Could You Please Enunciate?

(Prepare to be frustrated by the end of this post.)

I have a relatively well defined sense of what is right or wrong for my life.

I cannot think of too many times that I've been stuck in the middle of a decision.

Now, that's not to say that I always make the right choice.  

Though I do think it is safe to say that most times when I make a bad decision, I know I'm making it.

Does that make a bit of sense?

I guess I'm trying to say that there have been very few times that I've been totally and completely unsure of which direction to take.

I apologize for being vague.  

But I'm going to be vague.

Every day we make choices.  What to wear, what to eat, where to go...

Occasionally we make choices with results that have lasting consequences.

I try to take any decision that I'm faced with and line it up with God's Word.

Sometimes God speaks so loudly that I know I'm really only left with a single option.

Guatemala was that kind of decision.

I had lots of reasons why it wasn't a good idea, but I knew that saying yes was my only option.

Still other times we are faced with decisions that can totally go either way.

Both options line up with God's Word.

The pros and cons are pretty equal.

Choice A brings pain and Choice B brings pain.

Neither feel completely right.

I've prayed.  

I've been in God's Word.

I've sought counsel from godly friends.

I'm still conflicted.

My heart is torn.

The funny thing is that every friend that I've confided in has had the same answer.

But it is not what I want to do.

Doing what is right feels wrong.

Doing what is wrong feels right.

It is so easy to justify whatever we want.

How do you know what is a "gut feeling" that should be followed and what is just wanting what you want?

I was hoping that writing it out would make it clearer.

NOT SO MUCH.

(And I assure you that I'm not talking about my paint color.)

(Though it was touch & go for a while...)

Comments

[Capri Kel]

Are you in the position to wait for a bit?
Sometimes when I am in the same sort of situation, I just wait.
The more I turn it over in my mind and pray about it, it becomes clearer.
It's like God uses the time for me to get more used to the solution, until I can tolerate it.
Not necessarily easier, but it seems more doable.

On the other hand, God is really into obedience, and if you already know for certain, you had better just do it.

[DawnJoy]

Praying for ya. I REALLY like what Capri Kel said. REALLY! - Dawn

[Michele]

Well...think back to the beginning in the garden of Eden...God gave Adam and Eve LOTS of choices for eating. He only said NO to one tree. They could say YES to almost everything. If you have a choice to make and you know there's something God would say "WRONG" to, then there's your answer. If He hasn't said it's wrong, it's an option for you. Then you have to decide if your conscience can handle it, how it affects other people in your life, etc.

[Lindsay @ Bytes of Memory]

ooo that is tough.. I hate decisions that leave you going was that right or wrong.. but the worst is having time to think about the decision and not knowing!

[Dana Jones]

I really thought it was going to be the paint.

Okay, I make decisions *snap* like that! My husband has to consider every possible angle. It comes in handy in his line of work. But it drives me nuts at home.

You strike me as the first kind. But maybe you just have to think this one through. It's okay, you can take your time. (I think)

[Soliloquy]

You know what. I think I understand.

I'm there too.

Here's a question. Does The Call ever change?

We started something over three years ago that we thought was from the Lord... and now, as we continue to wait, our faith is waning.

We don't want to be disobedient. Don't want to miss A THING God has for us.....

But we're beginning to feel like either we "heard wrong", or perhaps the "Call has changed." Because how could it turn out SO DIFFERENT?

Praying for you, friend.

A good friend told me last night, When it's God, things that you can't do on your own just fall into place. Things on God's timetable don't have to be "forced to fit".

This is vague too.

See how it feels??? ;o)

[Shelia Bowman]

I hope you come to peace about whatever decision you're facing.

[Kelly]

hmmmm... I wrestled with a life-altering decision for 4 MONTHS in 2006. I finally made the decision. It was not easy. It WAS life altering. It resulted in what may have been the 2 most difficult years of my life. However, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. It made me a smarter, stronger & WAY more sensitive & open-minded human being.

You can do it! (whatever it is) I know you trust God - I think you should try to listen to Him & simply trust that He always has your best interests at heart.

Good Luck!

[rrmama]

I hate decisions like that! I was in one not to long ago. I prayed, waited, prayed some more. And even though I feel as if God spoke to my heart and lead me down the path of His choice, I still wonder.

I will be praying for you my friend.

Listen to what Capri Kel said, there is a lot of wisdom in that answer!

[Hélène]

Is this about La Princessa? Worried minds want to know!

[Tiera]

Keeping you in prayer!

[just another day in paradise]

Give it over to God, my friend. It will all be ok.

[kris]

will pray you hear the way! keep your chin up!

[frantically heidi]

"How do I know if this is my thoughts or the voice of the spirit?"
That is a lifelong question, my friend. Sometimes the answer is so clear, but other times...
I am trying to make it a habit in my prayers to ask God to teach me his language. The more I immerse myself in his word and in prayer, the clearer things become.
Sometimes the hard thing, the thing that seems wrong, is just his way of testing your devotion and obedience. You have no idea how things will end once you decide to act (just as Abraham and Isaac). But you can be assured that obedience will bring you blessings.
When we ask "What lack I yet?" we must be prepared to accept the answer and do his will, lest we be the one who "goes away sorrowing"...
Maybe this comment has more to do with my heart, and where I am trying to be right now, but I hope it helps some.

[Andy]

Dear Queen,
It sounds like your primary concern is understanding how it is going to work out. But if you understood it all perfectly there wouldn't be any faith. Doing what is right, even if it feels wrong, and trusting Him to be faithful beyond our understanding requires faith. Sin always, always, always brings pain and so doing what is wrong may feel right but will be devastating in the end. Doing what is right might feel wrong but will always, always, always bring good in the end. You will worship God one day when you get to understand why He asked you to do it the right way that hurt, so choose to believe and worship Him now through submissive obedience.

Or maybe I'm misreading your post and it isn't a reluctance to believe God that is the issue. Then I think the other option is that you are worshiping comfort and the avoidance of pain rather than worshiping God. That which has our functional obedience serves as our god and so comfort has resurfaced as an idol. It was an idol before the Guatemala trip and you came back convinced and committed to not let that happen again. So, don't! Obey God in this, even if it hurts (like the trip to Guatemala) and watch what He does. Last time you got a new love for Him, a new joy and new daughter out of it.

One last thing. Do you have any doubt of the Father's love for Jesus? I'm fairly sure you just said, "no!" So it wasn't because He didn't love Jesus that He led Him to the cross to die. And yet Jesus suffered horribly when He did what was right, despite the Father's unwavering love. And through His death, you are adopted as a daughter of God and loved with the same infinite love as Jesus. But such love doesn't mean an avoidance of pain and suffering. Jesus' death on the cross just proves once and for all that every intent of the Father's heart for you is good. If He did not spare His own son, how will He not also along with Him graciously give us all things?

Choose what is right. It is good.

[Kelly @ Love Well]

You're right. I'm frustrated.

But it's out of concern for you. Praying.

[Dawn W]

As husband and wife, we have always faced situations as you've described with the attitude of keep moving forward until the door slams shut. If you've earnestly prayed and are certain there's no selfishness in your decision and truly believe you've not heard a clear directive in another direction... keep moving. If you are in a pure relationship with the Lord, you will KNOW if you are not moving in the right direction.

Praying for you!

Praying for you! Want to see you soon :)

Michelle C.

[Sandy]

I think I've been in that place about a thousand times in my life. It hurts. In the end, all you can do is go with the decision you have the most peace about. No one can really tell you whether you're doing the right thing, not even well-meaning Christians who are trying to help. You have to live with the decision, they don't. Once my husband had a job offer that I didn't feel peaceful about, mainly because we would be losing our insurance. I prayed, and I honestly didn't think it was an obedience issue or a lack of faith, I just didn't have peace about that job. I don't know how many people told me I wasn't 'trusting God'. My husband took a different job, with insurance, and two weeks later we found out I was pregnant. I knew all along I didn't have peace about the first job. The fact that people were giving me spiritual sounding advice by telling me to 'believe God' and take the job without the insurance, did not change the fact that I didn't have any peace. Often, we will look more/less like we're following God depending only on who we ask. For someone else, different family, different job, it may have been God's desire for them to take the job without the insurance, for any number of reasons, and He would have provided health care in a different way. But, I knew that job wasn't for us at that time. I had to risk looking 'unspiritual' to our friends, to do what I knew was right. I agree with the comment that said to cast it all on Him. And then let peace be your umpire. It seems as though the more we grow in God, the higher the stakes get and no matter which decision we make, it will require a great deal of faith to walk out. Praying for you that His peace will be abundant.

[Angie]

For me it's about not moving forward until I have peace, then stepping out in faith and obedience even if I know the consequences might not turn out like I want them to. And remembering that God holds me in His hand no matter what.

Praying for peace as you work it out.

[Tonggu Momma]

Oh, my friend. This is what makes this very topic so confusing and conflicting. It seems such a simple thing at first, but when you step back and look at things, it's a messy and slippery slope. The ethics, the call we feel, the emotions... it's unbelievable all we go through.

Do I believe that God wants you to help with part one of your dilemma (I'm assuming it's the one I know about)? If you feel peace and conviction about that, then yes, I do. Does that mean that I believe God will follow through and deliver on part two? Yes, I actually do... because I have faith. But - even if I am wrong and part two doesn't happen as we pray it will - I still believe that part one was meant to happen. And that somehow the Lord will protect y'all from hurt. But if you aren't at peace or filled with conviction about part one, then I would wait. Perhaps God has a different plan, one y'all aren't yet aware of.

Does any of this make it easy? Heck no. I couldn't do it - just being honest here. Then again, I didn't think I could handle what we are now going through either. Just like Soliloquy, I wonder if the Call has somehow changed for us. But then I remind myself that it's not that God gives us only what we can handle... instead He gives us only what HE can handle.

Hugs my friend. And I hope my last e-mail didn't contribute.

[Headless Mom]

Waiting for what God thinks is the right thing is hard. IMO whatever is God's way will fall into place one way or another. If you have the luxury of time you'll feel it, if you don't just pray and do it. God will make it right.

[Sue T]

I dont have any great advice for you but I really do sympathise. Those kind of decisions are the hardest ever, praying that God will help you out with it. x

[Robyn (3girlsmom)]

Your heart is right.
It might feel wrong, but right is right. Always.

And remember, she is yours. My bracelet has not come off my arm and my prayers are constantly going up on your behalf.

[Sue]

Queen,

I too am waiting on the Lord to work something out for me.... something that has been my heart's desire for quite awhile... And the only thing I can say is that whenever I've been stuck in that 'What to do?' spot, God has always given me an answer. I MUST do it this way or I must do it that way.... and believe me... I drag my ankles sometimes because it's NOT the way I would choose... I just have to wait on Him... His timing is perfect. And JUST when I'm at the point of saying 'Did I really hear Him right?', because nothing & I mean NOTHING has been happening for soooo long.... something happens! And I know I'm still on the right path. Step out, step forward... He'll catch you every time.

Praying.