One of the things that I do is I look at the seasons, the “big
picture” view of what’s going on in the Spirit.
This is an interesting one. I call it the Season of Muddling Around. My
brother Craig refers to “fuzzy-fog of not-quite-sure-what's-next.”
It’s a season where God doesn’t seem to be giving as much
direction as he has in other seasons. You may experience it as “OK, what do we
do next” in your home group or your church gathering. Or you may be having a
hard time finding clarity in life choices or in addressing perplexing
situations.
Paul went through a similar season. In Acts 16, Paul and his
traveling ministry team finished one project, and had trouble finding the next
one. They were “kept by the Holy Spirit” from ministering in Asia, and “the
Spirit of Jesus would not allow them” to minister in Bithynia. This was a
challenging transition season for him.
What’s this? The Holy Spirit is preventing them from
preaching the gospel? That’s the Great Commission; God can’t be stopping them
from obeying what they’re called to do! Yep, that’s what it says.
It seems like a number of believers are experiencing this
sort of thing: just trying to do the thing that God has called you to do, but
God’s not blessing it, God’s presence isn’t in it, or he stops you before you
ever get started.
So a lot of us are in a season of “bumbling around.” We’re
trying this new thing, or that tried-and-true thing, and it’s not working. It’s
easy to get frustrated in this season.
If you’re feeling some of this, let me say a couple of
things to you:
- No,
there’s not something wrong. God does different things, or does the same
things in different ways, in different seasons. This is that season. This
isn’t because of sin, or because you’ve “missed God.” Remember, this is a
transition period. It’s temporary.
- This
is actually a season of promotion. You’ve been maturing, growing up. You
don’t need as much direction from Daddy as you used to need. You can make
more decisions for yourself and for your place in the Kingdom. Think of
this as a season of taking new “baby steps” and learning to walk as mature
sons and daughters.
- Of
course we stay plugged in with God, we stay intimate and connected, eyes on Jesus and ready
to hear. Paul eventually had a dream that told him where to go, and it led
to a surprising new ministry. The
end result of his transition was pretty awesome.
- Don’t
be shocked if God leads you in a surprising new direction. Don’t freak out
if he takes you in an entirely new and unexpected direction. Likewise, don’t
choke if he takes you in the direction you expected, but it turns out to
be completely different than the way you thought it would be, or than it
has ever been before.
- In
the meantime, keep doing what you’re doing, and keep your ears open. Stay
in healthy relationship with solid people, and keep talking together about
what God is doing, what he’s saying.
- And
stay ready to change gears, quickly if necessary.
So congratulations on the new
place in God! Well done! Now, are you ready for the next step?
nwp