When I was leading college students, the most popular topic hands down was "discerning God's will." There were many reasons I thought this was the case. First, for most young adults college is a time in life like none other before it when a student is wrestling with big decisions with a big potential impact on their life and they don't want to get it wrong. This was especially true when they, rather than mom and/or dad, were paying for it.
The other reason this was true, I think, is that they wanted to please God at a deep level. Many of the students with whom I worked just experienced God in their lives as an overwhelming blessing and wanted to get their lives in line with their Creator. And, in that way too, they didn't want to get it wrong.
The good part is that they wanted to be serious about their life choices, their career decisions, and they were serious about their relationship with God. What got to be problematic was when they were immobilized by the idea of getting it somehow wrong.
I found myself advising these young adults to trust in God to walk with them rather than looking for an instruction manual or perfect leader to assure them as to where they needed to go before they even tried. Sometimes they will get it right but many times they will get it wrong. They will learn from the wrong moments even more than the right moments and that too is a gift in life. Aim high and still try.
“Wisdom is not gained by knowing what is right. Wisdom is gained by practicing what is right, and noticing what happens when that practice succeeds and when it fails.”
As a church, we are praying the prayer, "God what do You want to do through me?" My window cling is on my driver's side door as I get in and so I get reminded whenever I get into my truck. I try to remember that God is in my daily busy life and that we, God and all of us, are working together on important things.
This Sunday, Jennifer Hallberg will preach her last sermon with us on her last Sunday with us. Jennifer will help us explore what it means to pray in hope, hope even in a miracle. Her title is "Prayer and the Dead Ringer."
It is also good in our individual devotions to look through scripture for examples of those who had to discern God's will for their lives. Consider taking a moment to read the three scriptures below and asking yourself the questions provided there.
So, let's pray and discern together not so much to get it right but let's pray that we find our footing to move forward in some way from here with what God would want us to do.
With love,
Pastor Kyle
P.S. This Sunday we celebrate so many things. Our graduates, Jennifer's gifts and time shared with us, as well as positive women role models in our lives. Don't miss it!