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
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the encouragement, Mark! I had similar thoughts while playing Mario Kart with my children (I know, sounds silly but just hang on). Every time I ran off the road or was moving in the wrong direction, the game automatically put me back on the right track or flashed a warning to stop and turn around. It has been like that in my Christian walk. Every time I have made a wrong decision, the Lord has gently put me back on the right path through a conversation with another believer, through prayer, but most usually, through the Spirit’s conviction through the Word. Over the last twenty-two years, I learned not to be as fearful because the Lord is with me, never leaving me, and always guiding me in the right way. I can trust Him. Who would have thought He would have reminded me of His love and care in the middle of a silly video game!
Thanks for reminding me of what a great and gracious God we have.
Yes, thanks for the post. I have a constant temptation to be mystical–to wait for some nudge from the Lord before I do anything. This was a good encouragement.
Kevin DeYoung’s NEXT message and Sinclair Ferguson’s “Discovering God’s Will” have also been helpful corrections to me
Thanks, Mark. I love the analogy of the GPS. We think we know the destination we are going, but in reality it is God who puts that in. Sometimes we don’t listen to the directions given, and drive down a different street. If we are applying the verses from Proverbs and James in our lives, God always directs us back to His plan and destination for our lives. So, I move forward and start driving down the street today, if I live, and the Lord wills.
Thanks again for an encouraging and challenging word!
Definitely something that God has been teaching me – “go, and I’ll be with you, and direct and correct you – just make sure you GO!”
Thanks for the reminder!
Hi Elaine,
God even speaks to us through Mario Kart! Guess I’ll have to get that for myself. Does playing Mario Kart count as having devotions? Seriously, thanks for commenting and mentioning God’s faithfulness to you for the past 22 years.
Hey Michael,
Thank you for commenting and mentioning the resources as well.
Hi Ric,
Good point – the difference between the GPS analogy and real life is that in real life we don’t always know the final destination, but God does. Thanks!
Hey Tom,
Yep, so often we just need to go….thanks.
Thank you. Very encouraging and helpful.
Thanks Yeller!
Hey Mark, I am in the middle, actually way past an important decision….actually I am stuck and would like to read your blog about how God changed your direction….I am frustrated and not very happy…and it is affecting my family. I loved your analogy with the GPS. I know it is really difficult to steer a car that is not moving.