When God’s Call Changes Your Direction
I never set out to travel a million miles or serve in more than 30 countries. I didn’t have a strategic plan or a dream of starting a nonprofit. What I did have was a growing sense that God was asking me to trust Him completely — even if I couldn’t see where the path would lead.
The call didn’t arrive as a detailed blueprint. It came in pieces — small nudges, quiet whispers — each testing my willingness to listen and obey.
“God’s direction rarely comes with a roadmap. More often, it’s a whisper that forces you to lean in closer to hear.” — They Shall See God
Looking back, I can see the pivot points — moments when I could have walked away, but instead chose to say yes. Those yeses became vision clinics that have served over 100,000 people who might otherwise never have had access to glasses.
The Boy Who Saw the Stars for the First Time
(From Chapter 17, “Who Hung the Lights in the Sky?” in They Shall See God)
In Nicaragua, our team was overwhelmed by the crowd. We were forced to give out tickets to manage the number of patients we could see in a day. Late in the afternoon, a mother came in with her nine-year-old son. They had walked for hours, but had only been given one ticket.
I tested his eyes. He was extremely nearsighted and needed very high-powered lenses to see clearly. Later, his little boy received glasses for the first time in his life.
The next day, his mother returned for her own pair and told me, “He loves them. Last night he asked me, ‘Who hung the lights in the sky?’”
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” — Psalm 19:1
That moment reminded me of the simple truth: sometimes the smallest act of obedience opens a window for someone to encounter God’s glory.
Why Obedience Multiplies Impact
Obedience isn’t about results; it’s about relationship. It’s choosing to trust God’s character when the outcome is uncertain.
In the mission field, I’ve seen obedience transform lives:
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In Tanzania, a father regained the ability to work after months of struggling to provide for his family.
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In Peru, a man openly wept after seeing clearly for the first time in years, thanking God for restoring his ability to serve in his church.
Obedience doesn’t just change circumstances — it changes people. And sometimes, it changes eternity.
Three Ways to Recognize and Respond to God’s Call
1. Pay Attention to the Nudges
God often speaks in ways that are easy to miss — a thought you can’t shake, a burden for someone, an open door you didn’t expect. Samuel was young when God called him in the night, and he needed Eli’s help to recognize it (1 Samuel 3:8-10).
Practical Step: Keep a journal of those “holy interruptions” and pray over them with a trusted mentor.
2. Obey Before You Fully Understand
When Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat (Matthew 14:29), He didn’t explain how Peter would walk on water — He simply said, “Come.”
Practical Step: Take the first small step in the direction God is leading, and trust Him for the rest.
3. Let God Write the Outcome
Abraham didn’t know his destination when God told him to go (Hebrews 11:8). Your part is faithfulness; God’s part is fruitfulness.
Practical Step: Measure success not by visible results but by obedience.
What This Means for You
You may never run an eye clinic in Nicaragua or fit glasses on someone in Africa, but you can still live a life of obedience:
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Be present with the people God puts in front of you.
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Say yes to small opportunities to serve.
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Trust God to use your yes in ways you may never see.
The same God who hung the lights in the sky is still writing stories — and He may be inviting you into one today.
Want More?
You can read this full story and many others in my book, They Shall See God. Or, learn more about the mission at God’s Eyes.