So, life doesn’t always go as planned.
A month ago I was planning on moving to Dayton, Ohio to intern with Athletes in Action.
Now, I’m moving to the Cincinnati area to work a job I haven’t found yet to be closer to the girl I love. Quite a switch.
I’m not going to get into the details and everything behind this change because that would take a whole other post, but I want to talk about something else; God’s will and plan.
This is something I’ve been thinking on lately and it’s interesting how many things affect our view of what God’s plans are. The way we were raised, the experiences we have, the places we live and the people we’re around, it all affects our views of God and what’s happening around us more than we realize or often are willing to acknowledge.
Ask yourself and think about what you believe God’s plans are for you and then ask yourself why. Ask yourself if that’s really God’s plan and will. Ask yourself if that’s what you desire. Ask yourself if you actually, truly, trust God. I say all this not to make you doubt were you’re at but to help you see that God is actively involved in your life and doesn’t have a specific, single plan for you in your life, but actually has many many plans and seasons for you and you get to help choose what those are.
I think the enemy, at least in my experience, can use distorted views of God’s will to distract and mislead us. We can get so focused on making the right choices and seeking God (which is so important!) but we can actually forget to make or fear making a move and instead stay stuck where we’re at instead of stepping into what God has laid out for us.
In my example, as I chewed on whether or not to fully step into a role with AIA or pursue my girl fully by moving closer, my head kept coming up with questions and excuses. “You’re giving up your dream to pursue a girl?!” “What if you miss out on this opportunity or never fully step into all God has for your career?” “Is this what you really want?”
These are valid to an extent but the problem with questions like this is that they’re filled with 90% truth. It’s true you need to hold on to your God-dreams. It’s true that sometimes we make less than ideal choices or miss opportunities, but these questions really ignore what God is truly asking: “Will you follow Me and build Kingdom?”
Where do we get the idea that God has a single plan for your life or that He has a specific will for you in everything? Is He really that small? Why couldn’t I choose to pursue the girl over the career right now? Would He not use me in that just as much? You see, God’s teaching me more than ever right now that I can’t keep Him confined to the size of my own head.
Now, this isn’t to say do whatever you want. No! There are right and wrong decisions. There is a way that seems right to man but its end is death (Proverbs 14:12). And yet, as we walk with God, renew our minds, and seek Him; as He heals and restores our hearts, why can we not wake in the morning, sit with Jesus, and ask ourselves, “what do You want to do Lord” followed by, “what do I want to do”?
For me, the lie is that if I pass up working in ministry, that I’ll miss my calling and might not get another opportunity, but that’s bulls#@t! (swearing is a convo I’ll save for later) Who am I to say that this isn’t ONE of God’s plans for me (He has many). But His plans are not the same as His will. This is an important distinction to make. His will for us is clearly revealed in Matthew 28:17-20:
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. (They were with Jesus and His plan was clear and they STILL doubted! His disciples!) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Read that again.
God’s will for our lives is to make disciples, baptize, teach, heal, love. And in that we have freedom in our plans. Freedom to seek God and make decisions with Him; and sometimes, maybe more than we realize, He tells us to choose. His will is clear but it’s not the same as the plans He has for us. This is relationship. Full relationship with our Father.
So ask yourself what partial truths you’re believing. Where do you need to seek God? Where do you need to stop seeking and just act?
It’s a risk. But so is anything really worth doing.
Seek Him and step out. It’s time for change.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only. James 1:22
Love y’all!
Ben
Just a small-town Minnesota boy following Jesus in a big world. Make sure to subscribe and follow along with this crazy adventure! God Bless!
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