It’s far too easy to drift off the path God set us upon. Little things make us back off, freeze, or even run the wrong way. We can be amazingly bold one minute and disappearing around the corner in the next if we are not stable in our faith.
You look at your book sales and they have dribbled to nothing. You didn’t make the long list of a contest. Too much money was spent on some training, but now that you can run with it, you feel confused and lost. Supposed friends don’t respond to you about a fun idea you have for hanging together or you find out those friends went off and did something without you. Your offers to help aren’t accepted or twisted into something you really didn’t want to do.
Any of these can make me wonder what I am trying to do and if it even matters. I’ve experienced all the above in life. It makes me wonder if I’m wasting my time or in the wrong place. Should I go over there instead? Maybe I need to back off. Maybe I heard God wrong because (fill in the blank with any lame excuse about why it didn’t work).
It’s easy to drift away from the path God wants you on when you see disappointing results, get hurt by others, or lose. It’s hard to keep doing what you are called to do when everything feels like a hurdle, a detour, or a roadblock to where you think God wants you to go. We have to move in faith that regardless of what the journey looks like now, God will get us there if we stay tuned into what we are to do right now.
Peter shows us a lot about faith and how life’s circumstances can put holes in our faith. In Luke 22:31-34, Jesus tells Peter He is praying for him because Satan wants to sift him like wheat. Jesus knew Peter would return from that test. However, Peter boldly claims he would go even to death with Jesus. We do not know what Peter is truly thinking when told he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, but in that moment, he is confident he won’t fail Jesus.
The denial is not instant. No, if we jump to Luke 22:54, we see Peter followed at a distance when Jesus was taken. He did not throw himself in with Jesus, but at least he followed. He sits among those waiting outside to see what happens instead of going in. The first denial was simple, but they get more heated each time. Those pointing out who he is get stronger in their affirmation that he was with Jesus, as well. He also moves further from the building each time. The Mark 14:66-72 rendition of the denial of Peter goes far deeper than Luke’s in showing this. Peter is literally cursing on the third time when the rooster crows. The realization breaks Peter to the point he cries, knowing Jesus had spoken the truth and his bravado only hours ago at supper proved false.
I’m a firm believer that many times we need to be broken before we can be the pillar God wants us to be. Many times, it helps us realize we need to rely on Him and that our perspective needs correction.
I have published three books and have moments of impostor syndrome that can come on because the numbers look bad. For a while, I wondered why I became a coach, because it seemed like things weren’t going the way I thought they should. Most of these negative thoughts came about because my perspective was looking at the money or other measuring tools for success. When I look at it properly, I remember that one of my books helped someone to know Jesus better. My coaching has given golden nuggets and aha moments to those I helped. Those are the reasons I wrote that book and took that coaching certification. Those are priceless successes that I should focus on rather than the world’s materialistic measuring standards.
I’m truly in a season of wondering what to do and I could easily drift off with an incorrect perspective and expectations. I have readers that want more of my stories. I know if I keep doing what God wants me to do, I’ll find the result He has in mind. It will blow my mind. Peter may have gone down the path of denial and returned to fishing for a time, but he came back stronger. Jesus knew the rock He would build the church on had to be chiseled to the right shape. When it was time, Peter preached a sermon that converted three thousand people because he had reconnected with God and received the Holy Spirit. My tale will be different, but it will lead to things happening I could have never done on my own and that I do not know about yet.
When your perspective is not directed onto the right things and it’s making you drift away from where you know you should be, take a moment to be still and ask for help to get back on the path. It’s never too late to get right with God and on the journey He meant for you.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.