In the Gap Between Faith and Action | Judges 6:33-40

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Our text today is Judges 6:33–40.

Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them. Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. — Judges 6:33-40

The Valley of Jezreel was filling with enemy troops — Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples. From a human perspective, this was overwhelming. But then comes a defining moment: “The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon.”

The language is vivid — God didn’t just give Gideon a pep talk. He wrapped him in His own Spirit like a warrior putting on armor. Suddenly, the man who once threshed wheat in hiding is blasting a trumpet for war, summoning tribes from all directions to follow him.

And yet… clothed in God’s Spirit, Gideon feels the pull of the gap — that space between what he believes about God’s promise and the confidence to act on it without hesitation.

Twice, he lays out a fleece for reassurance.
Twice, God answers patiently.

It’s a moment both victorious and vulnerable — a Spirit-filled man still learning to walk in the courage God has given.

Most of us live with a gap — the space between what we believe about God and how we actually live it out.

We believe He’s faithful, yet we still fear.
We believe He provides, yet we cling to our own protection.
We believe He calls us, yet we cower when it’s time to move.
Gideon’s story reminds us that the Spirit doesn’t nullify our humanity. The Spirit equips us for the fight, but God’s patience shapes us for it. He meets us in the gap — not to leave us there, but to move us forward.

And here’s the pivotal point: the way to close the gap is not to wait until you feel fearless, but to act with the faith you have today. Each step in obedience shrinks the distance between belief and boldness.

So what’s your gap right now — fear, control, insecurity, doubt? Name it. Write it in the comments. Write it into your journal. Bring it before God. Ask His Spirit to fill it and clothe you. And then take a step that puts your belief into motion.

ASK THIS:
Where is the gap between your belief and your obedience right now?
How has God’s Spirit already equipped you for it?
How has God shown patience toward you in that gap?
What step could you take today to close it?
DO THIS:
Name your gap, pray for the Spirit to fill it, and take one concrete action today that turns belief into boldness.

PRAY THIS:
Lord, thank You for clothing me with Your Spirit and meeting me in the gap between what I believe about You and how I live it out. Help me to step forward today, trusting Your power more than my fear. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
"Even When It Hurts."