I wrote about how God can and will override my wrong motives to make my path about Himself. And I’ve been praying for an example of where I’ve encountered this. Many come to mind but I wanted to give you a perfect one, and to be honest, some are super personal. We are talking about the heart and what motivates us, after all. I wanted an example that would show God’s magnificent Sovereign Touch.
The one that comes to mind is one I am experiencing currently. It concerns my health. And though I don’t grasp the totality of this path I’m on, I can see that God has taken something I intended for one reason and turned it around to His own.
Anxiety in My Path
A while back I started to notice that I lived in high levels of anxiety. I had multiple symptoms, like tightness in the chest, heat and redness of ears, headaches, irritability and the like. Truly I walk through life intent on hearing the Shepherd’s Voice, but I have to be honest, my motive here was to get out of this uncomfortable anxiety. I didn’t like what it was doing to my body.
It would take too long to give you the complete story (which is absolutely amazing) but suffice it to say, I began to change up my whole routine in an effort to get free of anxiety. I visited doctors to evaluate and prescribe a lifestyle change—diet, exercise, supplements, breathing techniques, sleep schedule, you name it. All of this was my attempt to get rid of anxiety, but God was maneuvering me to His path of my expressing love for self.
The path led me to begin to invest in my health and pursue courses of action to rectify stress and anxiety. All the while, God was working it together that I would enter into a love and respect of myself—a fearfully and wonderfully made creature. My steps toward rectifying a problem led me to come face to face with God’s purpose and provision. I moved to fix a problem, but God used it to bring me to Himself.
My Path, Your Path to God
I took steps but the Lord planned my path. As one committed to His will, you’ll find this is the reality of your life, too. God works things together for the good of those who love Him. And because of our choice to love Him, He uses even our fumbling and bumbling to get us to Himself. We often aren’t the brightest bulbs in the box, but the good news is that our Father is the Light. I don’t have to be bright; I am following the Light who is brightest. This is simply amazing. Our Sovereign God is in control of our moments whether we are aware or even motivated towards Him or not. Because we have chosen Him as our One thing, He makes sure we are with Him as One as we walk out our lives.
My Path in the Word
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC
For God has consigned all men to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all. O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
Romans 11:32-34 BSB
For this reason, we have the Comforter.
For sure Pauline! Nice to hear from you. Praying you and Stephen are well. Love you.
Thank you for this encouraging post. I too am going through/have been going through a health crisis, that I guess is anxiety based, but it doesn’t really present as fear. Many Social situations, even those I am enjoying, elevate my blood pressure and at best leave me exhausted the rest of the day, and at worst so tired that I am in bed. I am overhauling my diet, etc. hoping to get back some hormonal balance and health so this does not keep happening (I don’t want to become a hermit). Though my age and some stressful years have played… Read more »
That is beautiful Celia! If we purpose to listen and obey, He makes our paths clear to Himself. It is just wonderful. My anxiety isn’t fear based either, it is just exhausting. Part of my issue was hormonal too. But though it is taking some time, He is truly turning things around. Thanks for walking this path Celia. You are a dear friend and we Shulamite’s love you!
“My steps toward rectifying a problem led me to come face to face with God’s purpose and provision. I moved to fix a problem, but God used it to bring me to Himself.” This is so good today John,perfectly said!! Have been in the middle of learning this too, in my finances. He has plans, we must find Him, do the work to seek and find! Love you John!
That is amazing Nancy. Glad you’re walking this path too. I appreciate the encouragement. It is quite a lesson from heaven! Love you!