Is it just me or is 2013 flying by?
It’s July already which means we've passed this year’s half way mark. Where is
the time going? Better yet, what have I actually done so far this year?
Like most, I started this year very optimistic, I felt like the
world was my oyster; so many opportunities and goals set before me and I was so
ready to explore and learn. As the year progressed and I was going forward with
all my exciting plans, one by one these opportunities and goals fell apart right
before my eyes. It felt like God was physically closing doors, and there was
nothing I could do to keep them open. So here we are in July and I can’t help
but feel that this year so far has been a complete disappointment.
One thing I have always wondered is
how do we determine the will of God? How do we know for sure what he wants us
to do? I know that God’s word reveals His ultimate will for us as his followers
but I am thinking about the more detailed, specific and personal details of our
lives. I have always struggled with this thought as I have seen instances where
people that I know have made plans or followed a course that is pleasing to God
(based on biblical counsel and God’s providential leading) and things just
haven’t worked out. Let me give you a personal example of something that hasn't worked out for me this year. Not many people know this but I was only supposed
to be in Wales for 6 months as I was given the opportunity to move to the
Caribbean islands and work with a long term Medical Missionary and his family.
This was an amazing opportunity as I have always wanted practical “hands on”
experience as a Medical Missionary. However this wide open door began to shut
and a number of things lead me to finally accept that this opportunity wasn't going
to happen.
I was very disappointed that things didn't work out, as I have wanted to minister and serve as a Medical Missionary
since 2009 but at that time I was still in university and had ties and
responsibilities in London. However this year I was finally in a position to go
forward with this and believed that this was the appointed time as I had waited
so patiently for this opportunity. So when things didn't work out I was very
confused, I was thinking to myself “Why did God lead me here and open doors in
such a way for me to go forward?” “Why did God show me all these signs and
provide the perfect circumstances to go?” “Why did God lead me in this
direction and now this door has slammed shut on me?” Through much prayer,
conversation with friends and reading I came to the realisation that
I had preconceived ideas regarding God’s will and his timing.
I had planned out this year based
on what I believed God’s will was for me. It felt like this was the thing to do
as everything seemed right to me, but then when in his providence he closed
that door and some others (which also could mean that at the same time He is
opening new doors) I didn't recognise this as His will because I had so many
preconceived ideas. I looked at this situation and thought “I know that God
wants me to do this, it has to be it”, but now I know that God was using this
situation to show me that as I am seeking to know God’s will for my life I need
to let go of my preconceived ideas.
Having
preconceived ideas may seem like a small matter but can have detrimental
consequences. The Israelites in Jesus’s day as a whole expected the Messiah to
come as a king, a conqueror, a leader who would rule with an iron rod and
defeat the Romans who were oppressing them and set up this great empire.
However we know that Christ came as the complete opposite, he came as ‘a lamb to
the slaughter’ (Isaiah 53:7) with meekness and humility (Christ’s sermon
on the mount, Matthew chapters 5- 7, is just one example of where Christ’s true
character and mission is demonstrated) and because the people had preconceived
ideas of how Christ would come they were unable to accept him as the Messiah
which ultimately lead to the people rejecting and crucifying Jesus.
So, this is my prayer, that God
neutralises all our preconceived ideas and gives us a heart that is open to His
leading. God sees the whole pattern of our lives and where we need to be and
where we need to go, we just need to be willing to follow him.
“Commit thy way unto the
LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Psalms 37:5
Love, your girl forever,
♥ Miss Daisy ♥
