SUBMERGESample

Do Your Best and Let God Do the Rest

In Acts 20, Paul speaks to the church in Ephesus during one of his missionary journeys. He shares stories about his trials and tribulations. He touches on how he has served the Lord in humility, with tears, trials, and persecution from the Jewish leaders. With these hardships, he didn’t sink away from declaring Jesus Christ to the people around him. In verses 22-23, after giving his personal story, he says this…

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city, the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

Wow… Paul knows that even though he has already been through so many hardships in his life, the Spirit is telling him to keep going even when he doesn’t know what will happen to him there. He knows he will 100 percent face being in prison and dealing with trials.

Sometimes in life, especially when facing a big decision we don’t know the outcome of, it can be hard to follow where the Spirit is leading us. I have never personally been put in prison before, and I have never been beaten for my faith, but I have had some hard times in life. But even in the hard times, I have felt the Spirit tell me to keep going, don’t give up, and even when I don’t know what will happen to me, I know God will comfort me!

Paul knew this truth all too well while in prison! Philippians 4:11-13 says…

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Paul knew he could do and face anything because he had Christ! Christ is the one who strengthens us in our hard times! He strengthens us when we are facing big decisions and have no clue what the future holds! Jesus will be there with us in the hard times and carry us through!

My father would say, “Do your best and let God do the rest!” If we can wake up every day and give it all we've got and let God take care of the rest, then we are exactly where we should be!

Reflection Questions:

Is the Holy Spirit leading you somewhere? If so, how do you feel about it?

How do we face the uncertainty of the future?

Do you believe that Jesus will be with you in your hardships?

What does it look like to daily do your best and let God do the rest?

Brixton Schmitt
SNU Admissions Recruiter