by Shayla Asselin
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 12:15
“You can’t ask God to protect you from the things you are inviting in.” I remember thinking that a few years ago. I would pray for clarity, but keep the very thing that was causing confusion. I would pray for direction, but be content wandering. I would pray for peace, but open the door to turmoil.
Sometimes, we never get the victory because we want freedom from the penalty of sin, but not freedom from the pleasures of sin.
The one thing I could not let go of was affecting every area of my life. I was struggling. I was unhappy. I was discontent. I was defeated. I was miserable. I would never admit my confusion to anyone. I pretended that I had it all figured out; but in my heart, I knew I needed to let it go. But, it wasn’t necessarily a sin. (Have you heard that excuse before?) There was no verse in the Bible that spelt out what I was struggling with. But, it was causing a disconnect between me, God, and the people I loved because they knew it wasn’t what was right for me.
I would argue that no-one knew like I knew what I was going through. It was my life, after all. I was closest to the issue. And that was just it, I was too close. Those around me could see the whole picture. They could see where my decisions were taking me, but I had focused in on the little bit of good I had found. I was so close that I couldn’t see the bad.
I would ask God to show me what I needed to do. “Lord, if I really need to let it go, give me a sign. Let such-and-such happen.” And He would give me that sign. People of God that I respected counseled me. Family and friends cautioned me. But I would run around the warning signs God gave me. I would tell myself that it was just the devil using people to confuse me. (See how irrational I was to think that the devil would try to use Godly people to keep me away from something that would hurt me.)
I should have just accepted the will of God and let it go. Instead, I took the pen and tried to write my own story. How foolish I was to think that I could write my story better than The Author! That part in the story of my life ended badly. One of the hardest parts was admitting I was wrong and they were right.
Someone said, “More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t too busy denying them.”
My pride was not worth the pain.
Thankfully, I realized that God had a better story planned for me if I would just let Him have His way in my life. He closed that chapter and began writing a more beautiful story than I could have ever imagined. Now, I know better than to think I know best.
When God says no, let it go. He’s not out to get you. Your family and friends aren’t trying to ruin your life. Matthew 7:11 reads, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” I know, sometimes, we want to rush things. We want to be in Chapter 6 of our lives story, and God is still writing Chapter 4.
Life is a process. Sometimes the process is painful, but I promise it will never be more painful than when you try to do it your way.
Be patient. Know that God knows what is best for you. Why do we ever assume that we know better than the God who created us? Do we really think we have a better handle on life than God? How foolish and naive.
God is for you. God is not against you. If there are people in your life that are giving you Godly counsel, listen. If God is directing you away from certain things, people, or places, obey.
Hebrews 10:36 says, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” The promises of joy, peace, happiness, and contentment are yours, if you do His will. Trust Him. Consecrate yourself to God and watch how beautifully He writes your story. I promise that you won’t regret it.
