The Blazing Center

Sometimes discovering God’s will seems like searching for the Holy Grail.

We pray.  We get counsel.  We ponder, draw mind maps,  write pros and cons, and are still unsure.  Afraid we’ll make a wrong turn, we sit in the car in life’s driveway, paralyzed by indecision.  Good thing Proverbs 3:5-6 is taped to the visor:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

First of all, we must trust God whole-heartedly.  God has promised to counsel us (see yesterday’s post).

Next, we must acknowledge the sovereign Lord.  Don’t boast about moving to the Big Apple to open a gourmet bagel stand and get rich, but say, “If the Lord wills, I will live and sell bagels”  (cf. James 4.13-15).

Then get going.

Once we’re on the road, God will make straight our paths – like a GPS.  As long as I’m sitting in my driveway, my GPS is silent.  But once I pick a destination and go, it can “recalculate” and direct me in it’s formal British accent – “In point 2 miles, turn left.”

When Jesus saved me, I was in my twenties,  and had no idea what to do with my life.  I had an art ed degree, but no desire to teach.  I couldn’t think of any job I’d enjoy.  I was paralyzed by indecision.  But praise God for my Mom, who told me I didn’t need a heavenly vision but should just pick a direction and go, trusting God to correct my course when necessary.

So I did the scary thing I’d been avoiding: I decided. I’d go back to school and take the steps to teach art at a university – if I lived and the Lord willed.

Along the way God made a slight course correction – he made me a pastor (I’ll tell you the story another time).  I never could have predicted that.  I’d simply started moving and God recalculated: “In point 2 miles, become a pastor.”

Paralyzed by indecision?  Agonizing over God’s mysterious will?  Pray and get counsel.  Then trust, acknowledge God, pick a direction and start moving.  He’ll make straight your paths.

photo by jobriga