Obedience and surrender are two important lessons that I have learned in the past two years. These became my life’s theme when God, in His sovereign power led me to take a path that is different from what I envisioned. But here I am, moving to a different direction. Taking the path to the unknown brings about fear and discouragement.

Through all of this, God remains faithful to His promises. Because along the unfamiliar and narrow way, there is a beautiful view that makes me enjoy the new journey.

Life is a constant change – as what they say. As Christians, our life should be directed by God and it is our duty to follow His lead. We may be sure of our path today but it can easily be redirected tomorrow. We may have so many plans today but Gods plan will still prevail (Proverbs 9:21). However, there are times that we think that we know better than Him. It is sad but true. Thus, we become more comfortable managing and controlling our lives rather than entrusting it to Him. Our desires and aspirations cause us to be blinded by thinking that we are still on the right track (though we are not).That we are still walking in the path where God wants us to be. Many of us might say that as long as what we do is not sin, then it is fine. There is nothing wrong with doing things that we love or taking the path that we want. It can be wrong when God calls us to do something but we choose to ignore Him. God’s will and plan for Christians are not all the same. Through His Word, it is our duty to unveil it as day passes by.

Sometimes, we already know that God wants to redirect our path but because of comfort and convenience, we brush it off and choose to continue with our lives.

How Do We Know When God Wants to Redirect our Lives?

The Lord will not lead us to a different path without confirming it with us. We just have to be sensitive to His still small voice.

God’s Word Convicts Us

There are many ways that God will speak to us regarding His plans for us. Nonetheless, the most reliable source is His Word.

When God started to work in my heart regarding His redirection, He instilled a verse in my heart that I kept pondering on. In Matthew 6:24, it illustrates two Masters that each of us is serving – God and mammon or money. It further elaborates that no one can serve two masters at the same time. It is either to hate the other and love the other or hold to the one and despise the other. If we say that we serve both God and mammon, we fool ourselves and we make God a liar.

 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

 This spoke directly to my heart because I knew back then that I was chasing after material things. My heart was enticed to go after the world’s definition of success. But it is indeed an endless toiling without satisfaction. Although, this had been engraved in my heart, I did not stop from pursuing my dreams. Even though I had believed that I loved the Lord, my heart was torn into focusing on Him and the world. Until later on, God intervened through allowing this “thorn in the flesh.”

Lack of Peace of Mind

Have you ever been in a situation where you know that you have asked forgiveness for the wrong things that you have done and you know that you have already confessed all your sins? Yet, there is this lack of peace of mind.

Like me, you probably experienced it. While being in a thriving career, I could not explain why I did not have peace of mind. I knew I had not done anything wrong. I always cried alone with Him. I read in Philippians 4 that the peace of God transcends all understanding and it will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (v7). But how come I did not have?

I later realized that I chose to be deaf from God’s calling. This was the reason why peace departed from me.

A Sudden Shift of Path

 There are many reasons that God uses to get our attention. Common situations are financial crisis, death, severe sickness, life and death situations, trials, and even persecutions. Whenever we experience such things, it is an opportunity for us to reassess our lives in relation to God’s will for us at the moment. Be open to God’s leading when unpleasant events in our lives suddenly caught us off-guard.

Change of Perspective

 When God calls you to a different direction, I have learned that He will not force you. Instead, He will open your eyes to appreciate that road that you need to travel for Him.

I planned my life to be in the corporate world. I liked working so much. Work kept me happy and alive. But circumstances placed me in a position where my love for work just disappeared. Though I still work, the satisfaction and enjoyment (that I once had) do not take over anymore. Instead, my perspective has changed from following the system of the world to aligning my priorities in Him.

Limits Your Way of Life

Most of us want to do and achieve a lot in life. I had been to those moments where I believed I could do much in life. I had so many plans. I had many activities lined up. But when God allowed me to go through this sickness, there is a limitation to what I can do now. Nevertheless, I am starting to see God’s plan for my life. Those limitations became a way to be still in Him and enjoy my life serving Him. I never learned to take things slowly. I was always on-the-go. Until that moment when God allowed me to pause for a while and just savor my day-to-day with Him.

When God wants us to take a different path, we must obey. Trust and obey for there is no other way. In obedience, there is peace. In surrender, there is rest.  We need to learn to surrender our will to Him who knows our path. (Psalm 1:6).

I never thought that obedience and surrender are two sweet words in Him.

God’s redirection may not be pleasing at first, but as we learn to trust Him along the way, we will experience joy and gratefulness. We may not even understand why. Nonetheless, His plan is better than ours.

Do you feel that God is redirecting your life? Don’t fear. Be assured that He knows what’s going on in your life.