Living in the Will of the Lord
(published:Tabor Voice, Jan-Feb 2003)
Just as in the midst of earthly pleasures, there is an uneasiness which comes from knowing that you are not doing God's will, so also is there, in the midst of pain and suffering, the unexplainable and un-understandable (even to self) joy and peace that comes from doing God's Will.
This joy and peace is so beautiful that truly and truly no man can give to us that peace which our risen Christ can given us!
The unfortunate part of never experiencing the spiritual world is that one loses out on experiencing this spiritual peace. Perhaps, some would say it makes one devoid of guilt when doing something wrong. But the reality is that, man who is born of God at core is a spiritual being and hence behind every earthly pleasures there is some twinge of uneasiness, some feeling that everything is not right, or that things could be better. The deeper one immerses oneself in sin, the harder it is to feel that twinge and the more negligible it becomes. This is why people who follow their earthly wills seem to have their cakes and eat it too!
But the truth is far from this. The pleasure derived from following one's earthly will, never lasts. It inevitably turns into a negative (pleasure to pain) and invites a multitude of problems. It is possible to generalize, because this is true in whatever case one follows one's own will over the will of God.
Too often we see people falling miserably in different areas and this is always the reason; desires of the flesh, of the earthly. Apart from the obviously wrong desires of the flesh, other seemingly good earthly desires also will cause lack of happiness when they are not in sync with God's will and plans.
But what is the way of such earthly dilemmas? The spiritual way of course! The only answer is always God. There is no other way. There cannot exist any other truth.
There are people who however, no matter how great their disappointments, how great their unhappiness, will not seek the will of God. Perhaps they are unaware of the pure bliss of following God's will. Or perhaps they do not even know that God has a will for them. It is necessary for them to understand that God has a perfect plan and will for each of us. The Lord Himself proves this to us though the prophet Jeremiah who says the Lord has plans for our welfare and not for harm or disaster, to give us a future with hope. (cf Jer 29:11) Only in following that will as closely as they can, (in whatever decision that they might need to make) they will be in peace.
Another category exists, of people who know that God has a plan and will for them, but they just never seem to be able to discern what that will is. Lack of discernment (which is a gift of the Holy Spirit) indicates a lack of the Holy Spirit. "For who can discern what the Lord wills, unless You have given wisdom and sent Your Holy Sprit from on high?" (Wis. 9:13-17)
In this case they should pray firstly for purification and sanctification without which we cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" says St. Paul in 1 Thess 4:3. After this prayer for a continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit is required. When blessed with God's greatest blessing - God the Holy Spirit in us - discernment becomes clear.
Our Lord becomes immensely happy when we seek His guidance. Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 3:9 "Give your servant an understanding mind.able to discern between good and evil" pleased God so much that He not only answered Solomon's prayers (in excess) but also gave to Solomon what he had not asked for as well (1 Kings 3:13) We see the similar words of Jesus, who says "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you as well" (Mt 6:33) In following God's plan, in seeking to do His will, everything falls into place perfectly.
Another important point to be noted is perseverance. Sometimes we are so clouded by our earthly desires or by the views of those around us that even when we seek God's will, we do not seem to find it. This calls for perseverance. We see this very clearly in Jesus' words in Lk. 11:5-13 and again in the parable of the unjust judge (Lk. 18:1-7). Jesus emphasizes the need for perseverance in prayer. Just because we have prayed for guidance and haven't received any from the Lord, we cannot give up and resort to our earthly will or any earthly means of decision-making. At no point of time should we conform ourselves to the standards of this world but transform ourselves by the renewal of our minds so that we will know what is the will of God (cf Rom 12:2). We should continuously wait on the Lord, with fasting when required, and continuously seek His will with all our hearts. "Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart I will let you find me says the Lord" (Jer 29:12-14).
The guidance of God should not only be sought out at times of decision making but at every stage of our lives to ensure that our thoughts, words and deeds are in accordance with God's will. The psalmist says in Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God and know my thoughts, test me and know my heart, see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me the way everlasting"
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." This brings out several points. Firstly in order to follow God's will, we have to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lack of complete trust in God and in God's plans for us will make us turn away from God. Secondly we should never lean on our own insights or on our own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him proves that no matter what the case, we should always seek God's guidance and will. Finally, He shall make straight your paths shows us that God can and will reverse our failings due to not following His will in the past and make all our paths straight as well as lead us in clear and straight paths.
We thus should "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1Thess 5:16-18) and also as Sirach tells us in Sir 37:15 "But above all pray to the Most High that he may direct you way in truth"
