“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.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:6-9
Years ago, a wise man challenged me in my mindset. He said, “You are at a point in your life where you need to choose to either go have an adventure and get in the boat or stay on the dock where it is safe and secure. The boat is about to leave the dock, and you cannot have one foot in the boat and one foot on the dock because you will only get all wet by doing that. What is God calling you to do?”
Like so many people these days, my wife and I wanted to have one foot in the boat and one on the dock. We wanted to have safety and security in material things, like a secure job and a secure paycheck, partly because of the God given responsibility of raising 6 children. Yet, like most, we both desired to go live an adventure and make a difference in this world all the while desiring safety and security in the process.
My friend challenged me to do what God was calling me and my family to do. But he also said, “Your wife needs to be completely on board with this decision. I know of many marriages that have struggled and didn't make it, due to the husband and wife not being on the same page and of the same mindset. You must communicate with your wife about what you believe God is calling you to do. She needs to understand that this journey will be very difficult because most women I know desire safety and security instead of taking risk and adventure.”
He encouraged me to share the vision with her and not dictate to her what we were going to do but to just be as honest as I could be about what “jumping in the boat” could look like. I should share the vision and the excitement of it all but also let her know that this wouldn't be all peaches and cream. Having not taken this journey yet myself yet, I didn't even know how incredibly difficult this would all be, but I did know it would be an adventure. What I have also come to realize is that you should do what God has called you to do no matter what. Jesus is very clear that, “In this world you will have trouble." Let me repeat that, “You will have trouble.” If this really is true, then whether you stay on the dock, where it is safe and secure, or jump in the boat and live God's plan for your life, you will have trouble. So, you might as well go and live the adventure God Almighty has called you to instead of the boring mundane life so many today choose to live out. Why? Because according to Jesus Christ, you are going to have trouble.
The next thing to consider once you have decided to jump in the boat is to get out of the harbor, get past the reef into the deep, dangerous water. Sure, you can get into the boat and think something like, “Hey, look at me, I'm in the boat, woohoo!” and never leave the safety and security of the harbor. This is essentially tricking yourself into thinking you're doing God's will, when in fact He very well may have an even more incredible adventure for you to enjoy. You'll never know until you try. Of course, pray and seek out God's will for your life, doing what He is calling you to do.
Obey His leading. I think one mindset and lie that many people these days seemingly have bought into when following God Almighty is that when things get difficult, they immediately think they are living outside of God's will because doing the will of God should be easy. Well, not exactly. Why? Because according to Jesus Christ, the one so many of us say that we actually follow, you will have trouble in this world. So, when we have struggles, we shouldn't automatically think, “What have I done wrong?” or think to ourselves, “Oh no, the Lord shut that door.” Perhaps Almighty God is allowing this struggle to happen to give you the opportunity to grow and become mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4). Perhaps He is allowing this “trouble” to happen so you can learn to rejoice in all things (Philippians 4:4).
Is it possible that you made a “wrong turn” somewhere and are off of God's path for you? Well, sure that is a possibility, but again, God has not left you without guidance. He has given you His Word to guide your life. You also have the counsel of the Holy Spirt. So, after you have prayed to Almighty God for guidance and looked to His Word for direction, if you cannot find something to show you that you are going your way and not God's, perhaps you are on the right path, and God is just allowing this trouble to happen for your own good and for the good of those around you.
With the times we find ourselves in where sex is rampant and so many are seemingly living outside of God's plan for sex, I believe I would be irresponsible not to bring up the following. If while on this journey, you are sensing that you are to do something outside of God's guidance found in His Word or against His law, such as being okay with having sex outside of the bonds of marriage, you and I already know this is not an option if we are truly wanting to follow God Almighty and do His plan for the life He has given to us. Why? Because His Word is very clear that sex outside of marriage is a sin.
Can you and I be forgiven by God if we sin? Of course, we can. He will forgive us if we confess our sin and ask Him to forgive us. Something to consider, though, is that you may still have natural consequences to address from your actions. But you can be forgiven. You can continue on in the boat but at the same time know you might be someplace else now that you are starting this journey again. Of course, this goes with any sin we might find ourselves in, but since sexual sin is so prevalent in our society and even inside of the Church today, I thought this would be a good one for us to consider.
Dear friends, God has given each one of us gifts to be used in the real world. Go use them and have an adventure with God Almighty. Dig into His Word and be guided by the Bible and from the Holy Spirit, our Counselor here on this exciting God ordained journey we find ourselves in. If you think you might be unworthy or have made too many mistakes to be used by God, please know this: I have made many mistakes as well. We all have. That is just one reason why it is such an amazing adventure with God Almighty and choosing His good and right ways to live out. Not only will people see the God of the Bible living in and through you, but God will be using you to advance the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not a place; the Kingdom of God is a mindset, it is a spiritual awakening, it is a lifestyle. Get in the boat! Go live out the adventure God is calling you to!
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