Thy Will Be Done

Have you ever felt you were following God’s will, taking the right path for your life? That life couldn’t be any better and that you didn’t think you deserved it so good? You had prayed and finally the gates of heaven were opening up, doors were opening up, and you were living the dream.

Life, however, has a funny way of sneaking up on you and smacking you right in the face. That invisible rock you didn’t seem coming hits your windshield out of nowhere and you are blindsided with a large crack.

Recently, things went pretty south for me. It was weird because I had felt I had done everything right. I fasted and prayed, I read the Bible, I had accountability, etc. I had felt the peace of God surround me. So it was shocking and a rude awakening when things didn’t happen as I had planned. When the open door became very closed.

I was so confused. I was angry and bitter. I hadn’t asked God for this so called good situation. So why? I asked the Lord “Why?” A LOT. The thing is with God, He doesn’t have to answer that. He doesn’t have to tell you why. He just asks us to trust. Trust that he knows what is best for us. Trust that he has a plan to prosper us. A plan to give us a hope and future. I had to trust that God had better plans for me. That he wanted to give me his BEST!

What he thinks and what we think are two completely different things. Sometimes our thoughts and wants align with His but most of the time flesh and spirit war against each other. At the end of the day, when bad things happen or life doesn’t go as you’ve planned, really the only thing that you can say is Lord, thy will be done.

We think nothing bad comes from the Lord, but I believe he does allow certain circumstances to come into our lives. There are so many examples of “bad” happening to Christ’s followers but they come out as victors at the end of their stories: Daniel, Joseph, Esther, Ruth, Job, etc. He wants us to become the best followers of him.

In order to do that, he needs to send us through the fire and flame. Like diamonds, we start out as an ugly dirty piece of coal. But through the refining process of heat, pressure, shaping, molding, cutting, and polishing, he turns us into something precious. A gem that is strong, beautiful, bold, and can withstand anything. He wants to prune us and make us into the people of God he created us to be. He wants to make us into His best!

Later down the line, when I finally gave this situation over to the Lord, after being a little crazier than usual, I remember having a peace come over me and I knew there was a purpose and plan for this season in my life. Maybe at the moment it isn’t clear what the Lord was trying to do but as life has shown, it is all apart of my testimony.

I’d like to think it is all part of my story and what makes me me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the bumps and hiccups along the road.

There’s something to be said about pride also though, and how we think we won’t fall sometimes. I know for me, I’ve definitely had pride issues. I never thought I would make the same mistakes as others or do things others had failed to do. But satan comes around like a roaring lion, ready to devour anyone that isn’t in check with the Lord at all times.

1 Peter 5:6-9 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

We have got to be on our guard at all times and constantly be checking our hearts and minds. Do they align with God? Is there something in our hearts that shouldn’t be there?

I heard once, be wary when you are at a high place with God because that’s the time the enemy will hit hardest. The devil will attack when you are getting closer to the Lord because he doesn’t want you to have an impact here on this Earth. He wants you full of rage, bitterness, malice, envy, etc. He doesn’t want you full of joy, peace, patience, kindness or any other fruit of the spirit.

That’s why Jesus says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23.

It’s a daily process.

We can’t rely on Sunday service or a revival meeting we went to to help us attack the enemy. We have to renew our minds daily. We have to take up our cross and deny ourselves daily. Otherwise we leave room for the enemy to come into our lives at any opportunity.

When we aren’t covering ourselves with the blood of Christ, we leave ourselves vulnerable and susceptible to the attacks of the enemy. That’s why we need to “put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the devil’s evil tricks.” Ephesians 6:11-18

For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people.

So life will go south every once in a while. But the true testament of your faith is how well you trust the Lord. Will you still stand firm in your faith when others tell you not too? Will you be strong when everything within you wants to break? How much will you pray when everything falls apart?

How much you lean on the Lord in your time of need is the true testing of how strong your faith truly is.

In everything, let the name of the Lord be praised now and forevermore. Psalm 113:2