When You Can’t See the Whole Picture by Tynea Lewis
My husband is in the final six months of seminary. For nine years, he was a teacher, but during that time, he felt God nudging him toward ministry. We prayed about it but didn’t know what all of it meant. We didn’t know where God was leading, but we could feel him stirring something within us. Michael resigned from his teaching career in 2019 to pursue seminary education full-time. We didn’t know how everything was going to work out, but just as God does, He made a way. We couldn’t see all the pieces, but we knew it was the next step. It can be scary at times, but we know God is calling our family to a life of ministry. We have no idea where God is going to lead us next. All we know is He’s going to lead because we’ve seen Him do it in the past. I’m the type of person who wants to know every detail and how those details are going to come together. If there is too much risk involved, it’s harder for me to jump in and be okay with the unknown. Despite all the unknowns, I jumped head-first into this. That peace could only come from God.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV) I love that this peace transcends all understanding because it clearly comes from God. There are many moments where I should not have peace, based on a worldly perspective, but God settles my heart. That’s the gentle answer from God. It’s the reassurance that He has everything under control and that I’m on the right path. When we face uncertainty and big decisions, are we depending on our own understanding or the understanding of God? Are we trusting that He is going to show us the way? We need God’s understanding; we need His wisdom. The amazing thing is He gives it generously to all who ask (James 1:5).
God is faithful and will show the way. God is faithful and will make the way. It might not be the way we would make, but every time God changes the Is God stirring something in your heart? Something big, scary, and life-altering? It’s so easy to let plan on me, it always ends up so much better than fear put out those sparks because we want to live I could have ever imagined. In those moments, I’m reminded of my limitations and my humanity. I’m a life that is comfortable, but I’m realizing more and more that following Jesus is not about being flawed. The world is flawed, but our God is not. comfortable. It’s about being willing to give up Seek Wise Counsel our comfort, our status, our possessions, and to truly follow Him. God uses people in our lives to point us back to Him. He uses people to accomplish His will. When So, what do you do when you feel a nudging to we are trying to discern God’s will for us, an imexplore a new path? portant thing to do is seek wise counsel. The book of Proverbs is filled with this reminder. Pray Take it to God. Share your struggles, your hopes, your fears. He longs to hear from you. Many times, I have no idea where God is directing, but He always calms my anxious heart and provides clarity when I turn to Him in prayer.
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” (Proverbs 11:14 NIV) “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV) (Continued on Page 60)
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