How did we survive before the Internet? We searched the Sears catalog and mailed an order form and a check instead of shopping on Amazon. Rather than asking Alexa, we looked at the outdoor thermometer to check the temperature. We looked at a map instead of asking Siri or Google for directions. And we asked the nice sales clerk at Ace Hardware how to fix a leaky toilet rather than watching a YouTube video.
So, who do you ask for help and advice?
This is part three of the series of four steps to rely on God’s promises during a season of singleness, or any lonely season. Read Part 1, Know God’s Love. Read Part 2, Belong to God.
Number 3: Trust God’s guidance
I don’t know what to do. Should I buy this house? Should I refinance my mortgage? Is this a good car to buy? Or should I keep fixing my old car? Why do I have to make all these decisions all by myself? If I had a husband, he would help me.
Being single, I believed I had to decide everything on my own. Especially major decisions that I would have asked my father about when he was alive and well. Decisions about car repairs, mortgages, home repairs, investing—topics that I thought a man would know more about than I did. Since I had no man in my life, I surmised I must figure things out by myself. Besides, pride fools you into thinking you are self-reliant and you must do life on your own.
Pray and ask God for wisdom
Now I study the Bible and learn how much our Heavenly Father loves us. I know He is faithful and will supply wisdom to us when decide. Big decisions. Small decisions. He created us to love us and have a relationship with us. So why would he abandon us? We truly cannot do anything without Him (John 15:5-6). And we can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13). All we have to do is prayerfully ask for wisdom.
As scripture states in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Ask God and He gives it. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?
And yet, I am a work in progress. More often than I like to admit, I strike out on my own and do what I want. Perhaps you have done this too. But I learned from some poor decisions that things turn out much better if we pray first, then act.
Align our will with God’s will
When I pray for guidance from God, sometimes I want to take control back from him. For example, I say I trust God. I want to trust God. Therefore, I ask God for wisdom to make a decision, but in my heart, I already know what I want to do. (Then I am really praying for God to bless the decision I already made.) Instead, strive to pray for God to align what we desire with what he chooses for us. I know, not as simple as it sounds. But the rewards of peace and joy are worth it.
In fact, Jesus taught, as part of the Lord’s Prayer, “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10 NLT).
Trust God’s guidance and remain humble
When praying for God’s will, wisdom and guidance, trust in His way, not ours. Have faith that our prayers are heard by Him. And He answers in His time, not ours. (Patience is not one of my strong points.)
Therefore, this is one of my favorite scriptures that I rely on. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Above all, remain humble. Submit to God. True humility is a reflection of being right with God. But selfishness and pride hinder us. Jesus is our example of humility that we strive for.
Paul writes in Philippians 2:6-8 that we are to have the mindset of Jesus, son of God. He came to earth as a human, but became a servant, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Conclusion
In summary, always ask God for wisdom. Why? Because “In him [Christ] lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3, NLT). So no need to ask Alexa, Siri or Google! Trust God’s guidance by aligning our will to God’s will and remain humble. By practicing these steps, we gradually gain peace, joy, and comfort to sustain us while experiencing the lonely seasons of life.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for sending your Son to earth as a man to pay the penalty for my sins. Help me to be a servant as He was, to focus on you and others instead of myself. Please give me the power to ask you for wisdom first before making decisions. Help me desire what you want for me because I know your plans for me are so much better than any of mine. And give me the patience to wait on your timing, because I cannot do it on my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
