Most of us have gone to a doctor's appointment hoping for a simple answer. Actually, we really want an answer that affirms what we have already decided is right. We tell ourselves it's just our allergies. Or it's something that will clear up in a few days. Then we hear results that say something entirely different.
Now, imagine telling your doctor, "Thanks for your opinion, but I've decided not to accept your diagnosis."
As ridiculous as that sounds, that's pretty much what happens in Jeremiah 42.
The people of God asked the prophet Jeremiah to seek God in prayer on their behalf. They promised they would obey whatever God said.
See where this is going?
They waited ten days while Jeremiah prayed. But when God's answer came, it wasn't what they wanted to hear. So, they didn't do anything Jeremiah instructed them to do.
That means their problem wasn't hearing God's voice. How often do we talk about how hard it is to hear from God? The people heard just fine, but their problem was accepting it.
And don't we sometimes approach God the same way? We pray for wisdom, but really hope God will just agree with us. We ask the Lord for direction, but only want it if it's going the way we've already chosen. In reality, we seek God's will while hoping our will wins.
But listening to God is more than gathering information. Listening is allowing God to change your direction.
It seems like the people in Jeremiah's day wanted God to bless their plans rather than surrender to God's. As a result, they missed the guidance they asked for.
So, before you ask God for direction today, make sure you're willing to say, "Lord, if your answer is different from the one I'm hoping for, I'll still follow."
You may not always hear what you want, but you can trust God's voice enough to follow.
Stay blessed...john
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