~ written by Connie Dunmyer
I like answers. I like to watch murder mysteries and figure out the murderer before he is revealed. I like puzzles – the feeling of accomplishment with that final answer. I even like numbers – math. Math is not wishy-washy or opinionated – it is black and white fact – it is answers. Much of my job deals with “eventualities” – future outcomes – answers. If I do “this” – then the outcome is “that”. It’s like coloring inside the lines. The picture is much prettier.
But what about those occasions when I don’t know the answer? Or more so, what if I don’t like the answer God is giving me?
“This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.” 1 Kings 12:24
Rehoboam’s quest was logical. He wanted to reunite the Israelites under one banner, one king. But God said “Don’t do it. Go home.” In essence God said “Do Nothing.”
So often that is the case. I think I have to DO something. And for the most part, there is probably something I CAN do. But there are occasions when I believe God calls on us to “do nothing”.
For instance, as a parent, if my child is going through something – be it an ailment, or a financial situation – my immediate response is to “fix it.” I think a lot of parents are like that. Seems logical. Seems loving. But I wonder how much stronger our children would be if we simply “let them go through it”… if we give space for the Holy Spirit to work on them and strengthen them. In reality, I would much prefer that my children depend upon God rather than me.
If God has never let ME down … why do I think that “I” am the answer to "their" problems? Why do I not trust God to never let my children down? Oh I know that’s not my actual thought process. But isn’t that what I’m really saying when I jump in, often before I even pray? And so sometimes God has to say “go home” – do nothing.
Then, beyond saying “go home”, God told Rehoboam something that confuses and befuddles and frustrates we humans perhaps more than anything else . . . “for this is My doing”. God was doing something that seemed antithetical to human logic, to what seemed “right”.
A good many years ago, our family came to a crossroads not of our own choosing. I had prayed and prayed and felt confident that God was telling me through scripture promises that my prayers would be answered in the affirmative. My faith had never been higher. God said “Fear not, it is I”.
However, once again, my "answer" was not the same as The Father's. And I was put into a tail-spin. My faith plummeted. What I did not understand then, and have only recently realized, is that God was not telling me it was going to be “logical” or even “right” (by human standards) – but that IT WAS HIM! This was HIS plan. This was “His doing”.
As I look back on that time, I can actually feel gratitude for the pain and transition. Because now I can see what God did for us, with us, through us. I can visualize at least some of the answers, the eventualities.
Of course we don't always see the reasons why. And according to what Jesus said to Thomas, we are more blessed if we don't see but still believe.
John 20:29 - Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
I tend to wonder why God doesn’t infuse me with His answers when I want them. And then one day it occurred to me … wasn’t that the original sin? (Genesis 3) Isn’t that the same temptation that befell Adam and Eve – wanting to KNOW Everything – to have all the answers?! And for me, not only do I want to KNOW everything, but often times I think I already do. God said “Don’t do it. Don’t eat it. Do nothing. Trust Me instead.” But I want to “know everything”, so I pursue my own logic. My own wisdom. My own desires. My own answers. If it “looks pleasing to the eye” (Genesis 3:6) – then it must be the right answer.
I'm pretty sure I'm more like Eve than I would like to be. But I'm growing. I'm learning. I'm releasing the future to the Author and Finisher of my faith.
Psalm 37 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil. 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
There are days when it appears that evil is winning – when bad stuff happens – when it seems like God is far away or that His will is not being done – when I don’t have an answer. But no matter what I see or don’t see, God says:
Trust…
Do good…
Dwell & enjoy…
Delight…
Commit…
Be still (do nothing)…
Wait patiently…
Don’t worry…
Don’t get angry.
Lord – may I become a woman of God. I am your treasured possession. May I hear your voice, and your voice alone. No – I don’t need to know everything. Sometimes there is ‘logic’ to follow – but sometimes I should DO NOTHING. Guide me with daily light for my feet, for each step. I can trust You. I do trust You.
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© 2026: Connie F. Dunmyer, All Rights Reserved.