Trusting God with the Outcome

Several years ago, my husband and I faced an extremely difficult decision that neither one of us wanted to make. We had two choices, and both options involved a painful process coupled with an uncertain outcome. However, ignoring the dilemma would have been making a decision by default and so it had to be addressed. I continually sought the Lord in prayer and surrendered my will to His. I pleaded with Him to guide me in this decision, to reveal which path to take. Yet, the Lord was silent.

I wonder if anyone else can relate to the silence of God?  I thought that if I experienced the Lord’s leading then I could be certain I was making the “right” choice, but I never felt the Lord’s leading.  What I did experience was Him asking me, “Do you trust me with the outcome?”  I learned that it wasn’t about me making the perfect choice; it was about entrusting the decision to God so that He could perfect the outcome. This realization provided me with confidence that whichever choice we made, God could and would bring good from it.

Romans 8:28-29 tells us that “…in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

I wish I could say that once we made a decision and entrusted it to God, we saw everything work together for good, but we haven’t. Honestly, we are prepared not to on this side of heaven.  When we trust God with the outcome, we are trusting that even when we can’t see it, He is faithfully working things out according to His perfect plan.

Is there an area of your life today, a decision that you are facing, a disappointment you are experiencing where you need to trust God with the outcome? If so, I would encourage you to:

• Bring your request before the Lord – Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  God invites us to come into His presence and lay our requests at His feet.
• Ask God for wisdom – James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.” Wisdom shifts our perspective, enabling us to see the good that God is doing.  
• Seek Godly Counsel – Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” God speaks to us through others.  Seek advice from the Godly people that He has placed in your life.
• Trust God with the Outcome – If you have brought your request before the Lord, asked for wisdom, and sought Godly counsel, yet God has not provided the clarity for which you were hoping, then it is time to trust Him with the outcome. Move forward with a decision and choose to believe that God is working everything together for your good and His glory.

This is not an easy process.  I still experience moments where the pain of our decision makes it hard to breathe and it’s difficult to trust that any good can come from it, but if I believe God’s Word to be true, then I can know with absolute certainty that He is redeeming that situation even if I can’t see it.  

Lord, we come before you with grateful hearts that we can enter into your presence and know that we will receive grace and mercy in our time of need.  Would you help us to see as you see? Would you give us wisdom and align our will with yours?  God, I ask that you remove the pressure that many are experiencing to make the right decision and replace it with the freedom of knowing that you are working in and through us for our good and your glory.  Amen! 

Heather Baer

Heather Baer lives in Greencastle with her husband and two children.  She graduated with a Christian Ministries degree from Messiah College and later received her teaching certificate through Wilson College. She taught kindergarten in the public school system, was a staff pastor for the children’s ministry at a local church and is currently a stay-at-home mom. She loves running, coffee, and opportunities to teach children that they are created by God, loved by Jesus, and have a unique purpose in this life.