When God Asks You to Trust Him Without Knowing Why

Have you ever felt God inviting you into something and immediately started asking questions? Why this? Why now? What am I supposed to do when I get there? And God, could You please give me just a little more information before I say yes?

I think sometimes we assume that if God is leading us somewhere, eventually He's going to give us enough details to make the whole thing make sense. But what if He doesn't? What if the invitation is simply to come with Him?

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I'm sitting down with my new friend Lori G. Melton to talk about what God has been teaching her about following Jesus when the invitation comes before the explanation. Lori has always loved adventure, but lately, God has been changing the way she approaches the adventures He's inviting her into. She's learning that she doesn't always need to understand what God plans to do with her yes before she gives it.

And friend, I think that's something a lot of us can relate to. Because it's one thing to say we trust God. It's another thing entirely to feel Him inviting us into something and realize we have absolutely no idea why.

Lori shares a beautiful story about an invitation to attend a writing workshop in Scotland. Years earlier, she'd felt strongly that if the opportunity ever came, she was supposed to go. But when that opportunity finally arrived, it didn't make much sense. She had already finished the writing project she'd been working on, didn't have anything new to submit to the workshop, and couldn't explain why she needed to spend the time and money to go. But she couldn't shake that invitation.

As she continued seeking God, He began showing her something that challenged the way she'd always approached opportunities. She didn't need to come home with a specific result to make the experience worthwhile. She didn't need another project, a list of accomplishments, or a clear explanation of what the trip was supposed to produce. She could simply go, enjoy what God had prepared, and be willing to give and receive whatever He had for her along the way.

Lori calls this learning to embrace holy mystery. And I love that phrase because so often, we want to know what something is going to lead to before we're willing to take the first step. We want to know whether the investment will be worth it, whether we're making the right decision, and whether we're going to have something to show for our obedience. But what if God is inviting us to stop measuring every yes by the outcome we expect? What if there's something beautiful about following Him simply because we know who's asking?

We also talk about how this doesn't mean saying yes to every opportunity that comes along. Lori shares another invitation she's been considering and how she's learning to seek confirmation through Scripture, prayer, trusted friendships, and conversations with her husband. Because sometimes the fear we feel is simply part of stepping into something unfamiliar, and other times, we need to recognize that an opportunity might not be right for the season we're in. Learning to discern the difference matters.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Following Jesus when you don't understand where He's leading

• Learning to trust God without knowing the outcome

• What Lori means by embracing holy mystery

• Saying yes to God before having all the answers

• Letting go of the need to control every detail

• Trusting God with opportunities that don't seem to make sense

• Releasing expectations about what obedience should produce

• Finding freedom in not needing a specific result

• Learning to approach God's invitations with childlike trust

• Recognizing when fear is holding you back

• Discerning the difference between fear and God's direction

• Seeking confirmation through Scripture, prayer, and trusted relationships

• Understanding that not every opportunity is right for every season

• Trusting God to redirect you when necessary

• Finding courage to take the next step

• Learning to enjoy the journey instead of worrying about the destination

• Spending intentional time with God through walking and prayer

• Making room for quiet so you can recognize His leading

• Remembering God's faithfulness when facing new uncertainties

• Growing in intimacy with Jesus instead of focusing only on what He might ask you to do

One of the things I especially appreciate about Lori's story is that she doesn't pretend obedience always feels easy. She talks about the joy and anticipation of following God, but also the fear and uncertainty that can come with it. And I think that's important because sometimes we assume that if we're really trusting God, we shouldn't feel afraid. But courage doesn't necessarily mean the fear disappears. Sometimes it means bringing that fear to God, seeking His direction, and being willing to take the next step even when we still have questions.

Lori shares how important it has been to slow down, get quiet, spend time in God's Word, and invite trusted people to pray alongside her. And I love how walking has become such a meaningful part of her relationship with Jesus. We both share how stepping outside, moving our feet, and spending time in God's creation helps us quiet the noise and make room to listen. Sometimes the most meaningful conversations with God happen when we stop trying to fill every moment with something else.

And sometimes the clarity we're looking for comes one step at a time. Not because God is withholding something from us, but because He's inviting us to trust Him as we go.

As we wrap up, Lori brings us back to Psalm 27:4, where David expresses his desire to dwell in the presence of the Lord and gaze upon His beauty. And I think that's such a beautiful place to end this conversation because underneath all the questions about what God wants us to do is something even more important. Do we want to be with Him? Are we seeking His presence, or are we only seeking an explanation?

Friend, maybe there's something God has been putting on your heart. Something you've prayed about, something you keep coming back to, but you're still waiting for enough information to make the decision feel safe. I'm not encouraging you to run ahead of God and call every idea an assignment from Him. But maybe there's a different question worth asking. Do I actually need more information, or has God already given me enough to follow?

Stay close to Him. Spend time in His Word. Pray, listen, and seek wise counsel. And if He's inviting you to come with Him, maybe you don't have to know exactly where the adventure leads before you're willing to take His hand.

You can learn more about Lori G. Melton and connect with her at LoriGMelton.com.

If you're looking for a place to grow in your faith and walk alongside other women who are doing the same, I'd love to invite you into The Story Haven. It's our free Christian community where we're learning more about God, spending time in His Word, praying for one another, sharing what He's doing in our lives, meeting new people, and building genuine relationships along the way.

Join us at TheStoryHaven.net or download The Story Haven app to take the community with you wherever you go.

And if God is doing something in your life right now that you feel called to share, I'd love to hear about it. You don't need a platform, a ministry, or a perfectly finished testimony. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about becoming a guest on the podcast.