One of the most frustrating things in life that most of us have experienced is being lost. Not knowing where you are and trying to find an address or location in an unfamiliar area. There are times we may know where we are but haven’t the foggiest idea of where “they” or “it” is. I recently saw a doctor in a professional plaza connected to a large hospital. My navigation system helped me arrive at the address, but I was clueless about where the office might be once I entered the medical maze. As the appointment time approached, I became increasingly nervous about arriving on time. Despite leaving early, I hadn’t counted on deciphering the west tower from the east tower, getting on the right elevators, etc. Finally, I located the office, took a seat, and took a few deep breaths, confident my search might result in elevated blood pressure.
Have you ever attended a meeting somewhere or a gathering and had to ask, “Am I in the right place?” It is unsettling to think we are not in the right place. Although electronics have aided us in decreasing our chance of being lost, navigation systems are not foolproof. This past summer, we were in separate vehicles while traveling on vacation with family. Two different systems directed us to our destination two different routes. My husband Jim and I took the “scenic route” through the mountains, which took us an hour longer. I made a vow never to leave the road atlas behind again! The signal for the mapping system was sketchy in the mountains, and it kept dropping, which did nothing to decrease my frustration. I am a map girl! I admit not knowing where I am or where to go and how to get there doesn’t make me the ideal traveling companion.
Recently in the English as a Second Language (ESOL) class I teach, we reviewed the vocabulary of classroom items. When I held up the map in chorus, all the students replied, “Google!” I couldn’t help do anything but laugh because they were not wrong.
One thing that has come up in almost every class I have taught, a bible study I have participated in, or discussions with friends and family is this: what or how do we find God’s will for our life? Countless books, sermons, and studies have addressed this, and still, we struggle to find God’s direction. Whether it is about decisions about where to live, what vocation to choose, should one marry, and if so, to whom? We search for direction about making financial investments or healthcare choices. The daily life of a disciple of Christ is full of opportunities to seek God’s will.
The first time I did a deep dive into the will of God, I went to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew. I looked at the words of Jesus, who led us to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I had to consider how is God’s will done in heaven? Through prayer, I began with the concept that God’s will in heaven is done perfectly and expediently without hindrance or delay. And all of heaven is on board with that. So even before I ask God for His will, I have to examine what the level of my desire for the will of God to be done in my life is? Not only what was the level of my desire, but what was my belief about how God reveals His will to me and for me?
I have always believed that God’s will is multidimensional, and there is more than one facet for us to understand. I believe the Bible teaches us that there is a general will of God that applies to everyone. Sometimes this general will facet by scholars is referred to as the revealed will of God. For instance, the scriptures tell us that it is the will of the Father that all would come to faith in him and that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9). It is God’s will for all of his children to love Him with all of their heart, soul, strength, and mind (Matt 22:37).
Those opportunities in the daily I mentioned above in discovering the general will of God means this: He has already shown me in plenty of places in scripture to give direction about what to do and what not to do. There is nothing too confusing about this part of God’s will for me.
The other dimension of God’s will is where I think we all find ourselves struggling. The facet is called the mysterious will of God. Now, this part makes me examine and question, “will God speak to me in the still, small voice the Bible talks about? Will the Lord speak to me through His word and prayer? Will He use others to tell me? Will I find a note wrapped inside a head of lettuce like in the movie “Oh, God!?” The answer is Yes, (except the head of lettuce thing (lol) though the scriptures say all things are possible with God).
Before coming into this struggle topic, the Lord had led me to write the blog on prayer first because without growing prayerfully, I know I will not grow purposefully. And discovering his will cannot be done without prayer. And while I wait for Him to answer, what am I doing? Which leads to the moment I have to consider what am I asking? Do I really want to do my Lord’s will, or do I just want Him to satisfy my curiosity about what is coming? When I ask, am I asking “amiss,” as Jesus said, which is interpreted as “without purpose.”
I know it is not the will of the Father for me to hole myself up in the prayer closet until He answers me. I should not get so consumed and put all my energy and focus on the mysterious unknown answer while I neglect the already revealed will He has shown. I am beginning to understand that if I focus on executing everything I already know about God’s will, it won’t leave me much indulgence to pester Him about things I don’t understand or know.
So much of the life of a disciple is written in the tense of “as you go.” I interpret this as I am on a need-to-know basis with the creator of the universe. When the time comes for me to know, I will know. Has God used others at times? Yes, He has. But it has either been to plant an idea for me to continue to pray about or confirm what I have already been seeking Him about. I never take the word of another about God’s will for my life alone. This is just like me being totally directed by a navigation system that can be faulty. God wants me to read my life’s map (His word) as He directs. Of course, I can confer with others on the same journey of faith, but the specific will of God for myself is between HE and M.E.! God doesn’t have the character to purposely hide answers that I need to serve His will. He isn’t stringing me out or wanting me to beg and plead for answers. He may make me wait because of timing or to stretch my faith, but it isn’t God’s will that I come away defeated from an encounter with Him.
A loving Father assures His children. God wants me to find and be in the place he ordained. God has already considered how He made me, my talents and dreams, potential, strengths, and weaknesses. After all he made me precisely as I should be. He has designed a specific place for He has declared to be a good place and one with a bright future. If I am not careful, the enemy can plague me with always examing and overanalyzing choices. Remember, the enemy’s desire is to tangle us up. He (the enemy) tries to fill us with cloudy doubt and abstract visions and the ultimate question of whether we have made the right decision and whether we are in God’s Will.
One of the greatest struggles sometimes we as Christians face just deals with our confidence about the place we find ourselves. Sometimes we feel like we have miss-stepped and are out of God’s will. This forces us to ask, “will I ever be in God’s purpose and will for my life?” Or, as the enemy puts those doubting questions in our mind, if I make this decision, am I missing out on something else? I love how Mark Batterson, Pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C. and author of Draw the Circle, puts it: “God wants to get you where he wants to you to be, more than you want to get there.” So even during those times when we feel we have misstepped, maybe about taking that Job, buying a home, or whatever it is, God will always use those moments to get you back on His path and what he has for you and me. This is why when we get into the presence of the Lord in prayer, the Holy Spirit convicts and will direct you specifically and expediently. If I am about to make a wrong choice, He is my trustworthy guide.
In the daily, I can so often get preoccupied with the mechanics of life that I lose sight of the fact that I am an essential part of God’s network and kingdom here. There is more to consider than just me, me, me. My biggest struggle with His will is often born from the fact that I forget it is about Him, Him, Him. I may have moments and even seasons of doubt about my place. Am I there? Have I totally missed it? If I have, God, who can take nothing and make something from it, can come to get me and bring me to the place where I belong. His eye is ever on me, and I am never lost.
Come back next time when the 5 o’clock worker examines the Struggle with Fairness in Finding Justice.
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