For several years, you have been seeking the will of God for your life. You have read an endless number of books. They claim to help you discover God’s will for your life. Perhaps you have found it, or you may still be searching. However, we do not have to worry because there is a verse in the Bible that says, “This is the will of God for you.”
Seriously? A single verse? And if I do what it says, I shall be fulfilling God’s will for my life? Yes. But before we examine the verse, allow me to congratulate you for staying the course. Since you have not unsubscribed by now, after several posts on rejoicing in the Lord, I assume you understand the secret of dwelling in God’s presence. Congratulations. It means you are probably fulfilling the will of God for your life. You know that rejoicing in the Lord is what pleases God, which is not so surprising.
Think of an earthly leader or king you know; he invites you to his palace. But you have just loved a loved one and your heart is sorrowful, yet you have to present yourself at the palace. How do you compose your face upon arrival? With a frown or with a smile? Instinctively, you know you cannot come before the king with a frown. Now, think of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Do you not believe it will please Him if you come into His presence with rejoicing and gladness? Of course.
The Man Who Understood the Will of God
Next, think of the Apostle Paul and all that he suffered, a condensed list of which we find in 2 Corinthians 11.23-29: “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned, and three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.
In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”
And yet, this is the man who charges us to give thanks always because this is the will of God concerning us. Read it in 1 Thessalonians 5.18 and be amazed, especially if you tend to grumble at God. Have you suffered half of what Paul went through? If the answer is no, you need to repent for not giving thanks always. Even if the answer is yes, you still need to repent because you missed the will of God for your life.
Stop Searching and Start Rejoicing
Why are you reading a dozen books seeking the will of God for your life when you have not obeyed His stated and basic will? What child starts schooling from secondary (or high school)? It is only as you fulfill the first will that God gives you the next step. When you have conquered the kindergarten level of giving thanks always, God shows you the next step.
Do not forget that the word of God is a lamp – not a floodlight – to our path. We always wish God would make His word a flashlight to our feet, and I do not exempt myself from this tendency. But I am learning to take one step at a time, knowing that He unfolds the future as I go along.
Stop searching for the will of God concerning you. You go ahead and think of Paul, reconsider your complaining, and let thanksgiving flow from you. Then sit back and watch God shining the light on the next step in His will for you, the reason He created you. He may ask you to start a blog like this one to bless His people. God might even ask you to join this one and use this platform to grow your purpose.
Whatever the next step is in the will of God for you will not be revealed until you take this first step. Give thanks always. Don’t forget, always
Maranatha!
