Life is a complex journey, filled with twists, turns, and unexpected challenges. Amid this uncertainty, we often wrestle with the concept of control. We plan, strategize, and strive to shape our future according to our desires. But what if the path we’re trying so desperately to carve isn’t the one meant for us? What if God’s will is like a raging river, wild and untamable, carrying us toward a destination far greater than we could imagine?
Fighting the Current
Imagine standing in the middle of a powerful river, its currents pulling you relentlessly. You struggle, flailing against the tide, determined to go your own way. But the more you resist, the more the water engulfs you, leaving you exhausted and gasping for air. This is what happens when we fight against God’s will. In our human nature, we crave control, believing we know what is best for our lives. Yet, this resistance often leads to frustration, despair, and a sense of drowning in our circumstances.
Learning Submission
The key to navigating this river is not to fight it but to submit to its flow. Submission doesn’t mean passivity or giving up; it means surrendering our need for control and trusting in the One who guides us. God’s will isn’t a chaotic force meant to overwhelm us. It is a purposeful current, designed to lead us to a place of peace, growth, and fulfillment. Listening to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit—the gentle whisper that nudges our hearts—is essential. This voice often comes in moments of stillness, prayer, and reflection, guiding us step by step.
What We Want vs. What God Allows
One of the hardest lessons in life is understanding that we don’t always get what we want. Our desires, though genuine and heartfelt, are often limited by our finite perspective. God, however, sees the bigger picture. He allows us to have not necessarily what we want, but what we need. His plans are higher than ours, His wisdom infinite. When we release our grip on our own expectations and trust in His provision, we begin to see that His allowances are acts of grace, shaping us into the people we were created to be.
Trusting the Journey
Submitting to God’s will requires faith—a deep trust that He is for us, not against us. It’s about believing that even when the waters are turbulent, they are carrying us toward a greater purpose. This doesn’t mean the journey will be easy. There will be times of doubt, fear, and longing. But in those moments, we must anchor ourselves in the truth of God’s promises.
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The Peace of Surrender
When we stop fighting the current and choose to flow with it, a profound peace emerges. We begin to see God’s hand in every situation, guiding us with love and purpose. This peace doesn’t come from having all the answers or knowing what’s next. It comes from trusting the One who does.
God’s will in your life is not meant to crush you but to refine you. It is a river that cannot be controlled, but it can be trusted. Let go of the struggle, tune into the quiet voice that calls you to surrender, and allow the current to carry you to the extraordinary plans God has for you. In doing so, you’ll discover a life of freedom, fulfillment, and faith like never before.
Blessings,
Troy
Troy P Zehnder 