It Can’t Be God’s Will, It’s Too Hard
by WCBIMHO, there are a lot of people wandering about and wondering about what is God’s will.
I’m not one of them. My problem isn’t knowing God’s will, it’s doing what I know to be His will.
I was reading in Exodus this morning and then took my thoughts for a walk, always a dangerous combination, depending on whether I am in the mood to follow God or fight Him.
Exodus 5. Moses was haggling with Pharaoh. The result was things got really hard for the Israelites. Then they got really really hard. I think it rhymes with Pharaoh’s heart got really hard, then really really hard.
Moses and Aaron were unmistakably doing God’s will. Any argument here? I didn’t think so. But, the result was things got very difficult for the people of God. It’s like the time I was in a funk. Friends told me to cheer up, it could be worse. I cheered up and sure enough they got worse.
However, the result was a temporary one, for the Israelites. Me? I stopped listening to my friends.
Too often believers want to judge whether they are in God’s will by how they themselves perceive their own circumstances = are they happy with the way life is going.
Happiness is not a criterion for doing God’s will. We are happy when we do His will.
When things get tough, it does not always mean it’s time to change course. It does not even usually mean it’s time to change course. Try buckling down, digging in, staying committed instead, especially when you know you are doing what God has called you to do.
Repeat after me - Love God. Love my neighbor. No matter what.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:57 am
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?
May 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am
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.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:12 am
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?
May 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am
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?