How Do You Know?

Following the lead of God is one of the most challenging things in life, especially when that lead doesn't align with where we think we are going. I have encountered this, a lot in my teen years and even a few times in the past couple years. When I speak about my story and my path, many have asked how did I know that was the step I needed to take at that time.

People hear from God in different ways. I've heard from Him in several different ways but I always verify what I hear with the word of God. He might speak through dreams, other people, prayers and actually hearing a voice. I emphasize the importance of verifying with the Bible because it can be easy for evil to lead us astray when our desires and God's desire for our lives dont exactly match.

I have always been a person with abundant loyalty and devotion. I kept the same job from the time I was 16 until I graduated at 25 because I loved the job and they had poured so much training into me that I felt it was the respectful thing to do. Now in my nursing career I've taken a leave from my first nursing job because God called me out to a different area. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it and it was only by divine timing that everything worked out in my favor. It was a terribly feeling leaving my friends and patients that I was so close with, when I knew they needed me, but it wasn't about me. It was about God. I had someone tell me a few months before, because at the time I was dissatisfied, to look into another job, but I knew God was saying "not yet". Then two months later, God sounded the gong per se and I applied on Friday and had a new job by Tuesday. I knew because where I didn't see flaws in my job before, there were many. Where I wanted to grow and improve as a nurse was in this new position that had sought me out for my skill and wanted to hire me. Those signs along with the sheer evidence of His goodness in providing a stable job in a 5 day span was how I knew.

It can also be so tempting to chase what we want even when we are certain of what God has told us. A perfect example for me of this was my pursuit of a romantic relationship with my best friend. I kept chasing that pipedream for years after I'd heard God tell me he was not who He had for me. That was really hard for me, it put me in this uncomfortable place where it felt like I had no options. But from my acceptance and following God's will he's allowed my best friend and I to develop this wonderful friendship with no ulterior motive beyond being a support for one another. I knew God had given me this message through a dream where someone straight up said, "this is not the man I have for you." That was a little more obvious

Not getting what we want is not always God's heart but sometimes it is, for a purpose. So much of me wished that my engagement had worked out. My heart longs for the joys and challenges of marriage, and for a family. Its been offered to me a couple times to rekindle that engagement but partly due to what I shared in my last post and mostly because I know thats not God's will, I have chosen to decline. Thats not an easy ask, saying no to some intense dreams and desires. The comfort I have is in knowing that God doesn't want me hurt. He wants to give me what is best. I've grown and changed and my faith is so different from before that broken engagement. I don't act or respond in the same ways, I demand respect in love and God knows my heart. He has shown me that He has someone willing to grow with me, that doesn't want to change me or find fault. He knows that I am trusting his lead and not the easy path to just get what I want. He has promised joy in following His lead and that has been confirmed by scripture after scripture and person after person. I refuse to let my choices be my own.

So evidently there is a certain amount of being atune with yourself, to listen to God and know that feeling of God pushing you. For me all those things have very physical manifestations. I don't often trust my gut but I know when something is my gut now and what is God. It takes time but I challenge you to find a strong and loyal guide post who you trust and has your best interest in mind. Respect that they may not always tell you what you want to hear but they can help you as you learn decernment. No one is perfect, we all make mistakes along the way but the key is to avoid repeating the same mistake twice.