How many times have you heard or even said, “maybe it’s just not God’s will for me/you”? I have heard this more times than I can count. We often say this when we are disappointed, in pain or frustrated and there is just no answer for what we’re going through. This is like trying to solve a calculus problem without understanding basic math.
Before we begin to try and discern the will and timing of an omniscient God—or determine that something is out of God’s will and is therefore out of our reach—we need to go back to the basics. Is there a basic spiritual principle that we are overlooking? Are we trying to do something within God’s jurisdiction while neglecting to do what is within our own jurisdiction?
I always loved school and was a good student, even though I struggled with math. In fact, in my sophomore year, I fell so far behind in a class that I had to repeat it in the summer to get a better grade. The instructor made us do what seemed like remedial math problems at the beginning of every class. He told us that we would never be successful in upper division math until we had a solid foundation of the basics. This is true when it comes to our faith. Before we reach beyond our jurisdiction and try to determine God’s will, we should make sure we are following basic spiritual principles.
Presiding Action
If you’re in need of something—money, relationship, forgiveness, grace or anything else that you desire, have you assumed that it’s not God’s will that you have it?
Consider the principle from Luke 6:36, “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Is there an area of your life where you have been disappointed and/or frustrated? Have you assumed that you are simply out of God’s will? Go back to the basics and see if there is a principle that you have overlooked.