What does God want me to do???
Regularly, also today, we get the question: What does God want me to do? Today we spoke to K from I about this. In this case, it was a job-related question: to apply for job x or not?
From a biblical perspective, we have answered this question as follows:
1: The most important thing is that you want to go wherever God wants to send you. So, not your plan, but God’s plan. In the prayer that Jesus gave us, it is even VERY clear:
Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
Matthew 6: 10
And God His will, is always(!) in line with His word: the bible. So if you want to ask God if it’s a good plan to rob a bank today? He already answered that in Leviticus 19:11 for you. So yeah, you can ask Him that, but what do you think His answer is… and do you really think that God will answer your “rob the bank prayer”? Nope.
2: the things that you ask for / the questions that you ask for your future… are they for God’s glory? Or are they for your own gain, glory, fun? God is clear about what you need to do, and if your questions are not inline with what He already told us in His bible… mhh…..
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
The new job you’re asking for… is that for God’s glory? Or for your own gain…. fun… reputation… more holidays in Spain?
3: Jonah (the story of Jonah and Nineveh) absolutely did NOT want to go somewhere God wanted him to go. But whatever Jonah did… God got Jonah exactly where God wanted him. So if Jonah didn’t want to, but you do!… trust God, He will surely get you where you’ll have to go!
4: Use your talents and don’t sit on the sideline. Think of your life as a ship where God is at the helm. As long as you stay sidelined with your ship, the rudder can move whatever it does, but a rudder only works if the ship moves. God definitely wants you to do something! Don’t put your talents in an old bag and bury it, but go! As an example, you can look at the story in Matthew 25:14-30
5: When you let God steer… it can sometimes seem like your plan has failed… but trust God’s great plan! Jonah’s story seems like a story of Jonah’s failures, but if you look closer, it’s a story of a mighty God accomplishing His purpose. Whether Jonah saw it that way too, and whether you see it that way too, is irrelevant. In God’s great plan, Jonah’s story got into the bible (which my stories will never get into) and it’s a winner’s story! Your story will be one of a winner if you let God in control.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
6: We hope and pray that God will show you in your life why things went the way they did. Things that seemed to be a failure (or worse) suddenly turn out to be a victory with God. Unfortunately, we (in our lives) will not always be able to see all that with our own eyes… and that outcome (God’s great plan) sometimes remains hidden from us, and that can hurt. But rest assured… once you are with God you will see. And then you will say: Oh…. That’s why it went the way it went! Now I get it! In retrospect: how beautiful! And all that pain, the searching, the wandering, the sorrow… had a greater purpose, God’s purpose… and what a beautiful thing He has made of it. Without me seeing it…
7: Even Jesus had a hard time with how things were going… take the story of His death… Jesus prayed:
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
Matthew 26:42
So if there is someone who understands how you struggle with the question: why?! and how?!, then that is Jesus himself… He really understands how you feel… and today He is there for you. In all your doubts, in all your travels… trust His plan. He knows how you feel. Today.
Finally: is it easy? No. Does life sometimes hurt (a lot)? Yes. Is it often searching for the right way? Yes. But the bottom line is: trust God’s plan… it will be fine… maybe you don’t see it now, but in eternity EVERYTHING will become clear to you. And honestly… we sometimes can’t wait for that heavenly explanation.
Amen! Well said!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.. Ps 23