Sometimes We Want God to Do the Part We're Afraid to Do

 When I first started my online business I have to admit I was so afraid of marketing.   I'm an introvert, and I have never been particularly comfortable putting myself out there. I worried about what friends and family would think, whether they would question my prices, or whether my business would fail and leave me feeling embarrassed.

And then there was another fear: What if my business became successful and everyone started approaching me with questions, requests, and orders? I wanted customers, but I didn't necessarily want people constantly in my face and in my personal space.

I just wanted God to bless my business and make it successful without my having to deal with all those uncomfortable situations.

Eventually, I pushed myself to invite my closest friends and family to like my Facebook business page. It might seem like a small accomplishment, but for me, it was a major step. I remembered Joyce Meyer saying that sometimes you have to "do it afraid." And that was exactly what I was doing.

Looking back, I recognize something about my former understanding of faith. Sometimes we want God to intervene supernaturally because we don't want to confront the difficult or uncomfortable process of solving a problem ourselves.

The same mindset can influence how we approach our health. Going to the doctor can be frightening. We may fear a diagnosis, dread a medical procedure, or struggle with taking time away from work. Sometimes it feels easier to pray for God to remove the problem than to face what might be required to address it.

I know that feeling because I once believed that sincere prayer would eliminate whatever was wrong with my body without my having to confront it through medical treatment.

But why did I believe that seeking medical assistance was somehow inferior to receiving supernatural healing?

What if the medical treatment was part of the very provision I had been praying for?

Consider Joseph in Genesis 41. God revealed the coming famine, but Joseph still had to organize Egypt's food supply. In Exodus 31, God gave Bezaleel wisdom and craftsmanship, but Bezaleel still had to build the tabernacle. Their human participation did not diminish God's involvement in either account.

Perhaps the same principle applies to our lives. We can pray for a successful business while still having to market our products. We can pray for healing while still needing to visit a physician. We can pray for financial stability while still having to pursue employment or develop new skills.

And perhaps we need to recognize that not every uncomfortable step is something God is supposed to remove from our path.

Sometimes the answer to prayer may involve having the courage to do the very thing we have been hoping God would do for us.