It is not unusual that we might find ourselves praying for that thing we feel called to or we long for and know God has for us and yet we haven’t find the way to it. Or maybe we have, but we cannot see it as the way to it.
It is likely that, in many situations, you have had opportunities presented and just wonder if this could be the way or not. I believe many times we are very quick to rule out our chances and opportunities, only because we think if —it’s from God—it should be better, quicker, easier and straightforward.
Is that really the way it went for every person in the Bible?
Evidently, it wasn’t.
Instead, it could be our senses that our wrong. Our ability to see what God can do, amidst the challenges. Our ability to contrast the present with the possibilities for the future. And our ability to hear God through it all.
Israel had difficulty with seeing and perceiving what God was doing all the way through their journey. God said to them:
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)
It was in the wilderness where God was going to use his way-making power in building a future for them, but they couldn’t perceive it. The truth is it’s definitely hard to see that God will do something where things are far from promising, but this was precisely where God would magnify himself in their story.
Their task was first to believe and walk the way God was pointing them too even if it seemed uncertain, scary and doubtful.
Sometimes our praying and longing may look like this:
We pray to God to make a way, but we are not ready to step in faith. We pray to God to make a way, but we only want to stay in our lane. We pray to God to make a way, but we only can take an easy way.
And, unfortunately, that’s not how faith works.
If we see it in the Bible, assume it can happen to you too. The way that God makes is sometimes through the wilderness. It’s not a pretty road to start with, it’s not familiar and the journey is far from easy. The question is will you recognize it and choose it also?
Sometimes, we can be eager to follow the Lord’s plans, but we already have a preconception of how the Lord will take us there. When things do not align with our own ideas and preferences, we can shut doors quickly only because our faith didn’t had any room for wonder.
Wonder…
Asking yourself—“what if?”
That’s the question we need to be asking ourselves more.
That question is up to God to answer, but for us to be open to.
If we don’t leave room in our faith for wonder, we are left with little opportunities to see God’s supernatural ways in our lives.
What if God makes a way in this sea? What if God makes a way in this wilderness?
God’s plan doesn’t need your endorsement.
Take a look at this:
What if Abraham hadn’t moved away from his country and family?
What if Boaz hadn’t marry that recently converted moabite woman that had nothing?
What if David hadn’t signed up to fight that giant?
What if Joseph hadn’t chosen to honor and support his pregnant but virgin girlfriend?
The list could go on. All of those decisions could’ve easily been deemed unfavorable by anyone, especially the protagonist of those stories. However, in God’s plan, all of those decisions led to Jesus. All of those ways were masterfully crafted in by his own will and plan.
They could’ve just checked out and chose another way for themselves—still, Jesus would’ve been born and raised anyway. However, all those people would’ve lost the blessing to be part of a plan bigger than their own story—God’s story.
God’s plan is always higher and it’s far beyond our reasoning and thinking.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
That’s why we must never limit ourselves when we face opposition, uncertainty or a deviation from our own preferences. If we have already been in prayer, we can leave our hearts open to wonder and ask God to reveal himself, show us His way and open our hearts to it.
You don’t need to be too quick in your own understanding, too quick to disregard or too quick to shut doors. You can prayerfully walk in faith and wonder at the same time knowing God will always reveal, direct and answer.
Bottom line is:
God’s plan for your life—it’s still His and not your own.
He reserves the right to come through with things in the way that will ultimately glorify Him. He knows exactly what He is doing, while we remain clueless and that’s okay. If we really desire His plan and to glorify Him, we can only remain sensitive and faithful to his leading while trusting Him through it.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You might be the best planner ever. You got your 5 year or whole life planned out, but do you have room to allow God’s higher thoughts in?
A heart that is surrendered to his plan (not meticulously planning and rigorous expectations) will always lead you to exactly where you want to be—God’s will and purpose for your life.
His thoughts are higher than yours and so are his ways.
Trust Him.
