Experience God's guidance

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Updated - February 9, 2025

Experience God's guidance! Those who are "really" believers are able to report remarkable experiences that can actually leave you literally astonished in disbelief.

Those who are less "active" in their faith are rather skeptical about the whole thing, because if I let God lead me, I have to give up the helm, don't I? And, anyway, after all, I want to be the master of myself!
And besides: maybe I don't like His ways at all?

Well, dilemma, isn't it? - Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Old adage, but still as valid today as ever.

And now?

Let's take a look at how God created us: As human beings with a mind, i.e. with responsibility, the ability to think, make decisions, distinguish between good and evil ...

Well, we know what is good and bad, we can also think, but WHAT do we think? Well, what I WANT, ME! But whether that makes sense and is expedient for me usually only becomes clear in retrospect. Yes, that's right: You're always smarter afterwards!

Okay. IF God is omniscient, then he also knows how something ends when I do what I WANT, right? Well, okay. But if I want something that I - actually - know exactly that it's not His will, but do it anyway, can't it be that He understands me and my desire? True, He will understand it, but will He approve of it?

Nevertheless, He will allow it if you decide otherwise, against His will (His word ...). Why? Precisely because you are not a puppet. Phew, lucky you! Or not?

Someone always has to paint a black picture! - No, no luck, at best your desire has been satisfied for the moment. Because the consequences of your actions are yet to come ...

And what about God's guidance?

Smile, you experienced it at the moment when you - actually - knew that your plan did not correspond to His will. And all without praying.

Unfortunately, it's not always the case that someone says "Don't do that!" loudly and audibly, nor is there suddenly the famous note next to the coffee cup with a "No" clearly written on it.

Nevertheless, you had the chance to listen to the "actual", the inner voice. You decided differently and have to live with the consequences of your decision.

But if He knew that it wasn't good for me, then surely He could have stopped me?

True, He could have, and sometimes He does, but not always. Perhaps the consequences of your decision will help you in the future, which is why He lets you do as you wish.

Why?

Yes, we often ask ourselves the question of why. So do I.

The time of my departure to the customer was already more advanced than planned. And then another call comes in and keeps me waiting for another five minutes.

Now the reader may say, what's five minutes, a little more on the gas and then you'll make up for it! That's what I said to myself back then, sprinted into the car and off we went, a little faster than allowed, but the highway was close and 70 km/h was allowed anyway, what luck!

Off onto the highway ramp and - step on the gas! But as is the case when you're in a hurry, the next traffic jam is never far away. And so it was this time. From a distance, I could already see the brake lights and hazard warning lights of the vehicles in front. Not exactly having the most respectable words on my lips, at least in my mind, I also braked and came to a halt, still hoping that the stationary vehicles would start moving again. So there I was, watching the time tick away. But even my nervous foot on the accelerator couldn't change the situation.

After the traffic jam began to clear, I saw the accident vehicles that had maneuvered from the overtaking lane onto the hard shoulder. They didn't look good at all. Police, fire department, ambulance, the whole nine yards.

The reader may already have guessed: yes, if I had left home at the scheduled time, I would almost certainly have been in the place of the vehicles parked on the hard shoulder, possibly also the one who would have been given a free ride in the ambulance. Five minutes that could have been the difference between life and death ...

God's guidance? At that time I was not yet convinced, even though I secretly - actually ... - said to myself, "If I had gotten away early, I would probably have been in their place ...".

In other words: even if you are not a "believer", God still holds his hand over you. Since then, I no longer get annoyed when something doesn't work out the way I want it to, because then I say to myself: Who knows what it's good for! - From today's perspective, I know(!) THAT He had a hand in it. And, quite honestly? That is an extremely reassuring feeling!

Venture

If you want to dare God's guidance, then let Him take the helm! He will do it well, says the Bible in Psalm 37:5 "Commit your way to the Lord and hope in him, he will do it well."
The "well" means "do well", but not "He'll do it, I'll sit back and relax ...".

That's not everyone's cup of tea. I know. I can confirm that. There's probably no one who hasn't experienced it. And it's a long way to recognize that, unfortunately.
I often think of Moses' 40 years of wandering in the desert. That's why I resolved not to follow MY will for so long and to listen more to my gut feeling.

That was the first step. The second was to tame my impatience: If he takes so long, then I'll do it myself! Not a good idea. Another round in the desert. The third step was my surrender to God, true to my word 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you." "I can't do any more, YOU do it - no matter how, when or what, but do it!"
I don't wish that on anyone - but man is so proud and stubborn that he sometimes really has to go all the way down to - finally - let God take the helm.

The situation reminded me of Matthew 14, 22-33: Jesus stayed ashore to pray. Peter and the disciples set off across the lake to the opposite shore. A storm arose and they were in distress.
When they saw Jesus walking across the water towards them, they understandably did not believe their eyes and thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus called out to them not to be afraid, it was Him.
Great, he's got a lot to say! He's not up to his neck in water! I can just imagine, I could have been him.

Peter, who was not comfortable with the whole thing, wants to be sure and calls back "Lord, if it is really you, then command me to come to you on the water!" Jesus replies "Come here!"
And what does Peter do? He puts himself to the test, gets out of the boat and walks across the raging waves to Jesus. When he reached him, he was frightened because he realized that he had actually walked on the water and promptly sank and cried out in fear for help.

For me, the example fit like a glove! And from that moment on, I was given the peace, the trust, the certainty - by God. And, without any exaggeration, I was able to throw my problems at His feet and do what I "felt" was good. It was like walking on water without sinking.

But the moment of sinking can also catch up with you from time to time. Whenever you think, "Well, that's going well!", your self-confidence takes hold and you start to take the helm again, quite imperceptibly, you are quickly brought back down to earth. Thank God!

Excursus - The right decision

Project manager in a medium-sized company, 32 years old. She has a permanent job, a good salary, actually feels quite secure in her career, but lacks fulfillment, the meaning of life. Monotony is everywhere, at work, in her free time, she has the feeling that her talents are not really coming into their own and that there is a lack of meaning in her work. This widespread dissatisfaction burdens her, but she is also afraid of change, because the known evil is better than the unknown happiness, time and time again.

She is a believer and regularly attends church services. Her faith is an important source of strength for her. In recent weeks, she has increasingly felt an inner call to change something. She has the feeling that God is leading her in a new direction, but she doesn't know whether she really has the courage to give up her secure job to try something new. She wonders if this is really God's leading or if it is just a whim of her own thoughts.

The search for clarity

One evening, after a long day at work, she feels particularly restless. She decides to bring her concerns and insecurities to God in prayer. So she sits down quietly at her desk, closes her eyes and speaks from the bottom of her heart: "God, I don't know what to do. I feel torn and torn. I want to feel your guidance. Please help me to find the right path."

She asks God to give her clarity and courage to trust in his guidance, even if the path seems unclear and it is not written somewhere, do this or that.

As she prays, she gradually feels calmer and more secure, almost as if she is enveloped in a warm, loving presence. But she knows that it is not always easy to hear God's voice and that it is often rather subtle signs that can guide her.

Unexpected encounter

The next morning, she goes to a café to talk to a good friend. She has rarely seen her friend recently. Now they had spontaneously arranged to meet for a coffee. During the conversation, she tells her about her doubts at work and her dissatisfaction. She also talks about her feeling that she should perhaps take a different job or a new direction, but doesn't know whether this is the right step.

Her friend listens attentively and then says something that will surprise her: "You know, I recently spoke to a woman who made a similar transition. She left a secure job to pursue her passion for art. She said she never thought she could take that step, but when she decided to follow her heart, she suddenly had so many doors opened to her that she was amazed. I think you should perhaps listen to your heart more. Maybe God is leading you in that direction."

Anna feels particularly touched at this moment. She has the feeling that her friend is not only expressing her own opinion in this conversation, but that these words are somehow exactly what she has already felt inside. A feeling that she is not alone and that God is speaking to her through this unexpected encounter.

The decision

A few days later, she is faced with a concrete decision: A company she applied to a few months ago offers her the opportunity to take on a new job as a project manager, in a completely different industry that she is also very interested in. But the job would be risky, as it would mean a change and she would initially start with less security and a lower salary. At the same time, however, she feels that this position would make better use of her talents and that she could find more meaning in her work there.

As she faces up to the job offers, she is torn. She wonders whether she should take the risk or whether it would be better to stay in her safe, familiar job. She remembers her prayer and the conversation with Maria and feels deep inside that this change is not just a career decision, but a decision that will also bring her closer to herself. She perceives the inner peace she feels about her decision as a kind of confirmation that she is on the right path.

The guidance of God

On the day of the final decision, she prays for clarity regarding her decision. During the church service on the following day, the sermon focuses on trust in God's guidance, the importance of faith, even in uncertain times, and that God not only guides us in the big decisions of life, but also in the small moments when we listen to him.
These words speak to her deep inside and she realizes that she does not have to decide everything on her own, because God is there to guide her, even if the path is not always straight, but takes a few detours.

With this inner confirmation, Anna finally makes the decision to accept the new job on Monday. She feels led by God and knows that she is not only making this decision on her own initiative, but also because she has the feeling that this is the path God has planned for her.

Conclusion

God's guidance is experienced individually in different ways, but always at the right time and in the right way for everyone!

Dare to step out of your comfort zone, entrust your life to Him and let yourself be surprised at the wealth of life that is suddenly open to you. It is more than you need, more than you could ever have worked out for yourself, more than you can imagine!