Always a Struggle
I have found that it is almost always a struggle in my life to figure out what God is telling me to do. I have battled with this many times in my life and through all of it, I have little better idea now than I ever have. However, I have been forming a clearer and clearer picture of how it is that God tells us His will.Last night, as I was studying 2 Corinthians, I came to a new understanding of something. Bear with me. After a lot of study I have come to the conclusion that the three ways that God uses the most in my life to direct me are open doors, a sense of peace, and input from solid believers. What I had never considered though is that these things work together and what seems like direction from one of these sources may not actually be His end calling. Here is where I get that from:
"Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia."
For Paul, what was an open door did not instill the peace of God. So he moved on to where he had that peace, proclaiming the gospel on the way. This isn't to say that God hadn't willed him to go to Troas in the first place. Paul felt called there and he went, which God knew he would, so that must have been God's call. But he was not called to stay. So he was used there and moved on.
So why is this an issue for me? As I head out this summer, I know that it is God's call for me to go. Unless something miraculous happens, I will be going. But I don't necessarily feel peace right now. A lot of that is likely fear of the unknown, and to combat that I fall back on my faith and my belief that God is leading me and guiding me. But it is my prayer, and will continue to be, that I might find a peace once I get to the places that I am going. If I don't find that peace then I pray that I at least find direction as a result of that lack of peace.
It will be exciting. So many avenues that could result from all of this. I'm keeping an open mind.
Peace and blessings,
JZ.
posted by JZ @ 8:34 AM
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