Determining God’s will is a challenging endeavor. Ascertaining whether your potential leading is self-inflicted or divinely-prompted is a serious task.
Oftentimes, we have a hunch about a direction but we stop cold in our tracks. Either the challenge seems too daunting or our inabilities are too obvious for us to proceed. Feeling led to do one thing, we resist the urge and come up with numerous excuses of why we shouldn’t continue.
I had a friend recently tell me that a great exercise in determining God’s will is to write a letter of excuse to God as to why you won’t do what it is you are considering.
Here are the steps:
- Get the pen and pad out (or your keyboard if you are too digital for such antique techniques).
- Address the letter to God.
- Explain to God why you can’t do what you feel led to do.
- Fully express your reasoning and don’t leave anything out.
- Reread it and determine if God would consider your reasoning sufficient.
What you will find out is that many of our reasonings sound like invalid excuses once we acknowledge that God is in the room.
- “I’m unable!” Good thing God’s ability is exceedingly abundant (Eph. 3:20).
- “I’m broken.” God uses broken vessels for His work (2 Cor. 4:7).
- “I’m tired.” God provides our strength (Col. 1:29).
- “I have sinned so much!” God loved you while you were still a sinner (Rom. 5:8).
- “There’s not enough resources.” God owns everything (Ps. 50:12).
- “I can’t speak well.” God made your mouth (Ex. 4:11).
- “The need is too great!” He supplies every need (Phil. 4:19).
- “It’s beyond my control!” It’s not beyond God’s!
If God wouldn’t accept your letter as a viable option, then don’t take the time to draft it.
Just do what He’s called you to do, and trust that He can do what He’s promised He will do.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
