Once in a great while, a child might have plans to pursue a dream they have that will start them “down the road” to a lifelong career. But usually ideas, thoughts, dreams and plans, change multiple times for many people until they find the career path that “feels” just right!
During the years when I had my business, there were several times when a young employee-usually in their late teens to early 20’s would ask me if I could tell if they were “in the will of God”. In asking what they meant, it was always about what they should do as far as a career or more education, moving away, things like that. I always told them that as far as making decisions about someone else’s life-I don’t do that. But I would also try to help them with the basics of God’s will. First, they obviously had to have a relationship with God by having accepted Christ as Savior. Second, be sure they are not knowingly living with sin in their life, because that keeps you out of fellowship with God. ”…your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2b (NIV). Third, I’d give them some practical advice by showing them a map of the USA, then a map of our state. I’d point out how the state map shows many more “small roads” than the US map, but if you thought of the US map as the possible course of your life, and trying to show an analogy about a path in life, there isn’t really a WRONG path–UNLESS…YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW THE WARNINGS ALONG THE WAY…God sends things into our lives that are the equivalent of a “BRIDGE OUT” and if we don’t change course–disaster awaits!
About 20 years ago I met a man named Ken who grew up in southern rural Indiana. Ken was an only child, his parents had a small farm and as he neared high school, he didn’t really have any plans, hopes, or dreams beyond school…his family did not have much money and he knew college probably couldn’t happen.
But Ken was a tall, lanky kid when he entered ninth grade and he had spent many, many hours “shooting baskets” on the side of the barn, so even though he didn’t know the rules of the game, he tried out for the basketball team at high school and made it! He told me that his main motivation for joining the basketball team was to get a shower every day because they didn’t have indoor plumbing at home…he also got a job in the school cafeteria because he could get a free meal every day!
Well, over his four years in high school his basketball team started getting noticed all over the area. By his senior year, they were a championship team and he and three or four others from his class received full scholarships to state universities. Ken went on to study biology, plant life, and he had a career as a salesman to large farms for seed and feed!
“The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
Till Next Time…..
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