“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” — Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)
I’ve been wrestling with something lately.
Not because I don’t believe God is leading me, but because I don’t know exactly where the road leads.
I’ve spent much of my life believing that good decisions require good planning. Gather the facts. Weigh the risks. Consider the consequences. Check every box. And only when everything makes sense do you take the next step.
There’s wisdom in that approach. God gave us minds to think, reason, and discern.
But I’ve been wondering lately whether my desire to have all the answers can sometimes become an obstacle to faith.
Last night, one word kept coming back to my heart.
Obedience.
Not understanding. Not certainty. Not even preparation.
Obedience.
I started thinking about Abraham. God told him to leave his home and go to a land He would show him. Notice what God didn’t give Abraham: a map, a timeline, or a detailed explanation of everything that would happen along the way.
Abraham had a promise.
And he had a choice.
He could remain where everything was familiar, waiting until he had enough information to feel comfortable. Or he could trust the One who was calling him.
Hebrews tells us Abraham obeyed, not knowing where he was going.
Those words have been weighing on my heart.
How often do we tell God we’re willing to follow Him, but only after He shows us the destination?
How often do we mistake our need for control for responsible planning?
How often do we pray for direction, only to hesitate when the answer requires us to move beyond what feels comfortable?
I don’t believe God asks us to abandon wisdom. Scripture encourages us to seek counsel, count the cost, and test what we believe we’re hearing.
But there’s a difference between seeking wisdom and demanding certainty.
Wisdom helps us recognize the next step. Faith gives us the courage to take it.
Maybe that’s why Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding.
It doesn’t say we won’t have understanding.
It reminds us that our understanding was never meant to be the foundation of our trust.
And maybe that’s the lesson God has been placing on my heart.
I don’t have to see the entire road to take the next faithful step.
I don’t have to know how every chapter ends before allowing God to write the next one.
And I don’t have to have every box checked before trusting the One who sees what I cannot.
Sometimes obedience is simply taking one step, trusting that God will provide enough light for the next.
Because faith isn’t having all the answers. It’s trusting God even when we don’t.
From the pasture, where some of life’s greatest lessons come when we stop trying to control every step and learn to follow the Shepherd.
Scripture for reflection: Hebrews 11:8; Proverbs 3:5–6; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Psalm 119:105