I can personally relate to this question. God often calls us down paths that satisfy our deepest desires. So, how do we know if we are choosing a path because it’s God’s calling or your own desire?
Fortunately, there isn’t just a one stop answer. I say fortunately because this means we are forced to turn to God and seek his will. Turning to God is always a win, no matter what prompts it. I will however offer three suggestions as to how you can help discern your motivation.
Allow the Light of Truth to Shine on the Situation
I had a week to decide whether or not God was calling me to the Middle East for missions work. So, I prayed, read my Bible a lot, and asked others for advice. I realize now that as I was doing this, I was allowing God’s truth to fill my heart and mind. As I did this, I began recognizing my false motives and desires. Then, one night, I felt an understanding settle on my heart that was so strong I knew it to be God. He told me “You know I’m asking you to go. You only hope that, by praying, I’ll change my mind.”
As you seek God’s will, his light will slowly reveal any selfish motives you have. Then bit by bit you can center yourself on God’s true will. In order to do this, you need to let God’s word saturate your life. The best set up for this saturation is a long track-record of seeking and reading God’s word daily.
Don’t Idolize Adventure
As I shared in my last blog Why do we Crave Adventure? God gave us the longing for adventure, but we should never put our love of adventure before our love of God. God is the true source of life and joy, and adventure is a means to that end. Use adventure to draw closer to God. Don’t turn to adventure hoping to find life and joy. If you do the latter, you will always wind up feeling dissatisfied. Only God can truly satisfy us.
So, check yourself. Is your main reason for stepping into this adventure because you just want a cool experience to look cool or are you seeking this opportunity because you know it will glorify God? One easy indication that may show you are desiring God first is if you are partially afraid of the adventure because you know it will be really hard and really uncomfortable. If your main motivation is to look cool, your focus is selfish, and selfishly you won’t want to do something really uncomfortable.
I recognized this through my decision to go to the Middle East. Though a part of me was thrilled to step out on this adventure, another side of me was terrified because selfishly I knew it would be really hard. My motives weren’t selfish, but to serve God where there was a big need.
Check Your History
If you often try to win people’s approval/attention by sharing your adventurous stories, then you need to be careful. Your identity should come from Christ and Christ alone. Don’t do something because of how others might view you, do something because you want to love God. If you don’t think this adventure is going to drive you to your knees in prayer out of desperation for God’s guidance, protection, and provision, then it’s possible you are just seeking adventure for the fun of it. Which isn’t bad of course, but know that you aren’t necessarily trying to glorify God.
All in all, if you are diligent to seek God’s will, he will answer you in one way or another. If you are still uncertain after reading this post, you may do well to read my blog post Hearing God’s Voice.
Is there something important you think I missed? Please let me know by commenting below.
