What is God’s will for my life?

A little back story…

I love the Lord and desparately long to be in His will. Recently, when things didn’t look how I thought they should, I began to question if we were in God’s will or if we made a mistake.

I think the better question is: AM I who God wants me to be? Are we focusing on the outcome, or who God call us to be?

After the leading of the Lord and a deep heart desire to be home with my children, I stepped away from my full time corporate job two and a half years ago, which led us to South Carolina after an open door and prayer. I was heartbroken to leave our home; and it was a tough transition that I grieved for awhile.

With the sale of our home, we were able to pay off debt (only to get right back into it), moved twice, navigated doors opening and closing, and trying to build a life and community in a new place with two small children. The best way I could explain it- we felt like we were in the wildnerness. In some ways, my unrenewed mind it felt like we were being punished; like we had made the “wrong choice” and that’s why things were falling apart.

To be honest, I have NO IDEA in hindsight if it was God’s “perfect will” for us to go there. Fast forward two and half years later, I am back at that same job that I left part-time to help contribute to our finances, and we moved BACK home two weeks ago. I have wondered why the Lord would take us out of certain places and situations, just to end up back in them. I have wondered if uprooting our family and taking the risk was in vain…. but I learned a VERY valuable lesson.

Maybe it’s not about the destination, but the journey… Pruning is an essential part of our walk with Jesus and abiding in the Lord. The ONLY way we can bear more fruit, is by the pruning shears.

I believe prayer is absolutely essential. We should be seeking God in all things. BUT..the Lord is more concerned about our heart, motives, and character than He is “outcomes” like we are.

We can have the job, the home, the spouse, the church, the school, or the city God has for our life in that season, but if we’re at the right places with the WRONG heart, what does it matter? We can be fruitful if we’re not focused on WHO God is calling us to be.

What if God has a specific job for you that you take, but you aren’t the person He wants you to be an example of His grace, truth, and love? You’d end up being a poor witness and thwart the plan He had for you there. What if God gives you that spouse, but you aren’t the helpmate they need? What will you do in hard times when you don’t have the character to sustain what God intended? What if the Lord blesses you with children but you don’t have the character to disciple them? What happens when you get that raise, or the house? Do you use it for kingdom purposes?

At the end of the day, we have to rememeber, life isn’t about us. It’s about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. In everything we seek, let’s remember to be who God is asking us to be. Holy, set apart, standing for righteousness, and to exude the fruits of the Spirit. God’s plan is not a path, but a posture of your heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Micah 6:8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.