Trusting God.
How difficult this can be, yet how needed it is!
There are many times where we are tempted to take matters into our own hands and believe that rushing into a decision or choosing to date someone who isn’t a genuine Christian (instead of waiting on God’s timing) is what is best, despite how God calls us to be patient, wait on Him, and lead lives in accordance to His word and His prescription for a God-honoring life. We may doubt that God knows the desires of our hearts and wants what is best for us in all things – even if that means having to wait.
Instead of spending time in daily prayer, offering God a surrendered and obedient heart that is open and willing to embrace His will in everything, and asking for His intervention and guidance in all things, we are prone to rush to our friends or even worldly wisdom such as magazines or articles on various web sites that are anything but Biblical so we can then have the “ammo” we need for making choices in life.
God has so much more for us than merely granting our requests simply because we are persistent in asking. He very well may answer our prayers, yet asking for His answers to prayer in His way and timing (not ours) will guarantee the best result when our desires are finally fulfilled.
The next time you feel drawn toward seeking advice from your friends or a co-worker, try seeking godly counsel instead and making this a weekly event so you can grow spiritually and be more certain you are living your life and basing your decisions on God’s word and counsel that is in accordance to His heart and perfect will. It is so much better to pray and give all your wishes and longings to the Lord, leaving them in His hands to do with them as He wills, then to doubt His ability to hear and answer in the right timing and do things your way…all to miss out on His best and the lessons He wanted to teach you through waiting and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) and character change He wanted to build in you as you patiently waited on Him and lived for His glory and honor (in a way that reflects Jesus’ example).
Seek to keep God first in all aspects of your life, not just the ones where it is convenient to include Him. It has been said, “The safest place in all the world is the center of God’s will.” Keep this in mind even in difficulty, sorrow, trials, and hardship; knowing that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 28) and that His ultimate goal is to conform you more into the image of His Son (Romans 8: 29).
Surely, God sees your sadness, your heartache, your burdens, your worries and concerns, your desires, your wants, your anxiety and fears, your longings, and your needs.
Timothy Keller has said something to the effect of, “Imagine the people around the cross as Jesus was dying, feeling sad and questioning why such a perfect person had to die and why they were going through this, but that part of the Bible wasn’t yet written; they didn’t have a book explaining why Jesus had to die. …the problems in your life, you don’t have a book for.”
God, being all-knowing, wise, sovereign, faithful, and good always and only has your best interest at heart. Don’t miss out on all He wants to teach you and ways He wants to use you in this season of life because you are too busy desiring to rush into the future and the blessings it holds.
Make the most of each day and let it be your heart’s desire to draw nearer to God. Continue to pray for your future spouse and what you hope to accomplish, yet enjoy this season of life; whether you are still single, haven’t started or completed college yet, or are still living at home.
May we rejoice in the advice offered by Elizabeth George:
God’s guidelines for making right choices:
- Always choose to do what’s right.
- Consult your Bible before making decisions.
- Make no decision without prayer.
- Seek counsel before making decisions.
- Believe God has your best in mind.
