Have you ever been afraid you were going to "miss" God's will for your life?

Fearful that you would somehow veer off the path as you vicariously search for clues as to what His will might be for you?  

Or maybe you've feared that you've already missed it and that you've caused irreparable damage to the path He had originally chosen for you.

I've been there, and it's not a fun place to be.  It may have been the belief systems that surrounded me over the years, but I remember flashes of words such as "permissive" and "perfect" being associated with God's will, and this foreboding sense of fear attached to the idea that I might somehow slip into the oblivion that was God's - gulp - "permissive" will.

The sad thing is I think many of us are missing the joy of walking daily in God's will because we are so consumed with trying to figure out what God's will is out in the future somewhere.

I’ve been there too! In fact, a little over a year ago, I was wrestling with the Lord. I was being Jacob-like in my resolve.  I wanted God to speak to me (not audibly, mind you, though that would've been nice) and I wasn't going to stop asking until He did.  I wanted direction!  

Finally and mercifully, God did speak, but not in the way I expected Him to do so.  Instead of giving me a definitive sense of direction as to what choice I should make, so as to avoid plunging into the utter darkness of permissiveness, He gave me an illustration.  And the illustration went something like this...

Say a loving parent was out with their young son or daughter on a bike ride.  It was a beautiful day, all was well, and the child, while still vulnerable to spills and falls, was sailing along confidently on their shiny new bike.  He or she had really taken to heart all the instruction that parent had deposited into them and was enjoying riding along in the safety of those perimeters.  

"Stay on the sidewalk."  

"Look both ways before crossing the street."  

"Wear your helmet."

"Use your brakes on the hills."  

"Enjoy the ride!"  

That parent can peacefully ride behind that mindful child, enjoying the companionship, not having to give constant correction.

Now you had better believe that parent is keeping an incredibly watchful eye on that new footloose and fancy-free bike-rider, and the very moment that child gives even the slightest sign of veering off the path of safety - onto the grass toward the road  or into the path of an oncoming car - that parent will scream loud and clear, diving toward the child, taking every measure to intervene, even at their own peril.  

You see, that parent's lack of giving constant verbal instruction to the child on their ride never indicated a lack of involvement or a disengagement, it actually expressed a measure of trust in that child.  

Watchful trust.

In the same way, like the parent, the Lord gives us instruction and deposits wisdom in our hearts through His Word.  And as we spend time with Him, we become more sensitive to His voice.  He graciously sets out a clear path before us, full of wisdom and truth, guidelines empowered by His Spirit.  He has demonstrated His great love and concern for us by His very intervention and sacrifice for us on the cross, placing Himself in harm's way.  

As children, we veered off the path and He came decisively and passionately after us, rescuing us from certain death.  And His Holy Spirit is always with us, tenderly aware, nudging us toward the path that is best.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make  your paths straight."

This Scripture is so freeing because it points out that our responsibility is to trust in Him and acknowledge (submit to) Him.  Our job isn't to figure out every turn on the path or to live in fear of veering out of God's will.  We are to simply trust Him, seek Him, and honor Him - submitting to His instruction,which brings safety, freedom, light and life.    HE will, in turn, make our paths straight.  

Ahhhhhh....what a relief!  

And even greater, if, at some point, we do crash and burn, He will pick us up, tend to our wounds, speak to our ache, and compassionately set us back on the path yet again.

What a beautiful picture - a beloved child rambling along in front of my Father, safely within the perimeters of His protection, attentive to His voice, trusting that if I as much as slightly veer to the left or to the right that "my ears will hear a voice behind me, saying, 'This is the way....walk (or ride!) in it.'" (Isaiah 30:21)

So love Him.  Trust Him.  Submit to Him.

And go ride your bike!

I’d love for you to join the conversation! Please share how you’ve felt constrained by fear and/or how you’ve found freedom in trust in and dependance on the Lord!