…but as life continues, you realize just how out of control you are.
Life is always full of transition. Whether it’s moving, a new job, relationships changing or ending, or even a perspective shift. Transition is inevitable and in many ways, unwelcome. We enjoy stability and knowing what tomorrow will bring. It brings us security and a sense that we are somewhat in control, but as life continues, you realize just how out of control you are.
As a Christian, at times, God gives you a direction for your life. He will tell you what to study at school, to go on a missions trip, or tell someone about Him. While this can be quite terrifying at times, there is always a sense of peace. It is black or white – you either obey or you disobey. To some, that brings comfort because the decision is made, you simply have to follow.
But what about those times in your life when God doesn’t give you a clear direction? What then? Do you simply continue to live your life or search for something more? These times, I’ve found, are almost crippling. Why would the Creator of the universe give me a choice, or worse, be silent as I seek direction? I am nothing in comparison to Him and yet He would allow me to decide? So In those times the simple question is, “What do I do?”
You never want to hear your mother say she has breast cancer, let alone six days before your wedding.
The past year has been a whirlwind of transition in my life. In the matter of a week, I found out that my mom had a rare form of breast cancer, I got married, and I finally laid down a dream I had had for years. You never want to hear your mother say she has breast cancer, let alone six days before your wedding. You don’t want to lay down your dreams, however, you are also willing to for something better. It made for a long, confusing, scary, and also terrific week.
That time in my life was very difficult and I had to make big choices constantly. Walking through cancer with my family and deciding where that would take me, as well as my new wife, while also grieving giving up my dream that I thought my future would look like. And through all of that, God was letting me decide which steps to take.
I found no clear guidance from my Father in heaven on issues near and dear to my heart – He simply let me choose. Choose what dream I wanted to follow in my life, choose where to live, choose what to do, and choose the kind of life I wanted essentially. One year later, and through many decisions changing, God is proud of what I have decided and I have learned many valuable things through making those decisions.
Letting you choose is God’s way of letting you know that you are mature enough to make decisions for yourself…
The pinnacle of what I learned through this time of stepping up and deciding what I wanted my life to look like is simple: When God gives you a choice, rejoice. Letting you choose is God’s way of letting you know that you are mature enough to make decisions for yourself and shows that He truly cares what your dreams are. He is such a loving Father that He will let you decide which path your life will take and wants to bless you.
Through these times, always remember that even when God is silent and seems to be absent when you are struggling with life’s choices, He is always there. And the good news is that He will give always be there for you when you need Him, it just might not look like what you think you need from Him.
*Scriptural support comes from Proverbs 1:1-7 and 16:1
