HAVE YOU EVER been in a maze? Mazes have lots of twists, turns, and dead ends, and finding your way out can be challenging. Sometimes ministry feels like we are trapped in a maze trying to find our way out. Being trapped in a labyrinth can be a scary and frustrating experience. But ministry should not be like that.
In a similar way, trying to discover God’s will for our life can feel like getting out of a maze. How do I know I am following God’s will, not my feelings and desires? Is it possible to know God’s will for our life? The Bible tells us that not only is
it possible, but it is a sign of maturity in the Christian life and something we must agonize to achieve in prayer.
In the book of Colossians, Paul speaks about Epaphras, whom he recommends not just for being a faithful servant of Christ but for praying for the churches with fervor. He writes, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (Colossians 4:12, NIV). His prayer teaches us that God wants all His children to know His will and put it into practice.
IN PRACTICE
Since my husband, Ramon, and I began our ministry, it has always been our practice to follow the Lord wherever He calls. This has resulted in blessings every time, even when we did not see things clearly. I remember one time when we were considering a call to serve in another conference. I was concerned about leaving my children behind, so we took time to pray and reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of the call. But we forgot to ask a crucial question: Is this the will of God? That is the most important question when considering a call. The rest is less important.
As I was wrestling with the call, something strange happened in my backyard. Out of nowhere, two beautiful peacocks appeared on my patio. They took up residency in the top right corner of my garden and laid their eggs there. I was so excited to see these two majestic birds and began to take pictures and videos of them as they roamed through my backyard. My husband wanted to build a little shed for them to protect them from predators and the scorching heat of summer. But I told Ramon to leave them alone and that God would take care of them as He does for all animals.
Then I realized that God was talking to me through these birds. It was as if He was saying, “If I can take care of these birds, would I not be able to take care of your children? You do not need to worry about them. I will take care of them.”
That reminded me of Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 6:26 (NIV): “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” This assurance strengthened my faith to always follow God’s will, even though things may not be as clear as I would like them to be.
When He calls and we respond positively to His invitation, we can be assured that we are on the right path, following God’s will for our lives. The best place to be in life is where God wants us to be. So wherever you are right now, that is where God wants you.
