I want to continue my thoughts from yesterday’s devotion. I wrote about listening to God, about being aware of His “voice.” But the opposite of that, or perhaps the offshoot of that is how do I know the choice I made, or the way I am going is God’s or mine? There have been many times I have pursued a path believing it was Him leading me when I found out it wasn’t. It was more my own desire or maybe desperation that led me to choose that path.
So…how can I know? I think there may be several answers to that question.
One, is a general unrest that develops. Call it lack of peace, a sense of incompleteness, a general disgruntledness which develops. The calling isn’t there. The fit doesn’t square with the giftedness. Extreme example: someone who feels called to be a Marine working in a flower shop. I know…silly…and I’m not putting down working in a flower shop. But some people just don’t fit the square hole because they are a round peg. God’s peace is just not there. A growing dissatisfaction develops.
Two, a door is closed. I remember wanting to leave a church I was the pastor of and everything looked positive. I had had good interviews and the leader of the group said it looked good. They would be contacting me. So I waited. And waited. I found out a couple of years later that that leader was actually getting into his car to come hear me preach when he got a call from the interim pastor who said, “We aren’t interested in him anymore.” Come to find out he had his own agenda; the man he hand-picked didn’t last very long; and I didn’t go there. Less than two years later I was here at my current church. Ironically, that leader left that church to pastor another church here in town and we actually rented our first house from that church. After meeting him in person, we had lunch together and he told me the story and apologized for not calling me to tell me. He then took me to the head elder of that church and we all talked and he also apologized. Long story short: that door was closed. No…make that slammed in my face. But I’m also here today to tell you I am glad.
Third, sometimes life events happen. A sickness. A sudden change of health status of you or someone you love. A significant event with a child or spouse alters your course.
Here’s the truth though: God loves you; He loves me; and His greatest desire is that we know that and trust Him to have His will and way in our lives. He has His will. He has His way. It may be different than mine, but it is ALWAYS RIGHT AND BEST.
I have seen every one of your indicators of God’s will in Dick’s and my life. He doesn’t leave us to our own devices when we are seeking His will.
That is so true Pam. I’m glad we are not left to our own devices. What a mess I would make!!
I think there are times where God has a very specific purpose for very specific people. I also think there are times where God chooses to use those that are the least likely to have been picked if left to ourselves or the decisions of others… (David comes to mind), but God sees deeper than the physical. God sees the heart. I think during those times, God makes it crystal clear the direction and expectations… perhaps not all at once, but as we need to hear it.
More often, I think God has already put it in our hear what He would like us to do. He nudges us as the Holy Spirit, but I don’t think He ever forces his hand in this capacity. Sure, we may deal with the consequences of not making the decision in a direction we are being nudges… We might take the rabbit trail and find we have to backtrack or take some extra steps to get to the target, but I think this is the learning and growing process. He leads us for sure.
One additional note… The best way is not always the easiest way or the path of least resistance, but perhaps His way is the path of most impact.
There is a lot to unpack in your comment Ryan. i do believe, as you do, that God has a specific purpose for each person. As you look at whom God chooses and uses we should never discount His work nor the importance of what each of us does. I also agree with you about what is in our heart. Other than being a professional baseball player I had no desire to do anything else but be a preacher. The same still applies. But God is not going to force me to stay in this profession either. It is something i want to do. As for the path…yeah it is not the one of least resistance but the one of most impact.
Ryan is right – God does have specific calling for each of us. Though it may take time for us to see that clearly, God knows from the beginning where our path is leading.
Blessings, Bill!
I agree with Ryan and I most certainly agree with you Martha about God’s timing for us seeing clearly
I have seen several doors close, wondering why, especially when you have two or three in a row close. However, at the end of the journey and you finally see the whole picture, and see what God had in mind, it makes perfect sense. I am not saying that I have not had some frustrations in life trying to figure out where God is going to open the door, but I will say, at the end I am always grateful, and amazed at how it all work. It makes a great witness story when I can honestly tell people how, where, and why God is working in my life.
That is the mindset we must have Gail. We see doors close and wonder why but then God shows up and shows us and we say, “Oh wow! Now I know!!” And then “Thank you God” comes flowing out of our mouth. I think we are going to see a lot of this happen to us as we submit to His will.
I really appreciated all you said here. It can be so hard sometimes to know if we are following God’s Plan A. But, I have experienced so much of what you described, and I have found that if we will wait on Him and stay 100% resigned to whatever He allows, we are never sorry. I heard a quote in a movie one time that said, “Sometimes we just have to trust what God did and did not allow.” Powerful words…both the quote and yours, Pastor Bill. God bless you today!
Thank you Cheryl for your words of encouragement. It isn’t always easy to know or see God’s way and His will. But as you know, it is always best. And I like the quote you shared.