Let Go and Let God?
I am not sure when this phrase became popular in church circles, but is it always the best choice? Certainly, it would be the correct response in some situations, but is it always? Consider the following situation in scripture:
“When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah. So, they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans. But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abishai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon. He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him. When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abishai his brother and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.” (1 Chronicles 19:6–15, NASB95)
So, Joab was facing two fronts of enemies with armies. What did he do? First, he divided his forces between him and his brother. They agreed to face the enemy in front of them and also to help the other in the battle. Next, they strategized, planned, and manned their situation. Lastly, they trusted God for the outcome.
The questions then arise, “How do I know what situations require faith instead of action and which require faith with action? Are there situations that require actions instead of faith? What is the one-size-fits-all answer?”
I wish there were a way to give you an answer that would allow you to pre-map out your answers to every situation you face, but that is simply not possible because we walk by faith in God and not by sight in a map or plan, we can trust in His place. There are some ways to discern His will in each situation.
First, has He already told you what to do? Then do it. There does not need to be a delay for prayer, thought, or debate in situations where God has clearly spoken. We just need to obey. When Moses was at the edge of the Red Sea and Pharaoh was coming, he did not need to pray, he needed to part the sea as God had told him.
Second, would inactivity damage God’s glory? God allows us to be in situations because, like Joab, we need to act and trust Him with the results. At times, not to act would cause damage to the body of Christ or to His reputation.
Lastly, would inactivity bring God glory? If there is a situation in which we are trying desperately to assert ourselves, will this bring God glory? A wrong that you are tempted to address in a social media post, public argument, or hurtful exchange, this might bring God glory by trusting vengeance to Him and not to act ourselves.
God won that battle by Joab’s actions and trust. God won the battle with Goliath by David’s action and trust. Perhaps, it is not always the right choice to do nothing and let God do it when He has called us to do it, but even when we act, we must trust God to be sovereign.