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Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

“Which door will she choose? Will it be door #1? Or door #2?”

You’ve heard the game show hosts shout these words to the audience. You scream at the TV, “Pick door #1! Pick door #1!” You don’t know what is behind either door, but you take a chance on choosing one of them.

Life is sometimes like the game show. You seem to have so many choices! And when we attempt to look at Scripture to guide us in our decisions, it can sometimes feel like voices are shouting, “Choose door #1!” Our friends might push us one direction and the world around us might suggest a different way. How do we follow God’s will?

I have been considering what following the will of God is and recently I discovered that

knowing the will of God in your life is probably more about BEING than doing.

He has given us so much Scripture to follow. If we started with just this verse above (rejoicing, praying, being thankful), we would be in God’s will no matter where we ended up.

But another idea came to me.

I heard a radio preacher mention his thoughts about the possibility of a “door #2”. I began to let my mind ponder the idea and had these questions. Have you ever felt like you obeyed God in a situation and before long it totally fell apart? Have you ever thought that you must not be “in God’s will” if all this happened? Maybe you have thought that perhaps you weren’t “in God’s Will” if your husband passed away? Maybe if you had married that OTHER fellow, you would still have a husband. Or if you had married a “better Christian” he wouldn’t have had addiction issues?

What encouraged me was considering that sometimes God leads a person through door #1 in order to get them to door #2.

Door #1 wasn’t a mistake if you entered it through obedience and prayer.

It may not have worked out AS YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED. But door #1 can lead to door #2 in God’s sovereign way.

The secret is your inward willingness to obey as God reveals it.

That inward willingness to obey God can get tough sometimes. We fight it because we think we know a better way. We have a better plan. We’ve got this figured out.

The Apostle Paul certainly went through a lot while he was doing God’s will. Beatings. Shipwrecks. Starvation. Friends leaving him. A thorn in the flesh.

Why do I think following God’s will in my life will be all rainbows and lollipops and unicorns?

Life is about:

• Maturing my faith.
• Living out the fruit of the Spirit everyday.
• Loving others.
• Serving them.
• Reading God’s Word and trying to apply it to my life.
• Knowing God.

In one scenario, my door #1 was marrying my husband, but here I am looking for door #2. Could joining A Widow’s Might team be my door #2? Some think that door #2 must be another marriage. It could be for some, but not for others. Door #2 could be a new career, or an undiscovered talent, or travels, or comforting others with the comfort received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Think about your future and where your door into widowhood is leading you. It may not be where you expected it to be. But challenge yourself, “God, help me to see with Your eyes.” Look expectantly at the future.

• Have you been able to encourage other ladies because of your similar experiences?
• Are you able to serve in a different capacity because of your being single again?
• Do your children empathize with their friends now that they understand the life with a single mother?
• Are there long-forgotten talents that are surfacing?
• Is your prayer list growing as you spend more time in prayer for others?

Next time someone asks you, “How do I know what God’s will is for my life?” You can answer with these verses. It is about following Scripture no matter where you end up.

So keep rejoicing and praying, then go through door #2 with confidence and obedience.

Lord God, help me rejoice today and be grateful. Show me how to pray continually in my day. I want to do Your will so thank You for showing me Your will in Scripture. Give me opportunities to share Your will with ones I come in contact with this week. Amen