Most readers of these posts are aware chronic pain has been my constant companion for the past several years. So, when I awakened one morning a few weeks ago in more discomfort than usual, I knew it was time. Time to make the phone call to my primary care physician, one that I had hoped to avoid.
Why, you may ask, would I hesitate to contact my doctor?
A few months prior to that call I had asked God for wisdom and guidance. “What would you have me to do, Lord?” was my frequent prayer. And then I did my best to let go and trust he would provide insight in his time and plan.
On that particular morning, after weeks of trusting God, I was at peace as I made the call. No second-guessing. No doubts. In obedience, I knew this was the step the Lord wanted me to take.
To be a Christian does not mean we will never struggle—with physical pain or any of a multitude of other issues. Quite the opposite. However, I believe it is our openness and willingness to ask questions of the Divine, to ponder and reflect upon Scripture, that opens our hearts to be in communion with the Lord about every aspect of our life. This doesn’t happen once. It is, in fact, the journey of a lifetime.
Some of the questions?
. . . what does it mean to be obedient?
For many of us, the idea of being obedient is distinctly rooted in our childhood. Listen to your parents, your teachers, any authority figures in your life. We interpret that to mean, “be obedient—do what others tell you—or be in trouble.”
God’s idea of obedience is entirely different, although it may take us a while to learn that. God does not issue demands or mete out punishment from some high and distant place of unloving power. God invites. God speaks softly to the inmost parts of our being. It is his greatest desire to “work all things to [our] good.” [Romans 8:28]
When I prayed “Lord, what would you have me to do?” his response—in his time and plan—was clear. To call the doctor was not an indication of fear or weakness, rather, it was an act of courage to trust and believe God would, and could, work through human physicians to do what only he, the Divine Physician, can do.
. . . how do we know if the ‘voice’ we hear is God’s?
To make the decision to listen for, and discern God’s still small voice is, indeed, our choice. God does not force his will upon us. Throughout our day, whether awake or in deep sleep, he makes his presence known amid our thoughts and feelings. If we are patient, if we listen, we will begin to recognize the Divine in what may seem to be the smallest moments of our life.
The Lord’s voice is not loud or angry, nor does he chide or abrade. The Lord is kind and merciful. He desires to heal us, guide us, light the path before us. As Scripture states: “Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish?” [Matthew 7:9-10]
. . . what does it mean to rest in the peace that surpasses all understanding?
Human peace usually centers on what can I do, what action can I take to find an answer or resolve an issue. We pay our bills, we treat our neighbor kindly, we give of our time and energy to family. It is not wrong or sinful to make these choices. On the other hand, we soon learn these moments of peace can be fleeting.
As we grow in intimacy with the Lord, we begin to discover his peace runs much deeper within our spirit. The peace of the Lord quiets our restless soul, nourishes our hunger for hope, and embraces us in a certitude we are meant to savor. Paul states it well: “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:6-7]
The truth is we need both human knowledge and Divine wisdom. The good news is that when we learn to submit the whole of self to God, he provides us with exactly what we need at the moment it is needed most.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. [John 14:27]
Do I rely on human knowledge? Why?
How do I feel about Divine wisdom?
Can I trust the Lord to work through each of us to carry out his will and plan?
