I was born in the late 1970’s and grew up in the 80’s/90’s. I grew up in a time before constant internet connection, social media overload, cell phone attachment (cells phone for all in fact), and connection that actually can breed disconnection. We played outside, watched after school specials, and Saturday morning cartoons. We read and played and related to one another socially without a device between us.
All this is say that I was thinking this morning of the books I loved as child. “Choose your own adventure”. In these books, one reads a plot line then decides the next step for the characters. For example choose plot line A then go to page 8 or choose B and go to page 10. Each choice leads to different story outcome for the characters.
As I was pondering these books this morning, it led me to thinking of God and His will for us. What if He doesn’t have a singular “plan” for us in how we live our lives? Specifically our job, our family, and how we spend our time. We find ourselves praying things such as “God should I take this job?” “Should I move here or there?” “What do You want me to do next?” Yet the truth is that He gives us the free will to decide. We get to decide what we do. Some decisions draw us closer to Him and some bring us further away. Much like a choose your own adventure book, we have many possibilities and many possible outcomes. In truth, He knows them all. As a Marvel fan, this reminds me, too, of Dr Strange and how he can see multitudes of possibilities at once. Our God is an infinite God who knows all the possible outcomes of every decision we make and gives us the free will to choose. I’m sure He leads our hearts toward better outcomes as we pray for His guidance.
For me, as I have been wrestling through this with Him this morning, I am reminded that the most important thing is that I follow His will for me to love Him and love others. To follow Jesus’s example and to be obedient in all things He asks of me. I find myself at peace with the potential that He doesn’t have one single path for my life (other than living in relationship with Him). I have (we have) many potential paths. The question at each “plot twist” is more, “Which option brings me closer to You God?”, rather than “What do You want me to do?”.
Our lives here on earth are our adventures and we get free will choices of how they go. This, free will, can be liberating and daunting at the same time. My encouragement to you is that you rest in His unfailing love knowing that He is there for you. Place your focus on Jesus and when some decision goes your way ask yourself “Which brings me closer to Him?”
Heavenly Father Thank You for being such and infinite and loving God. Thank You for the free will you give us and how You will guide us through all our lives. You don’t impose yOurself on us, but rather offer Yourself freely and lovingly. Lord, May we seek You first and foremost in all decisions. May we be obedient in even the smallest of things. May we choose the options in live that bring us closer to You. Lord, for any heart struggling with a decision right now I ask You in take their hand and guide their hearts. I love you and it’s in the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Faith Grows Faith 