You Choose

When we’re faced with multiple choices, we may ask God to close the door that He doesn’t want us to walk through. And for a Christian who is just beginning to learn how to discern God’s will for and God’s voice in their lives (or even for a Christian who’s more “seasoned”), He may very well close the door He doesn’t want them to walk through, and open the door He does want them to walk through. 

But if you’re like me right now, you have had many experiences and opportunities and practice rounds to hear God in one specific way, like the way I just mentioned. But now, God’s trying to grow me in getting to know His will in a new way. For so long we may have thought that if it’s easy, then it’s God. If it’s God, the stars will align. Not to say it shouldn’t be that way, but can we consider that sometimes when we make those decisions, what we’re actually thinking is not “can God do this,” but “can I do this?” And if the answer is yes, then we say yes to that opportunity. And if we don’t think we can do it, we say no. 

And so we don’t allow God’s grace to be sufficient enough to carry us through a more challenging experience. Where we are weak, we stay weak, because we don’t allow God to be strong for us. Thus, we have yet to experience what it looks like for God to go before us and take us from strength to strength, because all this time we’ve been going first and letting God follow. 

What if this time, God’s will isn’t in whether we walk through an opened door, or stay where we are? What if it’s in learning to trust Him regardless of the decision we make? Today, we can pray the same prayer of “God, you choose.” But this time, God’s going to make us grow. He’s going to make us trust differently. He’s going to make us seek Him differently. And so He may very well open two doors and say “you choose.” 

In this moment, I’m reminded of my favorite scripture (Proverbs 3:5-6): “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” The path may not be a new job, but instead, patience in your current disposition (or grace, or courage). As you navigate your next decision, seek God first and always (and godly counsel as needed). 

In love and veritas,

Chioma