Close the Gate

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”
Rabindranath Tagore

“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.”
Søren Kierkegaard

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
William James

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
J. R. R. Tolkien

“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

In our previous blog, Trusting God vs. Making Risky Decisions, we addresses how active faith requires a balance between trust and personal responsibility. But there is more to this than just avoiding reckless decisions. What if trusting God means not only waiting on His timing but also recognizing our role in His plan? How often do we pray for God’s intervention, only to realize later that we may have missed something we were supposed to do ourselves?

The Power of a Simple Step
A story a friend shared with me comes to mind. Years ago, she was struggling with her dog. It was time to spay her, but the procedure was costly, and money was tight. Like any of us would, she prayed. She asked God to provide the finances and protect her dog from getting pregnant while she saved. Weeks passed, and despite her prayers, her dog became pregnant. Understandably, she was frustrated and questioned why God had not answered her prayers. She had faith, and trusted God, so why did He not come through for her? In her prayerful frustration, she heard a quiet response: “Close the gate.” You see, the side gate to their yard had a faulty latch and was often left open. In all her prayers, she had overlooked that simple, practical step—one that was entirely within her control.

Faith Requires Action
Trusting God does not mean we neglect common sense or the responsibilities He has given us. Faith is not passive. It is not about sitting back and waiting for God to do everything. Faith is active. It is about seeking God’s will, aligning our actions with His Word, and partnering with Him. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 did not just sit around waiting for God to act. Noah built an ark. Abraham left everything behind and went to a foreign land. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Joshua marched around Jericho as God instructed. Their faith was not idle—it was faith in motion. They trusted God and acted on that trust. But here is the flip side: we must be careful not to confuse action with presumption. Acting without seeking God’s will, or taking reckless risks while assuming God will bless our choices, can be dangerous. (For more, read Trusting God vs. Making Risky Decisions.) Presumption is when we act out of our own understanding and expect God to catch us, and it is often disguised as faith.

Avoid Misinterpreting God’s Will
One of the biggest challenges in living this out is making sure we are truly following God’s will, not our own desires disguised as divine plans. It is easy to convince ourselves that what we want is what God wants, especially when we are passionate about it. My friend was passionate about her dog’s safety, but she missed a key step in praying for God’s help while leaving the gate open. Even people with good intentions can fall into this trap. Remember 2 Samuel 6, when Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant? He had good intentions, but in doing so, he violated God’s clear instructions, and it cost him his life. This story is a sobering reminder that we need to seek God’s will carefully and with humility, instead of assuming we know best. James 4:3 (ESV) says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Before we take action, we should stop and ask ourselves, “Am I doing this to serve God, or am I serving my own interests?” We need to be willing to wait on God, spend time in prayer, and seek His Word. Although we do not need a burning bush moment to move forward, we do need to look for confirmations before making big decisions.

Stewarding What God Has Given
God works through our obedience. Think about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master did not expect his servants to sit on their hands. They were given something, and with it, came responsibility. The ones who stepped up and invested what they were given were praised, while the one who buried his talent in fear was reprimanded. The point? God expects us to handle what He gives us wisely. This goes for our time, talents, resources, and opportunities. Waiting around for God to drop something miraculous into our laps is not faith—it is neglecting what is already in front of us. The real question becomes: what steps are you avoiding while waiting for an answer from God? Are there things you know you should be doing, but have not because you are waiting for a clearer sign? Faith and action are not separate; they work together. Trusting God does not mean ignoring the part He has asked us to play. When we act on what we already know, what has been confirmed, we will be more open to what God is leading us toward. This approach helps us avoid getting stressed out over things we cannot control, and it keeps us from becoming lazy or complacent in areas where God expects us to step up.

Applying This to Real Life
This principle of balancing trust with responsibility touches every aspect of life:

1. Careers: Trusting God does not mean sitting still, hoping your dream job shows up on your
   doorstep. It means actively improving your skills, applying for jobs, and networking, all while
   trusting that God is working behind the scenes to open the right doors.
2. Relationships: Whether you are single and praying for a spouse, or working on a marriage,
   trust in God needs to be combined with intentional effort. Maybe that means getting out of your
   comfort zone, learning to communicate better, or seeking counseling when things get tough.
3. Finances: Trusting God as your provider does not let you off the hook for managing money well. Budgeting, saving, and giving generously are all part of being a good steward. Trusting God is not a substitute for caring for what He has already provided.

4. Health: Yes, pray for healing, but also take care of your body. Eat well, exercise, rest, and see a doctor when necessary. God gave us our bodies to steward, and we are responsible for how we treat them.
5. Growth: Growing in your faith is a partnership between you and God. You trust the Holy Spirit to work in you, but you also discipline yourself to pray, read the Bible, worship, and connect with other believers.

Navigating Fear, Disappointment, and Uncertainty
Even with the best intentions, it is easy to get stuck. Fear of making the wrong move can keep you from acting. But here is the truth: God is bigger than your mistakes. He can use even your missteps for His purposes. Do not let the fear of messing up keep you from moving forward when you feel led to act. Sometimes we over-spiritualize waiting. We tell ourselves we are “waiting on God,” but really, we are just avoiding what we know we need to do. Yes, God is sovereign, but that does not mean He wants us to sit still. Often, He is waiting for us to take that first step. Perfectionism can also trap us. Waiting for the perfect moment or all the answers before we act is not faith—it is indecision. Faith requires moving forward even when everything is not 100% clear. Then there is disappointment. If you have been let down before, it is tempting to play it safe, avoid hoping too much, or keep your expectations low. But God’s faithfulness does not change based on past disappointments. He is still the same, even if the circumstances did not turn out the way you hoped.

Closing Gates and Opening Hearts
Take a moment to reflect. Are there areas in your life where you have been waiting on God but neglecting what is already within your control? What practical steps have you overlooked or avoided because you expected a bigger sign or clearer guidance? Maybe there is a habit you need to break, a relationship that needs boundaries, or a decision you have been putting off. Our God is not distant. He is actively involved in our lives, but He also expects us to use the minds, hands, and hearts He has given us. When we work with what we have and trust God to handle what we cannot, we open ourselves up to experiencing more of what He has in store. So, let us find that balance. Pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you. Faith does not mean passively waiting—it means trusting God enough to take the next step, even when the whole road is unclear. And often, it is in taking that step that we see God show up in ways we never expected. The God who calls you is faithful, and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).