Staying Sane in God's Process

If I'm honest I'd say that more often than I would like to admit, I find myself feeling as though I'm completely at as loss when it comes to understanding where I am in relation to God's process. Through this seemingly unending struggle, God has worked into me (or perhaps I should say BEAT into me) two truths that have become anchors for my ability to stay confident and have peace through every season.

1) His Voice -- Listen & Obey.
Despite the constant screams from my mind, will, and emotions that are always calling into question where I am, what I'm doing, what "my plan" is, etc -- there is only one voice that I can rely on to be my guide. Sometimes it takes me half an hour of sitting silently in "prayer" before I can even begin to really tune into God, but His voice is literally my lifeline. In this life, we are bombarded with countless voices both from within us and from outside sources that would seek to steer us one way or another. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice" and "the voice of a stranger they will not follow" (Jn. 10:27; 10). Until I have heard Him speak, I am wandering aimlessly, vulnerable to be led astray by other voices. But when I have heard Him, everything is certain, clear, safe, and hopeful.

2) His Hands -- Trust & Believe.
 Often even after I have heard, I find myself calling what He has spoken into question because life around me does not look like it's headed where I'd thought it would. Every time this issue arises, God brings me back to this scripture over and over again:

"...for I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." -- 2 Tim 1:12

If I have really put my life, my destiny, my joy into God's hands, then it is no longer on me to make anything happen. Paul does not say here, "I know in WHAT I have believed" but "in WHOM." It's all the difference in the world whether your confidence and peace rests in whether you're making progress toward some visible outcome that you're "believing for" or whether it rests in the knowledge that you have entrusted your life into the surest of hands. He is able to guard it all; I need only to know that His purposes will be accomplished, not that things will go a certain way. He will see to it; I need only to remain in Him, and I will bear much fruit (Jn. 15:7-8).

Hear Him, obey Him, trust Him, believe Him. Let every other voice be silenced, every doubt cast aside, every fear put to rest! Let us say with Jesus, as it concerns finishing our races well:

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame" (Isa. 50:7).

Adventure

ADVENTURE (n.) - "a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome."

This is quite possibly my favorite word in the dictionary. I haven't been able get it out of my head or heart lately. I note two important elements in the above definition that are essential to adventure: RISK and UNCERTAINTY.

Something in the human condition loves the thrill of adventure. It is simply not fulfilling to forever stay within the safe confines of familiarity. But when one seeks to "venture" out of what comes naturally, we quickly encounter the unknown.

The unknown is both our greatest pull toward and inhibitor from adventure. We long for adventure because it is exciting, fullfilling, and thrilling; however, we are afraid of it because there is always risk associated with the unknown.

The beautiful thing about adventure in God, though, is that through trust in His word and His character, the risk of the unknown is eliminated so that we are left with nothing but a joyous expectation of living out God's invincible and perfect will in our lives. Basically, that is to say that as a Christian, we get to enjoy the thrill of following God into the unknown while not having to worry a bit about the risks involved.

How? The "risk" of failure is removed by trusting in His promises:

• He will guide me along the best pathway for my life (Ps. 32:8)
• His call is without repentance (Rom 11:29)
• He is able to guard what I've entrusted to him (2 Tim 1:12)
• He is working in me to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil 2:13)
• He will not forsake me, for his own name's sake (1 Sam. 12:22)
• God's zeal for his own name will see His will accomplished (Isa. 37:32)
• etc!

When you realize that God's will for you doesn't depend on your commitment to Him, but His commitment to you -- not your ability for Him, but His enabling in you -- you will find courage to look beyond uncertainty and begin to walk out God's invincible will for your life.

That's not to say that there is no risk of hurt or disappointment or suffering or loss -- in fact, those are guaranteed (Jn. 16:33)! But true adventure isn't about comfort or ease or entertainment or even fun -- it's about purpose, destiny, eternity! That kind of adventure is not something you can just find with a passport and suitcase. It's even more than risking your natural life like a thrill-seeking skydiver. It's putting your eternal destiny on the line and by faith placing all your marbles in the basket of God's sovereign purposes and sufficient grace unto His supreme glory.

I am persuaded that life in God is the greatest adventure. It is a quest into the unknown where our very lives, the eternal fate of men, and the glory of God are at stake. There is no greater risk you and I will ever face in this life than the risk of missing the will of God, and there is no greater reward available to us than the reward of fulfilling it. Because of this, there is no greater adventure than pursuing the will of God. No matter what it costs or where it takes you, it will be the most thrilling and fulfilling way to live!