I just happened to remember that you had a blog and that I hadn’t visited it in quite a while! Reading this post, it sounds like you may be facing some big, life-changing decisions right now. This is both scary and exciting, as I know all too well from my own experience! Sometimes I, too, have felt as though I were standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure of what my heavenly Father wanted me to do. Jumping off a cliff is only safe if you happen to be strapped into a hang glider! That one essential piece of equipment makes the difference between thrilling, soaring flight, or terrifying, crushing death. God’s perfect will is our glider. The key, of course, is to know with absolute certainty what God’s will is for you, and then walk confidently forward (or sometimes stay confidently right where you are!) in that knowledge.

Of course, you already know this, but for the sake of your younger readers there is something else to be said as well: There are two ways God helps us find His will. One is through personal prayer. Most small matters can be settled in this way. But for big, life-changing “cliff-style” decisions there is no substitute for good, godly counsel. The Bible says: “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

No matter how old you are, your parents should always be your first and most trusted counselors. King Solomon gave this advice to his son: “Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” (Proverbs 4:10-13) If King Solomon’s son Rehoboam had heeded his father’s counsel and the counsel of the older, trusted advisors his father had relied on, instead of turning to others his own age for advice, he would not have lost most of his kingdom. (1 Kings 12) Queen Esther set a different example for us: “But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.” (Esther 2:20) Esther was an adult… married… a queen! But she still trusted in her adopted father Mordecai’s counsel, and because of this God was able to use her to save her people from annihilation.

So, trust your parents, trust the Lord, and go forward (or wait!) confidently into the future He has prepared for you!

Love from your sister in Christ,

Ja-lene

P.S. Would you like to get together for lunch sometime after the Christmas rush is over?

Kenli

Grace & Peace,
Derrick