Wrap-Up
<'))))>< III ><(((('>
Pat's journey to Ann’s home was driven by hope—that love and calling could coexist. But upon arrival, he faced not only rejection but a life-threatening ultimatum from Ann’s father. Forced to flee for his life, Pat's dreams crumbled in an instant. Was he truly following God's will, or had he mistaken his desires for divine direction?
(Read the story III here: https://pvarticles.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-ulitmate-test-second-of-third-life.html )
As he grapples with the shock and heartbreak, deeper questions emerge:
How does one truly know God’s will? Can calling and personal desires ever align?
Does God speak only through His Word, or does He also work through circumstances, emotions, and the very obstacles that stand in the way?
Reflections from the Word
1. How does one truly know God’s will?
The Bible teaches that God’s will is discerned
through a combination of His Word, prayer, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and
wise counsel. Romans 12:2 exhorts believers to be "transformed by the
renewing of your mind" so that they may "test and approve what God’s
will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will." Knowing God's will is not
always about a dramatic revelation but about growing in intimacy with Him so
that our hearts align with His purposes. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in
the Lord wholeheartedly, and He will direct our paths.
2. Can
calling, and personal desires ever align?
God often plants desires in our hearts that
align with His calling when we delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). Paul’s missionary
journeys illustrate this—he had a deep desire to preach the Gospel, yet he
remained sensitive to God's direction (Acts 16:6-10). There are times when
God’s calling may challenge our desires, requiring surrender (Luke 22:42), but
as we mature in faith, we find that His plans are ultimately for our good
(Jeremiah 29:11) and that His calling is not burdensome but fulfilling (Matthew
11:28-30).
3. Does
God speak only through His Word, or does He also work through circumstances,
emotions, and obstacles?
God primarily speaks through His Word (2
Timothy 3:16-17), but He also guides through circumstances, the counsel of
others, the inner conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), and even
obstacles. In Acts 16:6-7, Paul was "kept by the Holy Spirit" from
preaching in Asia, showing how God can redirect through barriers. Elijah
experienced God's voice not in a mighty wind or earthquake but in a gentle
whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12). Discernment is needed to interpret emotions and
circumstances correctly, ensuring they align with Scripture and God’s
character.
Ultimately,
seeking God’s will requires faith, patience, and surrender. As we trust Him, He
leads us step by step, often weaving our desires, circumstances, and even
obstacles into His divine plan.
Seeking God's will is not about presenting all our
desires before Him and earnestly praying that He approves and gets those things
done. Instead, it is about surrendering our will to His, trusting that His
plans are higher and better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Jesus Himself
demonstrated this in Gethsemane, praying, “Not my will, but Yours be done”
(Luke 22:42). True faith seeks alignment with God's purposes rather than
insisting on personal preferences.
If we know we are called and follow the Master, our attitude cannot be different from His. As Philippians 2:5-8 reminds us:
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8, NIV) (Read on Therefore...)
This was also the attitude of His apostles, like Peter and James, who followed in His footsteps, knowing that “no disciple is greater than his master” (John 15:20). They, too, embraced humility and submission to God's will. As Peter exhorts:
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6, NIV)
Just as Christ humbled Himself, so must we, trusting that in His perfect time, God will lift us up.
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