Comments on: It Can’t Be God’s Will, It’s Too Hard http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/ Looking with non-artificial intelligence Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:32:24 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Susan http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-229 Susan Wed, 14 May 2008 19:43:01 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/#comment-229 Keep reading, praying, talking, waiting. Don't wanna wait, huh? Well, welcome to God's time. Discernment is a slow go, especially if you're looking for God's specific will, which may or may not ever be apparent. Just because we want to know doesn't mean he wants to make it plain. Sometimes God's will is to let us struggle with a decision, to let us make a choice and learn from the results. The more important question to me is this: are both of your responses within God's general will? If so, then if you're in a hurry, flip a coin or let the person who has the most invested in the decision decide. The real key is -- are you willing to trust God to lead you through the walk of faith you've just embarked on? Keep reading, praying, talking, waiting. Don’t wanna wait, huh? Well, welcome to God’s time. Discernment is a slow go, especially if you’re looking for God’s specific will, which may or may not ever be apparent. Just because we want to know doesn’t mean he wants to make it plain.

Sometimes God’s will is to let us struggle with a decision, to let us make a choice and learn from the results.

The more important question to me is this: are both of your responses within God’s general will? If so, then if you’re in a hurry, flip a coin or let the person who has the most invested in the decision decide. The real key is — are you willing to trust God to lead you through the walk of faith you’ve just embarked on?

]]> By: WCB http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-227 WCB Mon, 12 May 2008 18:12:14 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/#comment-227 Susan, I had a meeting with another Christian this week. He prayed, felt God's direction for a certain project. I prayed, felt God's direction for a certain project. Our 'responses' from God were not only different they were clearly opposites, incompatible. Now what do we do? Susan,

I had a meeting with another Christian this week.

He prayed, felt God’s direction for a certain project.

I prayed, felt God’s direction for a certain project.

Our ‘responses’ from God were not only different they were clearly opposites, incompatible.

Now what do we do?

]]> By: Susan http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Susan Mon, 12 May 2008 17:53:27 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/#comment-226 If we're just looking at feelings, I find that peace is more of a marker for being in God's will than happiness is. However, even the sense of a "peace that passes understanding" is not sufficient in and of itself to let us know if we're in God's will. We can get to the point of denying God his place as master of our lives, and become numb to his will. There are a lot of clues we need to look at and questions we need to ask when discerning God's general and specific will, but asking the question "Is it too hard?" is not one of them. After we've counted the cost and committed to following Jesus, it's time to stay on what we've already been promised will be a narrow, difficult road. If we’re just looking at feelings, I find that peace is more of a marker for being in God’s will than happiness is. However, even the sense of a “peace that passes understanding” is not sufficient in and of itself to let us know if we’re in God’s will. We can get to the point of denying God his place as master of our lives, and become numb to his will.

There are a lot of clues we need to look at and questions we need to ask when discerning God’s general and specific will, but asking the question “Is it too hard?” is not one of them. After we’ve counted the cost and committed to following Jesus, it’s time to stay on what we’ve already been promised will be a narrow, difficult road.

]]> By: Lewis http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/comment-page-1/#comment-222 Lewis Wed, 07 May 2008 16:57:33 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/2008/05/07/it-cant-be-gods-will-its-too-hard/#comment-222 I think it was God's will for me to turn comments on for this post and to change it from "uncategorized" to "spiritual disciplines." So I did. Actually I just thought it was a good thing to do, and in that sense I think it fits with God's "general" will. I know, of course, that loving God and loving my neighbor (all other humans) is part of God's will, so when I do that I am (as I think you are suggesting) in God's will. What people want to know and don't know is God's "specific" will for them. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't. When I don't, it is often because my eyes, ears, heart and mind have already decided what the "right" course of action should be. But in the meantime, I should at the very least be doing all I can to follow God's "general" will. After all, why would he trust me with a "specific" will for me if I can't get right what I know is right? I think it was God’s will for me to turn comments on for this post and to change it from “uncategorized” to “spiritual disciplines.” So I did.

Actually I just thought it was a good thing to do, and in that sense I think it fits with God’s “general” will. I know, of course, that loving God and loving my neighbor (all other humans) is part of God’s will, so when I do that I am (as I think you are suggesting) in God’s will.

What people want to know and don’t know is God’s “specific” will for them. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don’t. When I don’t, it is often because my eyes, ears, heart and mind have already decided what the “right” course of action should be.

But in the meantime, I should at the very least be doing all I can to follow God’s “general” will. After all, why would he trust me with a “specific” will for me if I can’t get right what I know is right?

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