Here is an example: I was serving as managing partner of a national CPA firm where I had served for 20 years and considered myself to be on track to stay my entire career. I began to sense the Lord calling me to leave. Surely, I must have heard wrong. As the prompting continued, I began to contend with some highly reasoned arguments. He responded to each with patience, yet persistence. It became clear that this would be a matter of obedience. Would I lay aside my desires and my will for what God was directing? Ultimately, the answer was “yes”, but it wasn’t easy. The next thing he asked of us was to move from the West Coast to the East Coast. Again, I had all my arguments. They mostly centered around my comfort. I didn’t want to give up our church, our neighbors, our home, or the weather.

Sometimes we are able to see God's hand working nearly immediately.

Sometimes we are able to see God’s hand working nearly immediately. Sometimes it isn’t clear for a while. Unfortunately, sometimes we never find out. As I have considered my own challenges and then listened to the stories of countless others, I see him at work in ways I could not imagine. He asks us to seek him and then to be willing to do what he asks.

Glad I Didn’t Know

I have spent a lot of time considering this in the past two years as I worked on a book project entitled Glad I Didn’t Know (Morgan James Faith, Dec. 3, 2024). The story I just shared is one of 32 stories in the book that each end with a summary of what the individual is glad they didn’t know and the lessons they learned as a result.

If we knew in advance what was going to happen, we would typically try to avoid the difficulties of life. The likely result would be missing out on the tremendous blessings that come as a result of those challenges. We would be tempted to control circumstances even if we knew an outcome would be really good. God doesn’t need us to control the details. He wants us to be obedient. Are you willing to do that?

What About You?

Is there a situation you currently find yourself considering, either a wonderful opportunity or a really difficult challenge? Will you seek the Lord first and then be willing to do what he asks of you regardless of what the ask is?

As you begin to do that, you’ll find the joy that comes from faithful obedience, and you’ll also find that you are an encouragement to others around you. Leadership is best lived out by example and not words or policies and procedures.

So, what were the lessons I learned from leaving the job I loved and moving to a “foreign land” within the United States? I ultimately ended up consulting and having the opportunity to invest more deeply in some ministries than I was able to before and I love it! We also saw our youngest daughter thrive as she had an entirely different set of opportunities to pursue.

Take a moment to consider today what you are glad you didn’t know in advance and how you have been blessed beyond your prayers. Use that insight to address a current situation you’re facing, or to encourage someone you have the opportunity to lead or mentor today.

Enjoy watching God work!

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Vonna Laue was managing partner of a national CPA firm and in executive leadership at ECFA. She currently serves as a leader in TEAM and does additional consulting. She is a frequent conference speaker and serves on multiple boards including chairing the World Vision US board. Check out www.gladididntknow.com.

 Learn more about Outcomes magazine.