Trust Completely In God

Knowing God Intimately: Being as Close to Him As You Want to Be
by Joyce Meyer

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I remember when the Lord told me to quit my fulltime job where I was making as much money as my husband. In addition, I was “the boss,” so I enjoyed many benefits because of my high position. But the Lord began to deal with me, saying, “You're going to have to lay that down and stay home and prepare for ministry.”

Outside of my job, I was a housewife in Fenton, Missouri, with three little kids. How did I even know for sure that I was hearing from God? God dealt with me, and dealt with me, but I was afraid to quit work. Finally I tried to make a deal with God, saying, “I'll tell You what; I won't work full-time anymore, but I'll work part-time.”

So I went to work part-time for a company because I was afraid to trust God all the way. Dave and I didn't have as much income as we had before, but I found we could survive on the smaller amount of money that we were making. We had to cut down on expenses, but we could pay our bills-and that was okay with me. It seemed like a good plan to me, but it was not God's plan.

I learned that God doesn't want to make “deals,” and I ended up getting fired! I wasn't the kind of person who got fired from a job. I had never been fired before. I had always been in charge. I used to fire other people, and now I had been fired. After I lost my job, I was where God wanted me to be all along-totally dependent on Him.

When I no longer had a job, I had to learn to trust God for little things like socks, underwear, a skillet, washcloths, and my kids' tennis shoes. This situation continued for six years, and during those years I learned a lot about the faithfulness of God. Now Dave and I must trust God on a much higher level for what we need to run our ministry. If I had not gone through those years of testing and stretching my faith, I would not be where I am today.

Many people give up during the testing years. They never pass their tests, so they spend their entire life going around and around the same mountains (see Deuteronomy 2:3). You may not understand what you are going through right now, but later on you will see the purpose, if you refuse to give up.

I am not telling you to quit your job to get ready for ministry. I only tell this story to explain that my husband and I didn't just roll out of bed one morning and begin working for God with thousands of people in a worldwide ministry. The Bible says that Jesus gained experience through what He suffered and was equipped for His office as High Priest. Even Jesus went through things that helped Him in His ministry in later years (see Hebrews 5:5-10).

God told me to quit work so I could gain experience in trusting Him for everything I needed. But please don't quit your job and try to do something in the flesh. God doesn't tell many people to just quit what they are doing, but He had to teach me to live by faith because of the things He knew Dave and I would have to believe Him for now. Only experience can equip us for the faith we need on a daily basis to continue doing what God has called us to do.

In the early days of my walk with God, my desire to know Him grew into this life prayer, which I encourage you also to pray if you are hungering for more of God:

God, if I have found favor with You, show me Your ways. I want to think and be like You. I want to know You and the power of Your resurrection. Help me, God, to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. Help me not to mistreat people. Help me to be a blessing everywhere I go today.

I decided that if anybody can get more of God, I want more, too.

Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer

About the Author

JOYCE MEYER has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. She is the bestselling author of more than fifty inspirational books, including How to Hear from God, Knowing God Intimately, and Battlefield of the Mind. She has also released thousands of teaching cassettes and a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences.