Saying Yes When Yes Makes No Sense

Trusting someone enough to do hard or seemingly unachievable things takes real faith. It really does. Saying yes when yes makes no sense is not easy. It really isn’t.

My college football coach convinced his teams to work harder than they wanted to work. He saw the potential and didn’t want it to go to waste. At the point in preseason summer camp when every guy was sore and tired, questioning why we were doing this, and the heat and humidity were unbearable, Coach would invariably say, “Anybody can be at the beach, only special people can be here.” Despite mumbling under our breath, “Okay, Coach, whatever,” we bought into the hard work because we knew the rewards far outweighed the blood and sweat. We trusted the coaching staff implicitly. We had faith in them. During those four years we won almost 75% of our games and played for a state championship as well as qualifying for the national playoffs.

I know a pastor who regularly preached without notes. That method is not the norm. Most pastors spend lots of time researching, prepping, writing, revising. Some might call this pastor unprepared since he did very little of that. He would simply get up and read whatever scripture passage he picked for that day and then begin to expound upon it. I am told that his wife was nervous each time he preached. But this pastor seemed completely comfortable with his style. This pastor always asked the Holy Spirit to guide him in his preaching, and because the Spirit had been faithful in doing so time and time again, there was a complete trust that the words would come.

The Lord is faithful to those who trust in Him, even when it makes no sense. When we say, “Direct me, Lord,” and we truly mean it, He is faithful in doing so. I see this occurring in several ways. Sometimes Jesus says to us, “Come, follow me,” as He did when calling the first disciples (Matthew 18-21). Other times, we are simply told to “Go,” as was Abram (later Abraham) – The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).

There are also those moments when God wants us to take the first step and trust that He is standing right behind us, saying, “I will be right here behind you.” When Judah (one of the twelve tribes of Israel) turned away from God and began looking to powerful Egypt for their deliverance, God rebuked them. God also then promised that if they turned back to Him, He would restore them and bless them with His guidance. Here are the words of the prophet Isaiah – Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (30:21).

You might be familiar with the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). While in a boat on the lake, amid a dangerous nighttime thunderstorm, the disciples freaked out when they saw what appeared to be a ghost coming toward them on the water. It was actually Jesus – “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” With that, the impetuous Peter replied, “Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” The story tells us that after hearing “Come,” Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. When his eyes were looking at Jesus, he walked on the water’s surface. But when he began to have doubt, he started to sink. Jesus reached out his hand to catch Peter. I believe it was Peter’s littleness of faith that endangered his life, not the violent winds or raging sea.

When God calls us to do something, even something as crazy sounding as walking on water, my question is this – Will we, do we, say yes? When He says “Come” or “Go,” will we, do we, say yes? A faith not tested is a faith not trusted.

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