Fred Smith was a leadership expert who worked as a former consultant to companies such Mobil, Caterpillar, and GENESCO. He was also a notable speaker, giving talks and speeches in all fifty states, and a best-selling author of four books, You and Your Network, Learning to Lead, Leading with Integrity, and Breakfast with Fred. More importantly, however, Fred was a devout Christian whose true passion lay in providing guidance for pastors and ministries, which he did for over 50 years. At the heart of his teaching was always the encouragement to get to the heart of each problem first before trying to fix it. Only by recognizing the underlying issue, cause, or motivation can one lead to a true solution.

If his success was any indication, he was onto something.

Though Smith was strong in his faith, he often surprised people by telling them he never prayed for success. “I believe in working for success much more than praying for it,” he was quoted as saying. “Pray for maturity, and work for success.”

Sounds strange coming from a self-professed Christian, doesn’t it?

It shouldn’t.

The truth is, the results of any of our activities lay in God’s hands. We cannot control the outcome of any of our endeavors any more than we can control the weather. However, this does not mean that we should approach life passively or–even worse–lazily, believing whatever God has meant to be for our lives will somehow miraculously occur. Our role should always been to prayerfully engage with life, seeking to walk in obedience at the direction of the Holy Spirit, doing what God tells us to do and when. Only once we have faithfully done all God has called us to do can we truly experience rest in our souls as we trust God with the outcome.

Let me give you a practical example.

I always wanted to be an author. From a young age, it was a dream of mine though, as I got older and realized how difficult and complicated the publishing world was, it was one I wasn’t sure I would be able to fulfill. Nevertheless, I always felt a nudging on my Spirit to at least pursue it. So I did. And nearly eleven years after I started, I finally held my first published book in my hands, a feat I know would not have been possible without God.

But what if I had never sat down at the computer and begun to type? What if I hadn’t taken beta reader feedback and honed and polished my rough draft into a coherent story? What if I had never sent out emails searching for agents? What if I had taken that first publisher rejection and decided to quit?

What if I had only prayed for God to make me a published author…but never worked hard and taken the steps needed to achieve it?

Now, don’t get me wrong. Do I believe in the power of prayer? Absolutely. Do I believe in miracles? You betcha. But I do know that it’s a whole heck of a lot harder to become a published author if you don’t first write a book.

What Fred Smith was trying to teach people is that we have a role to fill in our relationship with God. Yes, He loves us, has a plan for us, and wants us to do great things for His glory…but all of those things are HIS part to play. Our job is to show up, do the work, and trust Him with everything else.

That’s not to say we can’t petition God with specific requests. I sure did over those long eleven years as I was waiting for publication. But the fact remains that we have no idea how (or when) God will answer those prayers. We know He does, though, and it is for this reason that we can trust Him, not only in this, but in providing the guidance we need to take that next step in obedience however it might look.

Play your part, friends. As Fred Smith said, “work enthusiastically, work intelligently, work intensely, and work ethically.”

Then watch and see what God will do.