Do any Christians struggle to understand what God wants us to do? I struggle with understanding if what I am doing is what He wants… should I get married, my career choice, etc. Sometimes He feels so distant. Any advice from other Christians?
Christian here! I think we can all feel that way from time to time. Prayer is super important, and I truly believe that I’m always where I’m exactly meant to be. God works in mysterious ways and we just have to trust him. I’m going through an OCD flare up after 4 years of being totally okay. It’s super disappointing and frustrating but I’m truly just praying and trusting him that he’ll give me the strength to get through this like I did the last time.
I think our Christian culture inadvertently encourages this struggle by putting such a high premium on our performance, as if God and His plan is thrown off by us taking a wrong step. And teaching us that God will withdraw from us if we take that wrong step. I really struggled with this when I was dating my now wife. I was paralyzed by trepidation regarding what God's will was, and didn't take action for a few years either to break it off or move forward with it. Finally, I took a step and just asked God to guide the results. I proposed to my lady, we got engaged, and over the next few months I saw God open doors that I never dreamed for us to get married. We got a quaint little low-rent home (she moved in after our marriage), and we received a lot of help from other people to get married and started on our new life. I've since learned that God and His guidance is far different from what I was taught. He is patient, and merciful to mistakes. He will redeem our mistakes, for our good and His glory. He doesn't want us to fear.... To be wise, yes, but not fearful. So often, we are waiting for God, when He is waiting for us. He wants us to just take the step, and He'll take it from there.
@"Book-em Dano" Thank you- this made something click. God has been guiding me all along, and has answered my prayers. In some ways, I find it easier to accept Gods will when He takes away, versus when He gives… I am engaged and He has given us so much already. This is probably the closest I’ve been to Christ and not surprisingly the most fulfilled I’ve been. The intrusive thoughts during prayer have been rough- have you experienced that before?
@Anonymous Yes, I have. Doubts, fear, self-accusation.... Like the devil just delights in making us miserable and trying to keep us from being still and knowing God.
@"Book-em Dano" Thank you for taking the time to reply. It has helped a lot!
@Anonymous You've got this!
I have often gotten stuck because I feel like I need to know what God wants me to do before I can even start to make a decision, but we have to trust him to guide us! Have faith that as you seek him, he will steer you in the direction he wants you to go in. Willful ignoring him because you want what you want is very different from stepping out in faith and trusting him to open or close doors. OCD can convince you that are ignoring him or being disobedient on purpose without knowing it, but you know God and trust him! Ask him to help you distinguish his voice from the fears so you can know how to proceed
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