Being told to submit wasn’t as easy as the process itself.
Like most children, I chafed at times under my parents’ authority. As a child, I accepted they were always right. But, as I got older, I questioned some of their rules and regulations. Dad was a preacher, but how did that relate to his forcing me to attend church? And there were occasions when I was convinced my parents were wrong, yet they never apologized when I brought it to their attention.
During my period of rebellion and questioning, I tired of hearing, “As long as your feet are under my table, you’ll do as I say.” So, although the hippie within me often chafed, I accepted their rules until I moved out.
Stories of individuals who willingly and unwillingly accepted God’s will fill the Bible. God told Noah to build a large boat, and he did. Abraham had to leave his hometown, and he did. He commanded Jonah to preach to the Ninevites, but he ran. He instructed Samuel to anoint David as the next king of Israel, and he did. Now, David was that king because he accepted God’s will.
“Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir” (Psalm 45:9 NLT)!
That some choose to rebel against God’s will enforces what the Bible teaches. God has given me free will. He is sovereign and has decreed certain things will happen, but in some unexplainable way, I still have the freedom to make choices that take me away from his plan.
Although God will let us refuse his will, he encourages us to accept it. His will is best. Choosing him over Satan is wise—as is choosing heaven over hell.
Choosing the abundant life he offers is better than choosing the temporary pleasures of sinful activities. As God’s child, when we decide to depart from his will, he sends conviction along with discipline. For Jonah, it was three days inside a giant fish’s stomach.
Accepting God’s will takes intentionality. Our sinful fleshly nature prompts us to go the other way. And God’s will often takes us away from the comfortable and familiar as it did Abraham and Moses. Yet, it’s better to be uncomfortable and anxious and be in God’s will than to remain where we are and miss his blessings.
When you discover God’s will for your life, accept it and leave the consequences to God.
–Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
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