Following Instructions: Sometimes It Actually Works...
Trust + Obedience
In this day and age, most of us have gotten very good at improvising and using tools to figure things out on our own. Information is readily available—endless videos, tutorials, and step-by-step guides assure us that we can do almost anything ourselves. We’ve learned to rely on our own resourcefulness and have even convinced ourselves that expert advice or leadership is for others.
But from time to time, we would do ourselves a favor by leaning on true leadership—whether from experienced mentors, wise counsel, or God Himself. Following clear guidance not only takes the guesswork out of important decisions but also honors those who are genuinely trying to lead us in the right direction.
In my own career, I’ve seen firsthand how listening closely and executing a well-laid plan has paid off. Sometimes, what is needed is not another opinion, but action. I haven’t always understood the full picture from the start, but I’ve learned that understanding often comes during the process, not before it. God continues to teach me this more and more each day.
A Biblical Example of Trusting and Executing: Noah
One of the greatest biblical examples of obedience without full understanding is Noah. When God decided to cleanse the earth with a flood, He gave Noah very specific instructions:
Materials: Use gopher wood (Genesis 6:14).
Dimensions: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, 30 cubits high (Genesis 6:15).
Design: Three decks, a roof, and a door on the side (Genesis 6:16).
Despite the fact that Noah had never seen a flood before, he did exactly as God commanded (Genesis 6:22, 7:5). He gathered the animals, stored food, and entered the ark at the appointed time. Because of his obedience, he and his family survived the flood, and God established a covenant with him afterward (Genesis 9:8-17).
Noah’s story is a powerful reminder that faithful obedience leads to victory, even when God’s instructions don’t make immediate sense.
A Call to Action: Are You in a Position to Trust and Execute?
If you are in a situation today where clear instructions have been provided—whether at work, in your personal life, or in your faith—but your trust and execution are being tested, consider these three questions:
Has my leader developed trust with me over time, and can I trust his/her instincts without understanding the bigger picture?
By executing, am I keeping in line with my values and principles—acting within my integrity?
Am I feeling uneasy because I truly know the actions will not work, or am I becoming a victim of my own ego because it was not my plan?
These three questions have been valuable for many in my sphere when they’re asked to execute. At times, our leaders—and often God—need our faith and our execution. And when we give it, we win big.
-Mark
