There are times when life comes at us so fast and furious that we feel like we are going to literally fall apart! I was recently sharing with a friend of mine about a decision I needed to make—and my desire to make the right one. Our choices matter, right? Decisions always have consequences!
This decision was rooted in wanting to ensure I was following the Lord’s Voice—not my own . . . and certainly not someone else’s. I wanted to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
Sometimes, we know what to do, but we are afraid to act. We don’t want to let other people down nor have others think less of us. The pressure (or persuasion) to do things someone else’s way is not always for our benefit, blessing, or best interest. Making the right life choice, according to God’s plan, can seem to be out of reach and simply too hard to get to. Competing demands can lobby for our attention—things that seem good (are good?) … and good to do. Except … when those things (i.e., other people’s agendas) are not what God desires for us.
So we need to know that there “is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12, NIV)”
Other people’s agendas are just that—other people’s agendas! They exist everywhere—and are driven by people within our families, the church, and our places of work . . . really any and everywhere people exist! There are things that seem really good, but they can lead us to a place that God did not intend.
Like Proverb 14:12 reminds us, some choices lead us in the wrong direction and something dies—not necessarily physically, but maybe a dream or goal we had dies; maybe a purpose or vision dies; maybe we give up on ever being able to achieve something because we think it is too late! So making the right choice is really important! (But, I want to pause and say this: God can still cause all things to work together for our good and His glory! Nothing need be wasted! No experience! Nothing that has happened; and nothing we have caused to happen!)
So what do we do? How do make the right decision? How do we not go with the flow when God is moving us in another direction—His direction?! How can we stand firm and be like that tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit (produces fruit or results) in season?
When the pressure to choose one way is all around us, the intensity can make us feel like we are on the brink of breaking! However, when we are fighting to stand in the midst of whatever our storm is and even when the wind makes us bend, we won’t break—as long as long as our roots are deep and our souls are anchored in Christ Jesus. It won’t feel good when we are pressured to bend, but no matter how strong or long the wind blows, no matter how loudly the winds sounds, the truth is that the wind will stop blowing! When it is all said and done, we will remain standing!
Life’s situations might bend us incredibly out of shape, but rest in knowing that when (not if) the wind ceases, we won’t break! We will probably show signs of having been “bent,” but when we have withstood the pressure of the wind, others will see and realize how strong we are—and you know what? So will we! All to the glory of God through Jesus Christ by the Power of the Holy Spirit!
Bend, but don’t break! God is with you! God is with us! Because He promised!!!
Until next time, my friend,
Selah . . .