Being In The Dark…And Being Ok

By Chad McComas

For seven years while Joseph was in jail he had no idea what God’s Will was for his life. From his perspective it seemed as if God had abandoned him. Years earlier when Joseph was 17 he was certain that God had great plans for his life. He’d been given dreams of greatness, but then his brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph tried to make the best of the situation and served his master Potiphar well, but that seemingly backfired when Mrs. Potiphar’s lust got the best of her and messed up Joseph’s life.

Sitting in jail Joseph must have wondered what God’s Will was for his life.

We also wonder. And much of the time we aren’t given answers. We believe that God has plans for our lives (See Jeremiah 29:11), but the day-to-day grind of existence can wear that belief, that faith down.

How can we know God’s Will for our lives? How can we be in the middle of His Will for our lives? How can we hang on when we can’t see His Will?

One day at a time. One experience at a time.

Jesus told us: “…do not worry about your life….seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…therefore do not worry about tomorrow.” Matthew 6:25,33,34 We get the idea that Jesus wants us to trust Him to take care of our lives. Our work, our purpose is to center on God and His Will. His Will is always His work in and around us.

When we do His Will…His Work….we find a satisfaction we can’t find any other way. It is fulfilling, it is satisfying. Jesus said: “I have food to eat that you know nothing about…my food…is to do the will of him who sent me and it finish his work.” John 4:32,34

As one person put it…we are to “suit up and show up” each day in our lives for God.

Paul put it this way: “I urge you…in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1,2

When we are putting in our “time” each day with God and with His Will we have an experience that is not only satisfying, but productive for ourselves and God’s Work.

John tells us: “This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14,15

We can live each day…seeking God, asking for His Will to be done in our lives…trusting that He is carrying out those prayers…watching for the opportunities as they come…being focused on today, not yesterday and not tomorrow.

My goal, our goal, for 2009 is to “suit up, show up” and be faithful in whatever comes.