Prison of Pressure
- The Narrow Path
- May 3, 2024
- 2 min read
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan (Ephesians 1:11, NLT).
A friend of mine was recently praying through a decision to make a job change. Though she felt like stepping away was the right call to make, she would be doing so without knowing exactly what her next steps would be career-wise.
That’s a little scary, right? She recently shared how she was trying to balance the pressure of knowing she needed to figure out her next steps, while continuing to give the Lord space to show her what direction He wants her to take.
As we continued our discussion about what the next couple of months would look like for her, the Holy Spirit gave me these words of wisdom: Don’t let the pressure become your prison.
Have you ever felt the pressure of a looming, big decision?
Maybe you’re praying about switching schools. Maybe you’re praying about a promotion, or moving on to another job. Maybe you’re praying about a decision to move back home. Maybe you’re praying about stepping out into a new business venture.
This list is short, but the real-life situations we encounter are infinite. I know we’ve all found ourselves in a place where the weight of a decision threatens to keep us imprisoned to the stress of “making the right choice.”
If we aren’t careful, we can step into a space of self-idolatry where we make the power of our decision greater than the sovereignty of God to guide us exactly where He wants us to be.
Ephesians 1:11 says: Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. When I read this scripture, and allow that truth to sink into the depths of my heart, He reminds me that, despite what choice I make, He has a good plan for my life.
In a recent podcast I listened to by the late Tim Keller titled Your Plans, God’s Plans he describes what it is like when we are making difficult decisions. Specifically, he says, “100% free, 100% determined under the sovereignty of God.1”
We cannot avoid having to make difficult decisions in this life. The enemy wants to use the pressure to keep us imprisoned. But because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we are free to make difficult decisions knowing the truth that God’s sovereignty assures us that He makes everything work out according to His plan.
December 25, 2015, Share Get link Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Other Apps, 2015 December 13, Post a Comment, Read more, 2015 December 18, and 1 comment. “A Transcription of Tim Keller’s ‘Your Plans:God’s Plans.’” A Transcription of Tim Keller’s “Your Plans:God’s Plans.” Accessed April 5, 2024. https://reformedevangelist.blogspot.com/2015/12/a-transcription-of-tim-kellers-your.html.
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