Do you ever feel like you’re stumbling down a road in the wrong direction? Me too. How can we run the race Jesus planned for us if we don’t know where we’re going? Take heart. Even when we don’t have a clue what God wants us to do, He’s right beside us, holding keys that will empower us to fulfill our destiny with Him.
MAKING CHOICES HELPS US GROW TOWARD OUR DESTINY
One thing that often trips us up is that Jesus lets us decide. We often hesitate to step out because we’re afraid we will make the wrong choice.
Here are some wrong choices people in the Bible made:
Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and ate from the wrong tree. As a result, they had to leave Eden and God’s presence.
The Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land for fear of the giants that lived there. As a result, they had to wander forty years in the desert and only Joshua, Caleb, and the generation born in the wilderness could enter.
These choices were much worse than choosing the wrong career or dating the wrong person. However, the mistakes Adam, Eve, and the Israelites made couldn’t overturn the purposes of God, and neither can any of our blunders. God’s not pacing the floor, wondering if we’ll get it right. He is, however, observing whether we learn from our mistakes.
God never forces us to decide. He allows us to choose because He understands that learning to make decisions is part of our growth process.
When our kids were small, my husband and I let them make small choices, like what to wear, or what to have for lunch. As they became teens, we allowed them to make more important choices, like who to date, or where to go with their friends. We increased their range of choices as they grew.
When children become adults, if they can’t make decisions on their own without their parents, this will cause problems in all their relationships. Part of the growth process includes learning a sense of self. Psychologists call this “individuation.” Making their own decisions is part of this.
Likewise, Father God lets us make decisions to help us learn who we are, and to teach us to grow into our giftings. He knows that learning from our failures is as important as learning from our successes.
All five of my children made college choices after high school that didn’t match their final career paths. These weren’t wrong choices. Often, God takes us on a winding path because He has life lessons to teach us on the way.
HELP OTHERS WITH HUMILITY AND HONOR
Those of us with adult children have experienced helping them find their way in life. We watch them make choices that may or may not work, and we give them advice when they ask for it. If we honor who they are and humbly come alongside them, they will succeed.
GOD TREATS US WITH HONOR
Talking down to our kids and making flippant judgments about their decisions never works. However, honoring their opinions, even if we don’t agree, and meeting them on their level opens the door to deeper relationships.
That’s how God treats us. If we seek Him, He will be with us in times of trouble and honor us.
“I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel my presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor.” Psalm 91:15 TPT
The Hebrew word “honor” in this passage means “weighty.” In other words, to regard someone as important, significant, and worthy of respect.
JESUS HONORS JOHN THE BAPTIST
John the Baptist never expected to be honored. As a matter of fact, he was astonished and humbled by the honor Jesus brought to him. Let me explain:
John was sold out to God. He knew he was preparing the way for the Messiah by baptizing people and bringing them to repentance. In other words, he showed people they needed a change of heart. (See Matthew 3:1-3)
However, when Jesus showed up at the Jordan River, He did something that shocked John to his very core. He asked John to baptize Him. Listen to John’s response:
But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him. Matthew 3:13-15 AMP
John thought he knew what it meant to have a change of heart, but he discovered that part of that change involved being treated with honor by a humble God. The Messiah wasn’t the distant God of judgment he had learned about in the Old Testament. No. This was the Almighty God who left the glory of heaven to become human.
Notice that Jesus used the word “us.” Jesus was about to walk into His destiny, and He came alongside John to include him in His important entrance into ministry. He also asked John to “permit” or “allow” this unique baptism. Rather than judge John’s response by saying “Just do it!”, He included him in the decision.
John must have felt dumbfounded. However, he learned much from this moment. Jesus had given a clear picture of who He was—not just a king who needed a straight path and repentant people, but a humble God who lifts us up and works beside us.
HUMILITY AND HONOR EMPOWER DESTINY
A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down, but he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29:23 AMP
On the heels of humility (the fear of the Lord) are riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 GW
Jesus honors us by coming alongside us as we make choices. As we observe His example, we can follow in His footsteps.
Humility of heart and honor for one another mark the entrance to the destiny God has chosen for us.