We sing about trusting and obeying the Lord, but let’s be honest—we’ve struggled with this concept since childhood and haven’t fully mastered it in our walk with the Lord. Yet each time we do trust and obey, growth and blessings follow.
I clearly recall my first encounter with this truth as a new Christian. I had just begun graduate work at Purdue University. I had a full scholarship, including housing and meals provided in the recently built graduate dorm. I was on track for an exciting career in horticulture. Did I really just write that? Yes, it’s true. I wasn’t a computer nerd—even worse, I was a horticulture nerd! At that point in my life, I had no idea how much God would change my life, but I digress.
My main professor’s name was Dr. Dean Eggert, and he just happened to be the faculty representative for Campus Crusade for Christ. One day Dr. Eggert invited me to a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. It sounded OK with “Christ” in its name, but more importantly, my professor had invited me. So, of course, I went.
There must’ve been over 100 students there! I was blown away by the love I saw and felt and by the testimonies and personal connection they clearly had with each other. That was the fall of 1970, and there was a great outpouring of God’s Spirit then, especially among young people.
Long story very, very shortened, God used those students and my professor to bring me to Christ. And, boy, was I hungry to grow!
Over the next six months, my relationship with Christ became more consuming than grad school. I increasingly felt God directing me to leave my degree path and devote my life to serving Him through Campus Crusade.
This was my first test as a Christian with trusting and obeying what I believed God was calling me to. It meant I would be letting go of a full scholarship and potentially disappointing my parents and others, but the most challenging thing was having to inform the professor who had been investing in me.
When I finally told Dr. Eggert I was applying for a job with Campus Crusade and wouldn’t return to school if accepted, his response was largely quiet—anything but excited for what God was leading me to do. Although I was somewhat disheartened by his lack of excitement, God’s personal encouragement was overwhelmingly positive.
A few weeks later, Dr. Eggert called me into his office to inform me of some surprising news. He said I’d need to select another professor in my major if my plans didn’t work out because God had been calling him to become a pastor. He said the decision I had made to give up my career path in obedience to God’s calling had powerfully impacted him and prompted him to respond in obedience to God’s call on his life. He would be leaving Purdue for seminary.
I share this very abbreviated version of those events to serve as a reminder of the importance of trusting and obeying God. Our obedience not only blesses and makes us stronger spiritually but also it can impact others! Yes, from the world’s perspective, my decision was foolish, and at that time, it was a difficult choice for me. But God blessed abundantly beyond all I could have imagined.
My years of ministry since then have been multifaceted, each step requiring further growth in trusting and obeying. I believe one of the greatest obstacles we face when it comes to obeying God is how we fear it will affect others. I know that has been one of the hurdles of concern for me.
One of my spiritual heroes, Oswald Chambers (whom I affectionally call O.C.), says, “If we obey God, He will look after those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and leave the consequences with Him.”
He also reminds us, “God’s purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. What we call the process; God calls the end. If we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.”
So as the old hymn goes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
As we walk with God in obedience, our lives become a source of encouragement to others. Visit bellevue.org/encourage, which offers free resources to help you grow in faith and encourage those around you.