from one wiser than I...

I recently received the following words of wisdom from a mentor and friend after we had spent a morning discussing the changes soon to come in my life. Her words pierced my heart with such conviction that I was compelled to share them with you as well…

“Because I fight perfectionist tendencies (there is more than one of us!), one of my greatest dreads is missing it—somehow missing God’s voice or direction and totally missing all that God has, messing up my life and others’ lives. But some time ago, I felt the Lord’s conviction that, in times of crisis and decision-making, I have been guilty of idolatry—of worshipping at the altar of answers and guidance, and that I was being driven there by fear.

We can so easily, in times of critical decision-making, make the entire focus of our spiritual life on getting an answer rather than on trusting Christ. It becomes “answer worship” or “confirmation worship.” And, often the driving factor in seeking His voice and confirmation is fear, not trust and love. Fear of disappointing others, fear of having a wasted life, fear of missing God’s highest and best, etc., etc., etc.

Fear is rarely a God-sanctioned motivator. And I sense that He is affronted by my panicked genuflection before the altar of answers. He motivates us by life, draws us through His love, and promises to be a good shepherd, whose voice we recognize. His purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son, period. That, of course, happens through the exercising of talents and vocations. But it also happens, unfortunately, by God-ordained delays, switchbacks, forks-in-the-trail when He confounds us and invites us to trust Him at ever-deeper levels.”