I’m keeping my head above water… barely. Doing everything… but nothing well.

I plead for guidance. It’s too much, Lord! What do you want me to do? What can I get rid of? I pray Psalm 25:

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.
Psalm 25:4

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with too many responsibilities?

Sometimes we say ‘yes’ when we should say ‘no’. Sometimes we accept because it’s the right thing to do, perhaps to support a friend.

But what if you feel God has called you to all that you do, and it’s become too much?

That describes me. With too many ministry arms, I’m looking to eliminate one or two. Which one, God? Where should I focus? Which one can I let go?

What is God’s will for my life?

Is this a question you’ve asked?

Wouldn’t it be great if He’d announce His will on a scrolling news ticker like an Amber alert? Or as a reverse 9-1-1 call? We want timely, detailed direction.

NEWSFLASH: God revealed His will for us through the words of Paul.

We ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.
1 Thessalonians 4:1b-3

God’s will for us is to be sanctified.

Well, that’s as clear as mud. Sanctified is a great church word, but what does it mean? How do I determine God’s will through sanctification?

Let’s break it down.

Sanctification means to set apart, to dedicate as holy; to purify; consecrate. In short, to be sanctified is to become like Jesus.

It is God’s will that we become like Jesus.

The moment we accept Jesus as our Lord we are set apart as His beloved child, dedicated to His purposes, sanctified. In the same moment, an ongoing process of sanctification starts. The Holy Spirit begins transforming us into His likeness as we learn and follow His teaching. This process continues until our final breath.

Be sanctified. Be transformed. Keep doing what you know to do.

We have authoritative instructions from the Lord Jesus (that can be trusted) that Paul urges us to follow more and more. 

You might argue that this is the view of God’s will from 35,000 feet. We want ground level details.

We remember God’s promise to guide our path (Psalm 23:3, Isaiah 42:16), to light the right way (Psalm 119:105), to direct our steps (Proverbs 20:24, Jeremiah 10:23). We remember that He tells us whether to go right or left.

I searched the scriptures for God’s promise to guide us to the right or the left. I intended to hold God to His word. And I laughed. The phrase occurs many times, but it’s not a promise. We misunderstand.

God does not promise to tell us whether to turn right or left.

In at least ten instances, God tells his people to stay on the straight path, the path He has laid out. Do not turn to the right or to the left.

You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Deuteronomy 5:32

When the Israelites travel though enemy territory on their way to the Promised Land, they vow to travel only by the road; turning aside neither to the right nor to the left. (Deuteronomy 2:27, see also Numbers 20:17)

We ask God to reveal His will and He responds, “I already did.”

Follow my instructions. Delight in them (Psalm 37:23-25, 40:8, 119:35). Meditate on them (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3). Your path will be straight when you stay on course.

I’m still barely keeping my head above water, but now I know how to approach my question of what to let go. I am being sanctified. As the Holy Spirit transforms me to be more like Jesus, my thinking has begun to align with His. My heart is more like His. And God whispers that my prayer life could be more like His, too.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

I am sanctified, being transformed. I will keep doing what I know, making each decision with the mind of God’s Spirit in me. Wait on the Lord. Be patient. Persevere through the overwhelm.

Stay on the straight path and God will light the way.

Ponder this:

• In what area of your life do you seek God’s will?
• Does the path become clearer when you approach it with the heart and mind of Jesus?

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