Lately I’m tempted to let my focus be pulled to the “don’ts.” It’s frustrating.
Some of this is an internal battle with sin— don’t try so hard to control things, don’t be so impatient, etc. Some of it is learning to adapt to hard circumstances—don’t push yourself so hard; you’ll spend days recovering.
God kindly reminded me that for every “don’t,” there’s a “do” (or two). We always have the opportunity to obey, and we always have a choice in how we respond to hard things. He doesn’t leave us to sit stuck in despair over sin and brokenness. His commands are not burdensome, but are for our good (1 John 5:3). Our “dos” are part of walking in freedom and joy in Christ.
So, here are some questions that are helping me re-shift my focus from getting bogged down in the “don’ts” to enjoying more joyful, more fruitful “dos”…
What Are My Options Right Now?
Sometimes the “don’ts” make it seem like there isn’t anything we can do. But we always have a choice. We can always choose to rely on the Lord, to trust Him, to honor Him. He wants us to!
For example, when I’m tempted to take control, I have options. I can forge ahead plotting, planning, worrying, and trying to make things happen. I can also choose to pause, surrender, and pray. I can yield to the Lord. I can open His word to remind myself of what’s good, right, and true. I can ask His help, even His help to trust Him that He is in control.
In this case, don’t take control—> do surrender to our good God.
What Is True About God Even Now?
Another part of “don’t” tunnel vision is forgetting to focus on the Lord, who frees us to follow Him and gives us every reason to trust and obey. Considering what is true of incredible Jesus helps us remember what can be true of us.
When I struggle with impatience, this matters. That God is sovereign over everything, that His timing is perfect, that He is with me and helping me every moment, changes how I respond to the sense of urgency tempting me to sin. Remembering He is patient with me humbles me and encourages me— I can tell Him sorry for being impatient and ask His help not to be.
So for me, don’t be impatient—>do trust God’s timing.
What is God Leading Me To Do?
Between God’s Word and God’s Holy Spirit in us, we are never without guidance. We have everything we need for living a godly life in reliance on God (2 Pet 1:3). It might not be that we know exactly what to do, step by step, to accomplish X. But we do know some things we can righteously do in the moment.
Lately, I find it’s hard to stay within my limits. It feels like I need constant wisdom, patience, and self-control to adjust to new ways of doing things. I often don’t know what to do. But there are a few things that are pretty much always the “next right thing,” like asking God for wisdom, asking someone around me for help, pausing and accepting grace that it’s okay to be in process, go slow, and rest as needed. Those things are a lot of what God’s leading me to do lately, as surely as in other seasons He has led me to step up and expend more effort.
I’m finding that don’t be pushing past limits—>do be seeking God’s wisdom to live within them.
Are there “don’ts” you’re feeling stuck in? What “do” might help you move forward with freedom and faith?
Leave a Reply