PERMISSIVE WILL VS HIS PERFECT WILL
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
1 Corinthians 10:23
Recently, I had a conversation with a close and dear friend about God’s perfect will over his permissive will. That’s the phrase that keeps popping up in her mind and in her spirit. She began to explain her concerns for a family member who possibly could be settling for Gods permissive will and recalled a time where she herself may have done the same. While she was describing her moment, all I could see was that meme where a little girl is holding on to a little bear and God is standing in front of her with an even bigger bear behind His back. That little girl couldn’t see the bigger bear but if she would just LET GO of the little one, God would replace it with the BIGGER one.
Wow………
Although I had seen that meme before, the revelation of it hit me like a ton of bricks today. I can recall in my own life where I had done the same. Even now, I’m struggling in my mind to let go of the idea of what I wanted versus God wanting BIGGER for me.
I’m reminded of the story about the Children of Israel in the book of Exodus where God delivered them from slavery. What should’ve taken 40 days to accomplish in faith was dragged out to 40 years due to disobedience It was their failure to believe in God’s word that kept them from entering the Promised Land. In their case, they knew what they would inherit but fear, unbelief and a lack of trust caused them to wander for so long and for some to not make it at all.
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
All this from a short conversation?
Absolutely! And I got more. There is provision in obedience and where God leads, He also protects. Here’s where walking by faith and not by sight comes in.
“For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!”
Nehemiah 9:21 NLT
I’m learning more and more that the things we go through aren’t just for us to keep to ourselves. You never know how one conversation could change the trajectory of someone’s life. Today my friend(Iron), changed mine. I’m letting go of what I wanted and surrendering to Gods PERFECT will for my life. I will wait patiently, trust wholeheartedly and believe without questioning that God is able to do just what HE said HE would do.
God is going to fulfill every promise if we’d simply trust, obey and WAIT for HIS PERFECT WILL.