We need to take our own desires or fears out of the equation and judge whether or not something is God’s will.
When I was a little girl, I loved the weather. I had a paperback book about the science of weather. I would read through it over and over again. I was fascinated with all the clues from different clouds and how the direction/speed of the wind could give impending forecasts. Before meteorologists, satellites, and computer forecast models, most people back in Little House on the Prairie Days days had to be students of changes in the sky and wind to “forecast” the weather and be prepared. They had to employ all of their senses. Certainly, those who lived on the prairies had to be very mindful of the atmospheric changes that preceded a tornado or serious thunderstorm regarding their own safety, but also to take precautions to preserve their crops. Even in an age of weather forecasters with skills to decipher all the atmospheric data that comes through, everyday people still need to pay attention to the sky, especially in the summer when a severe thunderstorm could pop up out of nowhere.
I don’t mind thunderstorms as long as I’m not alone… You see, when I was 10 years old, the outside corner of my bedroom was hit by lightning. As a result, I have a healthy fear of the power of lightning and the damage it can do. Fast forward many decades to last summer, sitting on my screened-in porch with my daughter and two grandchildren, enjoying a summer day with not even a hint of thunder or lightning around, when out of nowhere, lightning struck right over our rock wall only about 20 feet from where we were sitting! It was the loudest sound I have ever heard! My grandson was traumatized by the whole event and still, when he sees dark clouds asks, “Is it going to thunder and lightning?”
In retrospect, there were subtle signs that a storm was coming, like random dark clouds and a shift in the wind, but we didn’t take it as seriously as we should’ve because we hadn’t heard any rumbles of thunder, even in the distance. Earlier, I did tell my grandkids to stay close and not play in the field in case a thunderstorm came up. Thankfully, I had enough discernment to take heed, or things could’ve ended very differently… After the storm passed and the sun came back out, I looked at the weather radar and checked to see if any other dark clouds were on the horizon and determined it was once again safe for my grandchildren to go explore in the fields.
I am reminded of the story of Noah, particularly after the flooding rains had subsided: “Then it came about at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself. So he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. The dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth. Then he waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; but she did not return to him again.
"Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 'Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.' So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark." Genesis 8:6-19
I believe Noah employed three Christian character traits to find God’s will to ensure he didn’t “jump the gun” by leaving the ark too soon. Let’s take a look:
1. Exercising Patience
Can you imagine being cooped up in a large boat for 40 days and 40 nights when all you’ve ever known is clear skies and steady land? Add to that all the animals and winged creatures, it boggles the mind! It appears that the first time Noah even opened up a window to peer outside was after the 40 days and 40 nights were complete. All I can think of is the fascination we humans have with weather, especially tornadoes. How many videos have you seen where the tornado sirens are going, but people are outside filming the tornado heading straight for their house! Noah exercised amazing patience and heeded all warnings, which I believe was fueled by a total trust in the Lord to keep his family safe.
When ascertaining the will of God, patience is key. Too often, we may rush headlong into something we feel is God’s will rather than testing the situation, which could have consequences. When Noah opened the window, he first sent a raven which flew here and there until the water was dried up on the earth. As I mentioned earlier, I’m sure Noah and his family were ready to get out of that boat, but they were patiently seeking after signs that it was safe to do so.
Before moving forward in an area you feel God has called you, be patient. Seek Him continually in prayer, read the Word, and employ wise counsel. In doing so, you will build a solid understanding of whether something is God’s will or not.
2. Using Discernment
Once you’ve “sent out the raven” as it were, it’s time to send out the dove. In the case of Noah, he used his discernment skills to determine whether or not the water had indeed receded from the land yet. The first flight of the dove yielded no evidence of this. So Noah waited another seven days before sending her out again, at which time she came back with a freshly picked olive leaf in her mouth. From there, Noah discerned that the water was receding from the land, yet he waited another seven days and sent the dove out again, at which time she didn’t return. Noah then discerned that the water had finally abated from the earth.
Here we see how patience works hand in hand with discernment. No matter how badly they were ready to feel the sun on their faces and get off that boat, Noah’s patience and discernment trumped his desire for comfort. It paid off in the end because he had proof that it was, indeed, safe now. Yet, he still didn’t leave the boat…
Before moving forward in what you believe is God’s will, add discernment to your patience. Discernment means “the ability to judge well.” We need to take our own desires or fears out of the equation and judge whether or not something is God’s will. This may take some time. It’s okay. Remember, if it is God’s will, the opportunity won’t be missed. It will still be waiting for you.
3. Waiting on God
Whenever we do anything in life, but especially when we feel God has called us to it, we must wait on God before moving forward. Again, let’s look at Noah for our shining example and see that not only was he patient and discerning, he still didn’t leave the ark until he heard from God for the go-ahead. Indeed, God spoke and instructed him how to proceed. Remember now, for Noah, all of this patience, discernment, and waiting on God didn’t happen within the 40 days and 40 nights. They were actually on the ark for 1 year and 10 days!
A dear friend of mine in her late teens felt called to establish a place of rest for ministers and ministry workers. After years of prayer, she felt the Lord was calling her and her little family to move from her beloved childhood home to the Midwest. It was a great sacrifice as she missed her family terribly. The Lord led them to an old farmstead with outbuildings that border conservation land. A perfect spot for a retreat-like setting. My friend is now in her early 40s and just this week, their “mission house” is getting the roof put on and they are finally getting closer to this ministry officially opening. They came up against sooo many hurdles that looked impossible, but God… My friend patiently sought the Lord and prayed. She used discernment when the obstacles came, and above all, she waited on God throughout this entire process. And although she has literally waited decades for what God placed on her heart to come to fruition, she trusted God’s process. I believe she and her family will be blessed abundantly as they seek to bless others.
No matter the call, if it is God’s will, it will happen! We don’t need to rush it or push through it, but when we are patient, use discernment, and wait on God’s final word, we will experience His abundance and blessing.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Wojciech Kozielczyk
