Being a pastor, people come to me asking for help in finding what God’s will is for them concerning this or that. I can’t always help the way they want. But I know something of God’s will for everyone reading this: it is not God’s will for you to be merely happy all the time. It isn’t. And if you’re thinking something different out there you need to wake up and smell the coffee! Happiness is only one of many emotions that God wants us to experience. As Christians we are expected to feel love, peace, hope, anger, hatred, grief, desire, zeal and fear. If we go through life only feeling happiness, we are missing something. It is not God’s will for you to be happy all the time.
What is the point of these miserable times then? To build you and mold you and change you into the man or woman God wants you to be. The point of a crucible is to purify. To make better. To increase worth. The purest gold is the gold that has been refined by the fire. The strongest sword the one whose blade was heated and hammered and folded the longest. The most beautiful glass is the glass that has been heated and blown while in the heat of the fire.
The best example perhaps I can give of this is from the movie, The Prince of Egypt. One of my favorite scenes is when Moses encounters the burning bush. And the thing I like about that scene is the fact that the bush is growing, blooming, even flourishing in the fire of God. We think of fire as a bad thing, as something destructive. But something happens when God gets a hold of fire. It becomes life giving.
What I have been learning is that these events we are tempted to think are the end of us, become the very things that build our perseverance, and character, and hope. They are the very things that make us the people we want to become. Think of it. How many great and successful people do you know that did not go through some terrible low point in their life first? The greatest people, the wisest people, the people we all want to become, the people we most admire, are the people who have failed the most, hurt the worst, been rejected the most, and had more disappointments. “All men fall, the great ones get back up.” Life is going to knock you down. Get back up!
Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:21 (NLTse),
If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
What kind of utensil do you want to be? There are too many “average” Christians out there. I hope that God has given you dreams of where He wants to take you that seem impossible to come true. I hope that you want to come alongside God’s Spirit who is at work within you, and strive with all your might to be the best person you can be, the best Christian you can be. I believe whatever your God-given dream is, it can happen for you if you are willing to pay the price. And the price is this—the deeper you determine to grow, the greater the challenges and disappointments you will have along the way. But the reward will be greater than the disappointments: the more like Christ you will have become, and the more joy and happiness you will have secured along the way.
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 
Yeah yeah Dan is like oh no her again.. 🙂
To answer what does god want from me is tough. I would say listen with your heart. Don’t think about it just act. To quote the kids movie Robots “When you see a need fill a need.” We all have the ability to help, to do some of gods work. Look around and begin helping as Jesus would. Don’t ask him just start doing his work.
Every day we pass people on the streets who are hungry, cold, or in need. If we have the ability maybe start just by doing good things to help others. Let him mold and guide you from there you will find his calling if you begin doing his work.
What I have seen of the bible is the great men of god sought him out. They didn’t sit and wait for him they went to him. Doing his work in helping those in need will bring you to him and if we listen close with our hearts he will guide us to the path he desires. You will begin to see reward to your spirit in the work and as you see your spirit nourished you will hear his words louder and clearer.
No money? No problem many homeless shelters need volunteers, soup kitchens need volunteers, veteran centers need volunteers. There are children’s hospitals and other charities who do great work for god and they are in need. Take time to talk to people who are down on their luck, share what you have of your time, food, and most importantly while you are sharing share your faith.
Have no time but have money? Buy canned goods for the soup kitchen, bag and extra lunch for that homeless person you pass every day. Many churches have outreach or community projects and could use some spare money.
The best thing you can do to learn where god wants you is to “See a need, fill a need.” Let him guide you to where he wants you but first start giving of yourself, your time, your money, and don’t forget your faith. Start doing his work wherever you see it and you will find where he wants you because his hand will see you to his desired plan.
The only gifts we ever keep are those we give away.
~Michelle
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Haha! I always welcome your comments Michelle! 😉
Those are some good words! You remind me of what James said in James 2:14-17 (NIV), “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
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See that James fella was pretty smart. He said what I said but better. And kind of a few years before me. 🙂
It’s all about sharing his work and his word. Work ofcourse being the action part os his word. Did I meantion this was another brilliant post? Well it was.
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It must be hard for you… being so awesome and all, thinking James’ thoughts after him like that. 😉
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as always – well put!
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Thank you my friend!
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