I really appreciated Daniel’s blog post on the story “Seneca” in Light from Many Lamps. I can resonate with the story and also Daniel’s comment on God knowing what is best for us and sometimes how it causes us to step outside of our comfort zone.

Recently, as a leader I was faced with a difficult ministry decision that to be honest, was pretty blind-siding. It came as a suggestion from leaders above me, but the decision was basically left in my hands and it had many implications and was emotionally difficult. It also was a decision that would be taking me in a different direction in ministry. I was sure God had meant me to stay serving in this particular place for awhile longer and had not been expecting a change in direction.

Through much prayer, thought, discernment and guidance from others, I came to a decision that I did not expect. The decision was to move in a different direction in ministry, to a different place and in a faster time frame than I had thought. Through the discerning process, God made it clear to me that He knew what was best for me, He knew what was best overall for the ministry, and also how this fit in His plan is to advance His Kingdom.

The quote Daniel referenced from this story is very fitting to what my experience has been: “True happiness is to understand our duties toward God and man; to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future” (Watson, 1951, p. 8).

Moving in this direction is really out of my comfort zone and that was a struggle to process through, but I am aware and have experienced in the past that obedience to God’s will is the best course of action.  Interestingly enough, before I knew about this change, I had a sense God was leading me into a “new season”. I thought that only had to do with entering this MA Lead program, little did I know it was going to be new in many other ways!

Monica

Watson, L.E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps. New York: Simon and Schuster.