“The path of obedience always leads to the life we want because it always follows the big picture God sees.”- Wayne Stiles
In Chapter 11 (“What You’ve Been Waiting For”) of Waiting on God, we wonder what we can do when the life God’s given us seems radically different from the life He’s promised us. Most people, Dr. Stiles notes, make living for dreams their life’s quest. They cling to ideals of how life could and should be. Generally, the author states, we settle for nothing less than our version of the ideal life.
However, we only need to look at the Garden of Eden to see the futility of that pursuit. Adam and Eve literally lived in paradise. Yet, the Fall showed that even paradise had its limitations.
Therefore, as we follow God’s plan for our lives, it’s important to remember the irrelevance of circumstances. Discovering God’s will does not equate to finding utopia. Even in the midst of God’s will for us, snakes show up. Hence, Dr. Stiles explains the futility of chasing the ideal:
“Our career won’t make life all we want it to be. Neither will a husband, or wife, or children, or a house, or a church- or any situation that’s the lie of the devil, echoing from Eden. That’s the futility of chasing the ideal.”
Most noteworthy, the path of obedience follows the big picture God sees. As a result, that path leads to the life we want. Therefore, when a contradiction exists between our heart and the Bible, Wayne counsels, we should betray our feelings.
We must trust the Lord with all our heart and never lean on our own understanding, even if that means:
- humbling ourselves
- standing alone to do it
- facing our fears
Today’s question: What detours you from walking the path of obedience following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Our challenge”