlife crisis. They said that he should wait a couple
of years in order to get over our father’s death and not make an emotional
decision. But deep down Paul knew what he was supposed to do, even
though leaving his medical practice and all that training didn’t make
sense to his mind. Thoughts asked him, What if it doesn’t work out? What
if you don’t like it? What if they don’t like you? What if you get back
there and Joel makes fun of you? In the natural it looked as though he
were making a mistake, but as Abraham did, Paul went out, not knowing
how it was going to work out. He didn’t have all the details. We didn’t
come up with a ten-year strategy. All he knew was that first step: “Go
help your family.”
What Paul didn’t know was how the ministry was going to grow. He
didn’t know that after eight years of his being faithful in the pastoring of
the church, God would open the door for him to go to Africa for several
months a year and operate on people. Paul’s dream had been to do
medical missions, but he’d thought he was giving up medicine
completely. What he couldn’t see was that it was all a part of God’s plan.
If he hadn’t stepped out into the unknown, he wouldn’t have reached the
fullness of his destiny. When you have the boldness to go out, not
knowing all the details, your life will be more rewarding and more
fulfilling than you ever imagined.
Be Like Esther
There was a young Jewish girl in the Scripture named Esther. She was an
orphan, didn’t come from an influential family, and was living in a
foreign country. But God raised her up to become the queen, and now she
was living in the palace. There was a powerful official who was able to
pass a law that all the Jewish people be killed. Esther’s uncle Mordecai
told her of the decree and said that she had to go in and plead with the
king for their people. In those days, if you approached the king without
his holding up his golden rod first, you would be killed. She said,
“Mordecai, I can’t just go in there. What if he doesn’t hold it up? That
will be the end of me.” God was asking her to step into the unknown, but
the what-ifs started coming. “What if the king is offended, gets upset, and
doesn’t hold it up? I’ll be dead.” She was about to talk herself out of it.
But Mordecai said, “Esther, if you keep silent, deliverance for the Jews
will come from someone else, but you and your family will perish. Who
knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
God was saying, “Esther, if you don’t do it, I’ll find somebody else. But
the problem is that you’re going to miss your destiny.” This opportunity
wasn’t going to come again. This was her chance to make her mark. It
was now or never. I love what Esther did. She rose up and said, “I will go
before the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish! But I
will not let this moment pass.” She stepped up, and not only did God give
her favor with the king, but she saved her people and became one of the
heroes of faith.
Like Esther, we all have opportunities that are not going to come our
way again. When my father died and I had to make that choice to step up
or play it safe, that was one of those now-or-never moments. When they
come your way, don’t shrink back, don’t let fear talk you out of it, and
don’t let the what-ifs keep you in your boat. Do as Esther did. Be bold, be
courageous, and step into the unknown. You may not have all the details,
and you may not see how it’s going to work out, but along the way
through the darkness you’ll see miracles. If you’ll do this, I believe
you’re about to step into a new level of favor, a new level of influence, a
new level of anointing. You’re going to rise higher, accomplish your
dreams, and reach the fullness of your destiny.
BLESSED IN THE DARKNESS 