“Teach me to do your will so that I may please you, for you are my God: Let your good spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10
What do you want to do when you grow up? It is a common question asked of kids and teenagers alike. At this point in their fresh lives they can dream up anything for their future without anything standing in their way. They can dream big dreams and believe for them to happen.
Some people ride through life, gliding on the dreams they envisioned while others struggle to know where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do. In the perfect Word of God, we read:
"O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!"
God loved us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and has a plan for our lives. Sometimes this is clear and sometimes it is foggy, leaving us confused.
I am of the latter group. I am nearing middle age and still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Sure, I have been led in many different areas of ministry, leadership, and writing but the world tends to put a high importance on career and income, two things that have fallen short in my life.
I often find myself begging God for direction for the next place He wants me or for the next big thing I need to do. I long to finally land in God’s will for my life.
This can be flawed thinking. Perhaps, we never arrive in one place. Perhaps, God has many things for us in His perfect timing.
In times like this, I have to allow myself to come to a place of surrender. I ought to lay down my own ideas, dreams, and visions and allow my heart and mind to be filled with God’s visions, and perhaps, for that day it is just to simply sit in His presence. Nothing notable or praiseworthy, just sitting with Him.
So what are some practical ways that we can live in the promise of God’s firm footing, solid foundation, and level ground?
1. Seek Him first in all that we do. Set aside our own desires and allow His voice to speak louder than the world. Spending time with Him in the morning, saturating our minds with the truth of God.
2. Eliminate distraction. If your social media feed is filled to the brim with advertisements of new careers, new courses, and new miraculous ways to bring in a large income and this is causing confusion, then decrease your time in that space, unfollow people, and change your settings. Protect your eyes and your heart from things that will cause you to stumble. Give God space to speak.
3. Stop comparing. This one is especially hard with social media and the constant flow of unneeded information. Stay in your own lane. Don’t covet what others have. Focus on what you are thankful for in your own life and praise God for His perfect plan for you.
The Lord is very clear in His word that He loves us, He cares about the little things and He longs to have a front-row seat in our lives, giving us the direction, stability, and peace that we all long for in this dark world.
We can be comforted by knowing that when we lean into time with Jesus and surrender our lives to God’s will we will, in fact, be on firm, level ground. Even to our limited human view, it doesn’t make sense or it is not what we had envisioned.
We can trust the mighty God of the universe that we are right where we need to be. This is a good place to be.
Yes, God has plans for us, things to do and people to see but if we prioritize these quiet moments with the Lord those things will come into light in their perfect, divine timing.
This act teaches us patience and trust. It is not easy and it is tempting to take the wheel and start making things happen… Unfortunately, I have learned this the hard way. Often, when I take things into my own hands it causes more chaos and confusion.
Time with God will never be wasted. Rest in that today.
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Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more.
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