My husband, Steve and I are in the midst of making some choices and decisions in our lives regarding our future. Though I recognize how extremely critical it is that we seek the Lord’s guidance in making the decisions we are faced with making, I did not realize until this morning just how critical the process of making these decisions is.
If you have read my story you know I do not have a history of making very wise choices and decisions throughout the course of my life. I have made so many unwise choices that recently I have felt paralyzed with fear of making the wrong choices. I know that fear is not of the Lord. Fear represents doubt and distrust which is not of the Lord.
Yesterday, in my post “A Letter to My DCC Family” I shared with you the fact Steve and I have grown weary of being apart. We want so much for him to find a job stateside allowing him to be at home with his family. However, as much as we desire to be together, we desire the Lord’s will more and pray for His will, His purpose and His plan for our lives. We know the Lord’s plan for our lives will provide the best outcome, an outcome greater than we could ever hope for.
I also shared with you yesterday that though this lifestyle provides its benefits, it also requires a great deal of sacrifice and suffering. If it is the Lord’s will for Steve to remain in Afghanistan, we pray He will make that the desire of our hearts and provide us peace and contentment with it.
In a conversation with my mother last night, I shared with her my reluctance to accept the fact that it may be the Lord’s will for Steve to remain in Afghanistan. I also shared with her that I realized my reluctance may be because it is difficult for sacrifice and suffering to be your heart’s desire.
In an email from my husband last night he presented another possible option that would allow us to eventually be together but would require him to remain in Afghanistan awhile longer. He said it would require more sacrifice and suffering but with our love for each other, God’s strength and help we could get through it. We agreed this morning to pray about it and discuss what each of us feel the Lord is leading us to do.
This morning at church Pastor Chase preached on deception, disobedience, God’s goodness and remaining in His will and purpose for our lives. Sometimes I honestly wonder if anyone else is getting anything from Pastor Chase’s messages because I feel as though he is talking directly to me. He addresses my thoughts, feelings, concerns, lessons learned all while opening my eyes and teaching me so much.
This morning I realized that I am in the Lord’s will for my life right now at this moment and it is such a wonderful feeling. I know I am in His will because I see Him working. I see Him moving. I see Him teaching and revealing things to me. I know that in order to remain in His will and purpose I must meditate on His Word, His promises and His truth in order to not be deceived by doubt and mistrust. I will focus on the liberties He has provided me and not the restrictions.
It is my desire to remain in His will for my life fulfilling the purpose and plans He has for me. Nothing good comes from outside of God’s will. Anything outside of His will for us will only lead to sorrow and I have experienced enough of that in my life.
In regard to desiring sacrifice and suffering, Hebrews 5:7-8 tells us that even Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. Desire sacrifice and suffering? That is not an easy task at all. However, to learn obedience through suffering and sacrifice seems more tolerable if it is our desire to be obedient. Who am I that I should not have to sacrifice and suffer in order to learn obedience when Jesus himself did?
Pastor Chase left me with this: “Temptation often precedes the point of provision. Hold on even if you have to suffer awhile longer.” Please pray with me that Steve and I will not lose our focus and be deceived. Please pray with me that we will recognize God’s leading and remain in His will for our lives.
On the way home from church I laughed because the Lord revealed to me that all this time I thought I have been waiting for Him. However, He instead has been the One waiting for me. He has been waiting for me to get my priorities in order and open the eyes He has given me to see and the ears He has given me to hear. My first priority is to be obedient to the Lord. As long as that is my heart’s desire, everything else will fall into its perfect place. Are you waiting for God or is He waiting for you today? God Bless!
