Did God Tell You To Do That?

…stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the LORD.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas… (Jeremiah 23:36, NLT).

I often talk with people who yearn for guidance from a Higher Power. Most work hard and live responsible lives. Yet they long to understand the greater purpose for which God created them. They desire honest appraisals of their talents and shortcomings. They seek direction in life’s crucial choices. They crave affirmation; they want to know that they’re on the right path. Theirs is not a self-serving hunger for success. Rather, they aspire to be faithful and useful. They want to please their Creator and add value to the lives of others. Yet they are restless, often questioning, “Could I do more?” or “Should I do something different?”

Sometimes I encounter people who are extraordinarily confident that they are doing exactly what God has destined them to do. Some use unequivocal language such as, “God called me to do this.” Others engage in bold enterprises with no doubt that God will bless their labor. Such people project an assurance that makes others hesitant to question their choices. When they succeed, they claim God’s favor. When they fail, they may re-frame their endeavors or blame others. A few will say simply, “I was wrong.”

Some people bounce from one thing to another, proposing that God is leading them to do this or that, yet never really establishing a consistent trajectory. They want to do what is right yet begin doubting their decisions almost as soon as they make up their mind. People with this mindset entertain grand thoughts about their futures. Typically they do just enough to get by. They end up living under-productive lives.

Our society is ruthless toward the indecisive yet suspicious of the overly self-assured or self-described “God-assured.” We applaud the successful who credit God for the gifts and opportunities they have been afforded. Yet we question those who promote themselves as chosen vessels for the Lord’s work. When the artist touts, “It wasn’t me; it was God!”, we muse, “Man, it was good but it wasn’t that good.”

Have you wondered what life would be like if God just told you what to do with an audible voice? All ambiguity would be erased; we’d have only one decision, to obey or to rebel. Would you be comfortable with that? Do you prefer the ambiguity, some “wiggle room”, so to speak.

While we may not have the advantage of audible directions from God, there are certainly ways we can increase our clarity and confidence when it comes to making life-directing choices. We can start by strengthening our relationships with fellow believers, being honest with them about our struggles, soliciting their observations, and listening. God often speaks through the counsel of the Body of Christ.

The qualities that enable us to live fruitful lives are not developed in isolation. We discover our greatest value, and perhaps our greater purpose, in the context of community. As we observe the lives of people and engage them in meaningful conversations, we nurture our relational intelligence. We listen and become aware of people’s needs, their hopes, and their dreams. We give and discover what adds value to their lives. We develop our skills and learn to better meet their needs. This is the grand experiment: we fail; we succeed; we learn.

My challenge to you today is to seek and to nurture close relationships in a healthy church-community. As people get to know you better, they’ll see your strengths and your shortcomings more clearly. If you listen peaceably to them, you’ll find that they have valuable insights about you to share with you. Hear them and honor their voice as a means through which the Creator speaks to you. Even if you feel you must go against their counsel, you’ll still find value in their warnings. This kind of openness is scary but it is the pathway to clarity, confidence, and humility, qualities that contribute to a healthy, productive life.