You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Let go and let God…” As a young person at summer church camp, we would sing, “I take hands off my life. It is no longer mine.” Good thoughts. But I sometimes wonder if we struggle at the “line” between doing what God calls us to do and letting Him lead.

From reading the Old Testament, we know what happened to the Israelites when they went into battle without consulting the Lord. Defeat. And yet God doesn’t want us to just sit back and do nothing. “Let go and let God” doesn’t mean we live a life that is passive, simply waiting on our Lord to do everything.

A fine line.

Most of us in leadership probably lean toward doing, acting like the Israelites, forging ahead into a task or challenge without consulting our heavenly Father. I can tell you there are many days that I fall into that trap. So, what is the answer? Simple.

Pray.

Pray…then go, and let God guide you as you go. Be open to His direction, even if the Lord says to pause or stop. Most of the time God wants us moving forward if it is within His plan and His timing. My spiritual mentor, Henry Blackaby, spoke of the importance of following God’s path in his book Spiritual Leadership:

“If Christians around the world were to suddenly renounce their personal agendas, their life goals, and their aspirations, and begin responding in radical obedience to everything God showed them, the world would be turned upside down.”

Isn’t that what happened with first-century Christians? And, as Dr. Blackaby points out, “the world is still talking about it.”

So, what keeps us from hearing God’s direction today? Andrew Murray, a writer and pastor who lived in the late 1800s, explained with words that ring true today:

“Nothing so effectually hinders hearing God’s voice as opening the heart too much to other voices. A heart too deeply interested in the news, the literature, and the society of this world cannot hear the divine voice.”

Yes, we need to be actively serving the Lord, especially as we lead others, but we need to seek God’s direction and wisdom as we prepare to step out in service. A fine line…but an important one.

God’s best,