Thursday 28 March 
Home     Pastoral Support

When I need guidance in my life….

We live life forwards, but understand it backwards. As you look back, where do you see the hand of God on your life? You might want to draw a series of stepping stones and write on each of them how God has led you to this point in your life. Take a moment to thank God for his guidance and take courage that he will find a way to make his way clear for this next decision. You can trust him.

The Biblical stories are full of people being directed by God, through general lifestyle instructions, through life-changing circumstances and occasionally by specific directions. Something is said. A vision or a dream points the way. Doors of opportunity open and close. The witness of the people of God is that God guides his people. You can trust him to guide you.

However we have a great capacity for self deception. It is important to know ourselves well and to know our personal weaknesses. God will not guide us to act contrary to the mind of Christ. The counsel of an honest friend will save from making a wrong decision.

The Ignatian tradition speaks of seasons of consolation and desolation in life. Consolation is when our desires are aligned with seeking God. Desolation is when we are moving away from God - not necessarily in a time of suffering, but when we are neglecting God for a range of reasons.

The wisdom of that tradition counsels us never to go back on a decision we made in a time of consolation when we are in a time of desolation. That counsel has helped many a person to stay with situations which we would rather avoid.

Mother Theresa was approached by a priest who wanted to know if he should go and work in a leper colony. Her advice was simple: “Worship God every day. Do nothing you know to be wrong. God will make the way clear.” The will of God grows on us as we align our lives to him.

Words of comfort

Romans 12:1,2

​Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Galatians 5:19-23

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Prayers