It seems we are good at using God’s name as both a “get out of jail free” card and also a “fake reassurance” card.
We say things like “God is telling me to wait for now for his timing to take the next step, so that’s why I’m not working or pursuing a job” or “God is calling me to do [insert anything], so I just feel like I need to follow that.”
Looking at the above, it seems a bit like a lose-lose, doesn’t it. You don’t do anything, you are faking it. You do something, you do it in vain.
But what if there was a way to do something in faith, but without using God’s name in vain? God does call us to do many things. Both of the example sentences above could very well be things that God calls someone to. But for you as one of His creations, how can you know for certain?
What if instead of putting God’s “calling” for your life in the hands of a heart change from you, you gave it back to something we know is from God?
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” – 2 Timothy 1:8-14
There are so many passages that give us instruction for how to live our lives, yet so many of us are still looking for some other sign from God on what we are “supposed to do”.
I don’t mean for this to be a stretch, as it may be taking the metaphor too far, but in order to “follow,” you have to be moving. We can’t follow God if we are not actively pursuing Him, and sometimes that takes some risk. We don’t always have an exact playbook, but if we are pursuing Him and His word, he will guide us on that path. In fact he gives us that promise:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Let us stop doubting and putting an imaginary burden on God to give us an “out” in case what we do ends up failing. Instead, let’s own up to it. What if instead, our description was:
“I’m leaning on God in every step that I can, and this step makes the most sense. I could be wrong, but this is the opportunity that is next for me and I’m going to trust God to correct my path if this is not where he wants me.
We’re going to make some mistakes. We’re not always going to bat 100. Let’s not let our bad at-bats be blamed on a God who bats 100.