We are currently at our first official debrief. I am exhausted so I decided to take the afternoon just chill with Jesus for a few hours. As I was about to doze off, I had the urge to open up my new Bible and start reading. This is what God spoke to me:
Stop praying for things to be easier! Start praying for wisdom, discernment, and perseverance. I should not pray for God to change my circumstances; I should pray that He changes me.
“And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this, your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.” 2Kings 3:7-12
God was so pleased that Solomon wasn’t asking Him to change his circumstances, he was just asking for discernment and wisdom.
As a leader of a team, I have to admit I often pray for God to close every door and just leave the one that I need to take open. I realized that this is completely the wrong mentality. I need to be praying for God to give me wisdom and discernment to make decisions. By making decisions with God’s discernment through me, He gets the glory.
God is glorified when we don’t avoid problems and hardships. He wants us to take them on. The Bible never told us that it would be easy. “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5. He told us that we would suffer. “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5. “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3.
However, He does not give us more trials than we can handle. He never promised that there would be no temptation. He said pray for strength and perseverance. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 2 Corinthians 10:13. He is faithful to His promises.
He always provides as escape for those that love Him. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.
