Perhaps few things are more important than knowing the Lord’s will for your life. Someone once told me that it’s a little like being given a 1,000-piece puzzle in a box, but without the picture on the box lid. You aren’t missing any of the pieces, but it will take a lifetime to arrange the corner pieces, line up the straight-edged ones, and coordinate the color schemes. Then, one day, you’ll see the image that the Lord had in mind from the beginning.
Mary’s (mother of Jesus) journey was filled with: a) an announcement from Gabriel (not just any angel), b) a visit from shepherds, c) gifts from wise men, d) prophetic words from Simeon and Anna, e) surprises at the temple, f) public controversy and confirmation, then finally g) her son’s death and resurrection. She stewarded the “plan” well, though she may not have fully understood it all.
How does the past inform us about the future? What signs should we be looking for? How do we know that we’re in the middle of His will? Answers can sometimes be difficult to come by, but maybe we should start with the same simple response of a young Jewish handmaiden: “I am the Lord’s servant,” (Luke 1:38 NIV).
Humility releases the grace of God (Proverbs 3:34). Absolute vulnerability to the Creator and Sustainer of life opens unparalleled opportunities of discovery. He has a plan for you—and if you could even imagine for a minute what the picture might look like, it would bring a smile, for it would reveal a future filled with hope!
” … we have not stopped praying for you, and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will … ” -Colossians 1:9b (NIV)
