For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

James 2:26 CSB

Sometimes when I am attempting not to run ahead of God, I catch myself sitting and doing nothing, waiting for God to miraculously drop exactly what I need in my lap or to throw open the next door and put a big neon arrow in front of it to show me the way.

I have a running joke with my ladies group that involves me wishing to receive confirmation from a talking donkey (Numbers 22 if you’re unfamiliar with the reference).

Oh, how many times God has placed a burden on my heart or given me a first step to complete, and, instead of acting, I have waited for what I thought I needed before beginning (a sign of confirmation, validation, assistance, finances, resources)!

I was in one of those places a couple of weeks ago, knowing I needed to order books to take to the reading conference – can’t share what you don’t have in stock – but waiting for God to make the financial means to order them appear. I figured if He wanted me to take them there, He’d pay for the printing process upfront. I prayed, and I waited. I got my ladies group praying. I’ve heard lots of testimonies about money showing up in the mail unexpectedly or someone coming into an unknown inheritance or insurance claim. I thought, “Why can’t that be me? I’m praying in faith, so when will my check appear in the mail? Where’s my anonymous benefactor?”.

I waited some more. Prayed some more. And then, one afternoon after praying, I received a text from a Tony Evan’s ministry, and it said:

“God is waiting on our faith to show up before He does what He has already determined to do.”

And I realized, God had already told me to write the messages He’s given me. He’d already given me specific burdens for certain audiences and prepared me to help meet their needs. He’d already shown His provision throughout this past year of financial change. That book printing money wasn’t going to miraculously appear because, though I thought I was praying in faith, I was really demonstrating doubt in His previous directions by not ACTING in faith and ordering the books before the money appeared. After all, if we act because we can see something or touch it (or spend it), that’s not faith; faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1-6).

The very next Sunday morning, the sermon reminded me that God didn’t reveal His power to the people on the mountain until AFTER Elijah had repaired the altar as God had told him to, complete with the trench of water and water soaked sacrifice. In a book I’m reading, I was reminded that God didn’t make a way for the Israelites to escape until AFTER Moses stood in front of the Red Sea and held up his staff as God had told him to do.

Sweet friend, sometimes God makes money show up in mailboxes or resources appear ahead of time from the generosity of strangers. That’s certainly in His power and sovereign will to do. But, what I’m finding happens just as often is that God gives us direction, and then He shows up AFTER we’ve taken a step or two in faith. I’m learning that faith isn’t just praying or asking for God’s help and guidance. Faith is also ACTING on what God has already told us to do in a way that demonstrates our trust in His plan and provision, even when we can’t see it yet or don’t know how He’ll make it all work out.

Maybe one day I’ll figure out how to walk in faith without running ahead or just sitting on my laurels waiting for the miracle. In the meantime, I’m going to trust that God honors my attempt to walk in faith, halting and stumbling as it is at times. I’m going to act in accordance to what He has already told me to do, taking steps that align to that directive and to what I know of His character.

Friend, are you struggling to walk in faith? Neither running ahead nor lagging behind? Talk to God in prayer about it. Read His word. Listen to sermons and songs. He is faithful to grow us up, even when our faith is pitifully small or we are woefully slow to act on our faith in Him.

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.