God’s way is always better than my way. But here is a key question: How can we discern between God’s way and our way? As a follower of Jesus, there’s no argument whose way is the best way. God’s way is always the best way. Always.
As a leader (or human), the problem we have is trying to discern God’s way from our way.
This is a “God’s will” discernment conversation.
God’s Way Is the Best Way
Think about the decisions you’ve made in the past. There were times your way and God’s way aligned. There were also times you knew unequivocally that your way wasn’t God’s way. You did it anyway, but you knew. Then there were times you believed your way aligned to God’s way, only to find out you were mistaken. Of course, there have also been times when you felt your way aligned to God’s way, but others disagreed.
So how do you know? How can we know when we are heading in God’s direction versus choosing our path?
Abraham: Following God’s Way
I believe our answer may come from a quick study of Abraham. Abraham (or Abram, as he was initially named) is a biblical giant. He is considered the father of faith.
The first time God interacted with Abraham, he did so with an instruction. Here are the instructions God gave to Abraham:
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” – Genesis 12:1
I love this so much because it’s so ridiculous!
This is the very first interaction between God and Abraham. The very first time they chat. And God decides to give Abraham the worst directions possible.
Put yourself in Abraham’s sandals for a moment. Which way do you go? How do you start? Do you go left or right?
Do you know what Abraham did?
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. – Genesis 12:4
He just started walking.
God, I only want to know where you want me to go. This is what we want, right? We want to follow God. We want to choose his way over our way.
Of course, the more obvious God makes his way known to us, the more quickly we’ll be able to choose it. Or at least that seems logical. If God would just tell us clearly where to go, what to do, and what to expect, we’d go. Not so fast, my friend.
