Encouragement for Today

June 25, 2025 Laying Down My Need for Another Sign ABBY MCDONALD Lee en español

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Why is this so difficult? I wondered. It’s just an email. Yet it felt risky.

I was entering a season in ministry where God was calling me to try new things and stretch myself, but I hesitated. For weeks, I’d felt prompted to send an email to my pastor’s wife about leading a women’s Bible study at our church. But instead of acting, I waited for another sign from God. When I didn’t receive one, I ran through different scenarios in my head.

Fear of failure and rejection took over. Weeks passed … until one evening, my husband and I talked. Without faltering, he spoke into my doubt.

“Lay down your yoke and take up His,” he said matter-of-factly. It sounded so simple, and yet I’d made it difficult.

Have you ever been there? You feel God nudging you to try something new, but you long for certainty about what will happen. Your uncertainty becomes louder than the voice reminding you of His power in you.

In our key verse, we see that we do have certainty, but it doesn’t come from knowing outcomes. The certainty we have is in our relationship with God:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

As I've read this verse, I've noticed it doesn't say God will give us everything we need. It says He has given. If we are His children by faith, these gifts are already available to us, and God intends for us to use them.

We can move forward with confidence — not because we are guaranteed a certain response from others but because God goes with us. His Spirit helps us. Peter goes on to say that because of the promise in today's key verse, we are to “work hard to prove that [we] really are among those God has called and chosen” (2 Peter 1:10, NLT).

When we refuse to move forward, we do the opposite of what this verse tells us. But as we trust God with our expectations, the effect may surprise us — we also trust our ability to hear His voice more.

When I finally sent that email, it was met with enthusiasm and support. God had already stirred hearts and prepared a way. But to see this response, I had to take a step. I had to take a risk and trust that God was leading me. Friend, I invite you to do the same.

God, thank You for giving us everything we need to live the life You’ve prepared for us. When we doubt our ability to do what You’ve asked, remind us where our power comes from. May we live like we know this truth and show others Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Have you ever felt like God was prompting you to do something but questioned whether it was His voice? Abby’s new book, Surrendering Certainty, explores how to grow in confidence that we can hear God without second-guessing ourselves. Order your copy here!

ENGAGE

Are there areas of your life where you can’t seem to find a breakthrough? Click here to take Abby’s “5 Days to Life Unstuck Challenge.”

You can also connect with Abby on her website.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

2 Timothy 1:7, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (ESV).

Is there an area of your life where you sense God’s prompting to move forward, but you’ve been waiting for another sign? Tell us about it in the comments.

© 2025 by Abby McDonald. All rights reserved.