So often in our lives we long to have a fully disclosed answer from God. We want to know - or we THINK we want to know - all the twists and turns the road of our journey will take.
I think this is why we are so enamored with our cute little GPS systems. They tell you everything you could possibly want to know - which lane to get in, how many feet until a turn is to be made, how many miles and minutes to our destination and even which side of the road your destination is on. There are few surprises with a GPS guiding you because you can even look ahead and see each and every turn you should make until you arrive at your final destination. And if you end up in the wrong place, well you can blame it on the little woman in the GPS!
We humans love security - we crave it. We say we like adventure but I have an inkling most of us like our adventure carefully controlled! So we long to know what's ahead in this journey we call life. Is it any wonder that the most frequently asked question that Pastor's receive is "How do I know the will of God?" None of us want to miss this. And yet we fear that the little voice we hear resounding in our heart is just our emotions, or something we've made up. We fear taking the wrong step.
Last year I heard Michael Coleman, President and Founder of Integrity Music, Inc. share a word that I've never forgotten. It has resounded deeply with me this week. He shared that as much as we'd love to have clear wisdom and discernment about the entirety of our future, many times we've not lived and learned long enough to have an answer we really do not need until next year, for instance. God may have a work He desires to do in our life in the interim that will give us greater wisdom. And just as we do not have the grace today for the struggles of tomorrow, we may not have the answer until we truly have a need for it.
Proverbs 8:1-2 says "Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! She stands on the hilltop and at the crossroads." Many times I've spent months - or years - on my face before God begging for clarification and an answer. And just when I had grown intensely weary of praying, God answered in the moment I needed to make a decision. Not before. Not after the fact. But right when I needed it - as I stood in the crossroads.
Where in your life do you desperately need to hear a word from God?
This is an awesome word at a time so many people I know need right at this moment!! Thanks, Jan!
Posted by: Lisa Baker | October 06, 2009 at 05:46 PM
I need to hear it right now. I'm at a crossroads I thought I'd never see... and I don't like it one bit. It's not the first time I've been mad at God, and my guess is it won't be the last... but I must trust Him anyway.
Posted by: Bill Rainey | October 06, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Hey Jan! This post definitely resonates with me. I don't like to feel out of control, and I am constantly begging God for a word from Him... for some answers.. for direction...
But a little over a week ago, God pretty much called me out. I wrote my own blog post about it if you want to check it out. http://jennakristine.blogspot.com/2009/09/he-called-me-out.html
Posted by: Jenna Lupo | October 07, 2009 at 06:26 AM