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"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps" (Prov. 16:9).
“Don’t strive to advance yourself; let God advance you.” - Dallas Willard
I recently heard a pastor speak the words, "If God is not inconveniencing you, you are not serving Him." Ponder that a moment. It may seem a little discomforting; given the habits of our flesh, those feelings are exactly what it ought to produce. As with everything, there is the earthly view, and then there is the wise and godly perspective. What actually defines an inconvenience and who really enjoys such things? How often do we feel inconvenienced? Presumably multiple times throughout each day. What are those inconveniences? Do you grumble when they occur? Most likely we are annoyed because these minor nuisances disrupt our plans, causing us to put forth extra effort with the desire to avoid any sort of suffering. Rather, we should be asking ourselves, "How can this circumstance be an opportunity to serve God?"
For instance, by serving someone, we are serving Him. Whether it be in the menial and mundane or the exceptional and extraordinary, we must actively seek His divine wisdom in all of our decision-making. This could be a simple formula, but one not easy to follow: Know Jesus + love Him + trust Him + obey Him + serve Him = blessings from Him that glorify Him throughout the world. Asking Him to be in every plan carries with it a strong reminder of whose we are and whom we serve — a big and loving God who walks with us in all circumstances.
Yes, sometimes the circumstances are more severe. These disruptions in our lives can take the form of suffering. It is okay to say, "I don't like this, I don't understand it," but He is right there with us through it all. He lovingly and firmly brings us back with His rod and His staff every time, reminding us of our need for Him. It may be more difficult to see, but in these instances of extreme hardship there are still opportunities to glorify God. Invite Him. Let us be pleasing to the Lord; may He smile upon us — we will feel our strength renewed. "For the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Neh. 8:10).
Prioritizing His plans over ours and doing our best to align our will with His — accepting that our lack of strength helps us to lean on our Savior — may we do so with unashamed dependence. He will put good and right people in your path who will encourage you, giving godly affirmation — the right word at the right time shared in love and with love. Human planning or divine guidance? Are we allowing Him into our plans every time? As a Christian, you have been born again, and Christ lives in you; God's commands are no longer a burden, and fulfilling them is a source of joy. Next time you feel that inconvenience, thank Him and then seek His help and ask, "Lord, what is our plan?"
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