Beyond Passively Waiting on God

This is a guest post by my friend Chris Peek. He’s a blogger, writer, video producer and editor, and photographer. He regularly blogs at TrailReflections.com, where he offers encouragement and principles for living the intentional life and helps others become fully alive. When he’s not working with multimedia, he can often be found exploring God’s creation through hiking, biking, kayaking, and traveling.

We use many phrases in our “Christianese” without stopping to consider what’s behind them.

“I’m waiting on God.”

“I’m praying about it.”

“I’m seeking God’s perfect will.”

Paralyzed by fear

We’re so afraid of making a mistake with eternal consequences that we choose to do nothing with our time, energy, talents, and resources. Or maybe we’re simply waiting on a thunderous voice or fire to radiate down from heaven.

In reality, God has already given us a life direction – what He’s written on our hearts. We’re often quick to dismiss His overtures because we consider our own strengths as commonplace. We truly believe we have nothing creative or valuable to offer the world, accepting the lie and running with it.

The truth

You possess a unique blend of passions, abilities, perspectives, and desires. They have not been written on your heart by accident. While we may not completely comprehend the exact way that God has and will utilize us, He invites us to embrace the mystery and be intentional about offering ourselves to the world.

On my blog Trail Reflections, I incorporate the tagline, “Live Intentionally. Become Fully Alive.” You see, it’s pretty much impossible to be the hands and feet of Christ if we are constantly in a passive state of studying and waiting.

Of course there are imperative times of prayer, reflection, and seeking God. Those moments are necessary for the journey ahead, one filled with mystery and adventure, marked by sacrifice, service, and satisfaction. But it’s far too easy to remain in a constant state of preparation without assuming a proactive role. Ultimately, God has placed a calling in each one of us that requires active engagement on our behalf.

The journey of living out our faith is beckoning.

How will you respond? How are you intentionally living out your life calling?

  • http://jwfinancialcoaching.wordpress.com/ Jon White

    In the past year or two I’ve really changed the way how I view living
    my life calling. In the past Chris, I’ve used the same lines “I’m waiting on
    God” or “I’m praying about it” as a mask to be passive and inactive. Not that
    those aren’t beneficial things to do at times like you said. But I’ve seen God
    bless my actions in many ways these past few years by being faithful and living
    out my calling.  
     

    • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

      Jon, I can really see that in you. You’ve been working hard at both the business you’re passionate about and in building relationships. As you’ve discovered, the only way to live out our callings is to take focused action.

  • http://thomasemason.net/ Thomas Mason

    Well done post, Chris! In some areas of our lives, I think it’s important to wait on God. We shouldn’t just jump in feet first into any situation without covering it in prayer first. However, there are things we should just do. We know it when it comes to our minds. We feel it when we’re happy and enthusiastic about a certain something. Get out there, with its fears and uncertainties, and see what we can make of something that is stirring in our hearts!

    • http://aparchedsoul.com/ Grayson R. Pope

      I agree with you Thomas. I get those same feelings where I know I should act on certain feelings on my heart. The hard part is converting that feeling to action. But each time we do it, we build momentum.

      Great post Chris. Thank you so much for this contribution.

      • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

        Thanks so much for the opportunity Grayson. This has been fun!

    • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

      Thanks Thomas! I agree that there are times we do need to wait on God. Most of us tend to mistake the need to wait on God with fear. It’s easy to use a “Christian” excuse instead of stepping out on faith when we know what He’s told us to do or when we feel His direction on our hearts.

  • http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

    Great thoughts here Chris.

    I believe that while we cannot do anything without God, He will not do anything through us either until we allow Him.

    • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

      Ngina, thanks for stopping by. Totally agree with you.