Be careful what you ask for

A friend of mine wrote to me recently and told me that he perceived that I was in an “enviable” position. It seems that he feels that my years of Bible study combined with my relentless search to understand God’s purpose for my life has finally resulted in knowing it.

Hmmm While his perception that I have finally reached a point in life whereby I clearly understand God’s purpose for my life is true enough, I cannot say that all is bliss. I remember complaining even in this very forum that I wished that God would just sit down on the edge of the bed and tell me, “OK Bob here is what I want you to do for Me today” Often I prayed and prayed and prayed for just such an answer in seeking God’s will for my life, but I was utterly frustrated by deafening silence.

I have learned that while God always answers prayer, the answers do not come as quickly as I want them to come and God does not verbalize them to me. Most of all I learned that when seeking answers to important questions from God we more often than not need patience.

I am the typical type “A”, high “D”, hard-driving person and I want answers when I want them. Patience? Ha! What is that? I learned the hard way, over a period of years actually, that patience is learning that God is the one who is in charge and not me, and He answers prayer according to His timetable and according to His criteria and not mine.

In order to understand His will for our lives, we must carefully listen more and talk less. He softly speaks through our heart, our spirit, and our mind. In my case I sought Him and I carefully listened for a long time and now I know with certainty which path I should be on.

Herein lies the problem, *living up to* God’s purpose for my life proves to be far more challenging and difficult than knowing it or espousing it. Going out there and doing it every single day without faltering or outright failing is tough.

I have a profound bit of wisdom for you this morning. I have been thinking that just maybe this is why God does not sit down on the bed every morning and verbally tell us what He wants us to do. Maybe we would get too discouraged in not fulfilling our direct orders, especially if we are not well grounded in the Bible. Feeling as though we have let God down day after day can get depressing actually, especially if we have not studied all of the figures throughout the Bible such as David, Moses, Peter, and others that suffered a similar fate and realize that temptation plagues us all to the grave.

I suppose that God gently gives us as much as we can absorb, a little at a time, and gives it at a time that we can accomplish it to the best of our abilities and that is the best we can hope for in this life.

Now that I know my purpose in life, my daily prayers consist of asking God to help me fulfill it. I ask Him to lead me and guide me to a point that through His help I can avoid the distractions of this world and my enemy satan.

Enviable position to know your purpose in life? Hmmm… I suppose…

Proverbs 2:3
Yes if you cry out for
discernment,
And lift up your voice for
understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for
hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the
fear of the Lord
And find the knowledge of
God.
For the Lord gives wisdom