When something is new to us, these two are what we often feel – apprehension and fear. We automatically go through a moment of indecisiveness whether to try it or not, to follow or not. The question then is this, how many times did you push through with something you haven’t done before without any assurances of the outcome?
Following His Lead: Where Will It Take Me?
If you are a risk-taker, indecisiveness is not much of a problem. But dealing with the consequences, later on, can come pretty hard. I used to be a risk-taker, I actually still am for the most part. And yet, taking risks for me now comes with a lot of planning and contemplating and yes, lots of prayers.
“Is this what You want me to do, Lord?”
Did you come to a point where you asked God this question? I did, thousands of times actually. I believe every day requires I seek His permission first before I do things. This included my future plans and endeavors.
And yet it also came to the point that I was having second thoughts on whether to share my plans here (and they are many). I was feeling a strong desire to share them and yet something is holding me back.
As we are all aware of, this world runs on a “to see is to believe” mantra. Posting my plans without the assurance of them happening in the future will only be boasting. True enough, after I prayed what to do, God gave an answer through a verse I stumbled upon while browsing Godpreneur‘s IG newsfeed:
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.– James 4:13-17
Always His Will Be Done
I finally got the assurance – share your plans but share it in a manner that will honor God and His will, first and foremost. The verses reminded me that by sharing my plans, I have the responsibility to make them happen especially if they are according to God’s will. And yet it also reminded me that,
“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21
When I shared my plans, it is not about boasting what I intend to do. It is, in fact, relying on faith and WHAT GOD WILL DO. This means that if the plans I mentioned failed, God has other plans other than what I originally planned. And yet if they push through, the plans are aligned with God’s plans.
On a deeper level, sharing what I have felt in my heart that I must share is about asking God to work His wonders whether plans fail or plans succeed. It is about letting the world know that we do what we need to do because God intended that it is His Name, His Glory, and His Power that will be proclaimed through our lives.
Do You Have the Heart to Follow Even When Everything Fails?
Yes. I believe failures are a part of God’s will for us to reach our destination. But for the most part of the journey and for the entirety of His purpose for us, this is what will stand – God’s plans will not fail. In fact, Jeremiah 29:11 always assures us that,
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Taking risks is tough, failing is even tougher. But what have we to lose if we do things according to His will and follow His leading?
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1
Always ready to follow His leading,
The Journeyman's Moments 