Most people in the choir stood, but I noticed someone sitting in the back row. The presentation was going to be long, and since songs were mixed with speaking roles, there was really no reason to stand the whole time. I knew the man was capable of standing, but he made the wiser choice. He chose not to risk getting too tired from three back-to-back services of standing about 45 minutes each service.

It’s important to know when to sit and when to stand. It takes discernment. We want to rationalize God wants us to sit or stand based on what’s most comfortable to us, what makes the most sense to us, or what our experiences have taught us, but ruts in our lives don’t determine the wisest decisions. Being sensitive to God’s leading does.

This wasn’t the first time God had used this man to teach me a lesson. I’ve watched him pass the baton well, yield yell, and get upset and confront well. What constitutes “well” is obedience. He seeks God’s will, and because he is consistently seeking intimacy with God, he is sensitive to God’s leading. And he responds.

Because he knows God and listens, he trusts that when God says stand, he stands.

Because he knows God and listens, he trusts that when God says sit, he sits.

Because he knows God and listens, he trusts that when God says speak up, he speaks up.

Because he knows God and listens, he trusts that when God says shut up, he shuts up.

His obedience encourages me.

But it’s not just his obedience. It’s God’s faithfulness that speaks the loudest. I’ve watched a season of this man’s life, and it’s not his own strength or commitment that inspires me; it’s the obvious presence of God, his strength and faithfulness that astounds me. God is the one who provides; we simply need to respond. The closer we draw to him, the more we know him, and with intimacy comes a trust that cannot be likened to any other relationship we can or will ever have.

When you look at someone whose faith you admire, shift your focus from the person’s faith to the focus of his or her faith. God is the one who is faithful. We as people will always be insufficient. We will always stumble at some point. We will let each other, God, and ourselves down.

God doesn’t fail. Ever.

You don’t have to figure out what God wants you to do. You don’t have to guess whether he wants you to stand up, sit down, speak up, or shut up. When we know God, we know his will. We don’t always know the specifics of timing and other details, but we can be certain of his presence and provision.

Every single time.