I read in one of the comments to a recent post here that they were shocked that "seeking God's will for such an important decision [motherhood] was completely a non-issue." When I hear the phrase "seeking God's will" I can't help but feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. It's such an overused (and often misused) phrase. Is God really so mysterious about what He wants for us? Are we honestly on some sort of cosmic Easter egg hunt? I wrote a short post on this topic earlier this year on our faith community's blog.
Take the idea of a "soul mate" as an example. Is there really one man out there predestined for each of us and we must spend our lives seeking him out and worrying over each guy we date before we get to him? Or is it possible that God has given us a list of what we must be as godly women and what we must seek in a godly man, and once we fall in love with and commit ourselves in marriage to a man that that one becomes "God's will" for us? That at the point when we take those vows we become committed to living out God's specific will for a married couple as laid out in scripture? If we buy into the first theory, it would be possible for us to drive ourselves nuts even after marriage wondering if we had found "the one" or settled too quickly.
Here's a piece from my original post: Are prayer and the Bible really intended to be some sort of crystal ball that we look into whenever we have a decision to make and then wait until some sort of clear sign falls from the heavens before making a move? Is God some sort of Easter bunny mischievously flitting around hiding little pieces of His will here and there for us to try to find and then zapping us when we choose the wrong path? Obviously, God has laid out some Truths to guide our lives. But is it possible that sometimes we're just too scared to make a tough decision in our lives, so instead we hide behind the idea that we're just waiting for a clear sign? What are your thoughts on seeking God's will?
Labels: Theology
Very good thoughts - especially about the soul mate. (Tried to go to your post on your faith community blog...but for some reason didn't get anything.) And thank you for the soul searching quesitons.
You wrote:
"Obviously, God has laid out some Truths to guide our lives. But is it possible that sometimes we're just too scared to make a tough decision in our lives, so instead we hide behind the idea that we're just waiting for a clear sign? What are your thoughts on seeking God's will?"
I would love it if God were to drop a neon sign right in front of me fully explaining his direction for my life.
I believe that God's truths are there to guide us on our spiritual journeys and I don't think he's intentionally hiding them like Easter Eggs...in fact, I think God had pretty much laid them out in the open. In my own life, it's not so much about being afraid to make tough decisions. I often become so focused on the circumstances in my life, that it's almost impossible to see God's truths. The decisions I make, both the good and the bad, are centered on my own self-will, not God's will So for me, "seeking God's will," is an intentional action on my part to focus on the things of God and not myself. To focus on my relationship with God. And while I was hoping that with age (I'm one of your older - but new - EW) this would get easier, I've found just the opposite. But part of the beauty in my relationship with God is in the "seeking of his will." In the pausing of my own self-centered busy-ness to sense his presence, in the calming of my heart, in quiet of my spirit...that is when I sense his presence. And it is there I find the precious truths for my own life.
I hope I will always seek his will.