Dear Logos Family,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Sometimes life seems very cloudy. We understand this living in Seattle. The skies can be gray for long periods of time (especially in the winter) and it can affect how we feel.
And our feelings can impact our choices and decisions. We begin to say things to ourselves like “I don’t feel like….. and you can fill in the blank. “I don’t feel like going to church….”, “I don’t feel like reading my Bible.” Etc. etc. etc.
If you’ve been surrounded by “gray” for a while, meditate on Proverbs 3:5-6. There are many things in life that bring confusion, uncertainty and fear. Making a choice consciously in our minds and hearts to “trust the Lord” during these times brings renewed strength and courage.
The second line of that verse might be the most critical:
“And lean not on your own understanding.”
This is counter to the way many of us have been raised. We’ve been taught to “trust our gut.” We think we know what’s best for us; we believe we “have a good head on our shoulders” but we can miss our “blind spots.”
The truth is we don’t always know what’s best for us. We don’t always know God’s will for a particular situation we find ourselves in. So, if you find yourself in the “gray” here are a couple things to consider:
1. DON’T MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS WHEN THINGS AREN’T CLEAR. Trust the Lord and ask for clarity. Lean on the Lord and his understanding. Ask for his wisdom. And wait. You might find the Lord’s leading is different than your initial inclination.
2. DON’T LIVE IN THE URGENT. PRACTICE WHAT IS IMPORTANT. Sometimes when we’re living in a lot of gray we stop practicing things that are really important and fundamental to our spiritual health, like going to church or reading God’s word. He gives us wisdom and clarity as we seek Him in His word with all our heart.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bill