Jeremiah 40-42

Hebrews 4

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”    —Proverbs 3:5

“What are you going to do with your life?” I remember asking a student that question one time. He told me, “I’m not too sure.” Then I said, “Is there anything you would love to do?” He answered, “Yes, I’d like to be a pilot.” Then I pressed, “Why don’t you become a pilot?” He responded, “Because it’s my will and not God’s will.” I then said, “How do you know it’s not God’s will? It may be your will because it’s God’s will. As you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart, so His will becomes your will. Maybe it is your will because it is God’s will. Does this make sense?” The student said, “No, because I wanted to do this before I became a Christian.” 

Similar to the student, some of us may believe that after becoming a Christian, God is going to reveal a will for our life different from what we want. But God is not interested in us only after we become a Christian. He was our Creator before He was our Saviour. Just like the prophet Jeremiah, when God called him to be His prophet. Jeremiah made an excuse, but God said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). Like Jeremiah, God is interested in us before we become a Christian.

To follow God’s will requires us to step out in faith, and confirmation usually follows. We are never 100% sure, until maybe we are 80%, 70% or even 60% sure and then we step out in faith. We often see the guidance of God better in retrospect than we do in prospect. Some of us may worry about going the wrong direction, but Isaiah 30:21 tells us, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Although, we may not find God in the front saying, “Lift your foot up, swing it forward, put it down. Now the other foot, swing it forward, put it down…” No, we are called to walk in faith. If we go wrong, He will say, “Come back” and put us on the right track.

God’s guidance will always be true and consistent with His Word and His character. It will also be true of our personality and our giftings. What we are called to do will give us life and meaning because we are in the will of God. Are we ready to step out in faith today?

Lord God, I am ready to step out in faith today. Thank You for calling me before I was even formed and thank You for directing my paths. Praise You!