When You Know, You Know
By Luke McConnell
“When you know, you know” is one of those phrases that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense until one actually experiences it. I hear this phrase a lot when coaches explain why they retire or move to a different job. But I think it could be used a lot more as the rationale for why we do certain things and make decisions as believers.
Recently, my wife, Mary, and I were faced with a really big decision that required a lot of prayer and thought. In the end, it really wasn’t as big of a decision as we thought because we just knew. When you know, you know.
Now, I’m separating the decision itself from the effects the decision will have on our family. Those effects are enormous, but when we are making decisions for the purposes of God, I think we put too much emphasis on the effects.
When we read the Bible, we are very clearly presented with things that are near to the heart of God: Injustice, the orphan, the widow, the poor and those on the outside of society. We cannot read Scripture and claim we don’t know what we should be doing to make God’s Kingdom come on Earth.
I think a lot of times we approach decisions looking for red flags or reasons to not do something. What a negative way to approach life! What a small faith we have if any big decision for God is approached with trepidation and caution as opposed to joy and humility at being called to serve him in this particular way.
This is something God has been working on in my heart recently. I’ve been the one approaching with caution, squeezing every drop of advice and counsel out of friends and family before making a decision. I’m grateful God has revealed my shortcomings there and has been growing my faith in this area.
I read about Gideon in my quiet time earlier this week. We all know the story and how unworthy Gideon was of the task to which God called him. Three separate times in Judges 6, Gideon basically gives God the opportunity to renege on his calling/promise to be with him.
Why do we do this? Why, when clearly called by God to do something, do we cower in fear and look for reasons to say no? Why is our view of God so small? Do we think God will abandon us after we give him our yes? Or worse, do we think his provision will be insufficient?
In our situation, we knew this was something that was near to the heart of God. We knew it was something close to our heart as well. So, we said yes. What other factor was there to consider? At least, what other factor that TRULY would have impacted our decision was there to consider?
In Isaiah 6, God says, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responds, “Here am I. Send me!” He didn’t say let me think about it or let me see how this will impact me financially. He said send me, and we’ll figure the rest out later.
Church, I want to encourage you to be a people who are ready to say yes because you know. You know what’s near to God’s heart. You know what God has placed on your own heart. So when something comes along, a need to be met, a life to be changed, you don’t have to think. You know what you should do.
Let’s be a people looking for opportunities to say, “Here am I, send me,” instead of a people looking for reasons to say no. There’s a big difference. One shows a life completely surrendered to God no matter what. The other shows a life completely concerned for our own comforts and control on our lives.
When you know, you know.
Author Bio
Luke serves as the Cube Director at Council Road. He previously worked at Channel 9 as a sports writer and an account executive. He also serves as the play-by-play voice for Southern Nazarene University athletics. Luke graduated from OU in 2011. He and his wife, Mary, have been members at Council Road since 2012. They have twin boys, Jackson and Cameron. Mary teaches third grade at Wiley Post Elementary. They also help lead a home group.