His Life For Our Will

In seasons where we say that we aren’t hearing God’s voice clearly, could part of the reason be that we are drowning out His voice by not completely trusting Him and trying to pave our own way?  Is there an ongoing fear that we might hear what we don’t want to hear?  An equally important question…..  Are we writing His story for our lives or are we completely trusting Him and allowing the author of our lives to take complete control? 

This week, I have begun my final year at Charis Bible College.  This being my final year has brought on loads of excitement.  However it has also brought on some nerves and even some sadness that it will soon be over.  There are parts of me that are excited to reach the end and look back at everything I have learned and gained from this season of my life, but equally there are parts of me that will be sad that there won’t be days filled with teachings from my favorite professors.  The thing that weighs heavier on me than both of those feelings is that once I have finished, it’s time to put what I’ve learned into action full time.  Knowing this is my final year has forced me to start looking at the options that lie ahead afterwards.  I’m blessed to be in the position I am with multiple opportunities in ministry, but that also leads to the stress of making the right decision. 

In a similar light, although not that similar at all, my wife is now 23 weeks pregnant.  This is our last pregnancy.  We are trying to enjoy the milestones while equally excited for it to be over.  My wife has not been blessed with the easiest pregnancies, and we have suffered so much loss that pregnancy doesn’t seem to be the most joyful time in our lives, but I’ll never forget the day that Oakley was born, and holding her in my arms.  I thought that feeling would fade, but thankfully it has not.  My greatest joy in life is leading my family in love.  I still LOVE to love my daughter each and every day.  It’s made realizing how God LOVES to love us that much easier.  I really enjoy actively loving on my daughter day in and day out.  This pregnancy being the last comes with both emotions of excitement and of sadness just as my final year of bible college has brought. 

All this to say, we are in an interesting season of our lives here in the Hudson household.  For me, it is a time of figuring out the future and what lies ahead.  It is so incredibly easy to try to take control myself, and pave a way, my way, but that is not what living a life in pursuit of God looks like.  When we attempt to take the pen away from the author of our lives, it never goes well.  Trust me, I have a great track record of trying to take the pen away.  Instead, it’s about putting our complete trust in Him and allowing Him to direct our path.  We have so many examples of people putting their complete trust in Him without really knowing anything about what their future would look like.

Abraham trusted God and moved to an unknown land.  He also trusted God when he was asked to sacrifice his own son, the same son he was promised and prayed so long for.  Joseph was sold into slavery and then jailed, but trusted God’s plan for his life, ultimately saving a nation. Joshua struggled with understanding God’s plan at times, having to be reminded time and time again to be Strong and Courageous, but ultimately he did trust God, and came back with a good report when sent out to assess the enemy.  Eventually Joshua would lead the children of Israel into the promised land.  Talk about a gut check.  Joshua provides such a great example of getting over our own fears and putting our complete trust in God.  Then there’s Peter, John, Paul, all in prison or exiled at one time or another, and still trusted God with everything.  And Moses, we can’t forget Moses, a life filled with Trust.  Trust for daily provision for decades.  A great lesson with Moses though, he also had times of struggle in regards to trust. 

So many great examples of complete trust in God found throughout the word of God.  As with Joshua and Moses, there are many stories of individuals overcoming their own faults to trust God as well.  I, along with many of you I’m sure, have a great fault of trying to figure out my future myself.  I’m always trying to plan very far out.  Right now, in my final year of bible college it becomes even easier to try to force a plan come graduation.  This season has become a great test for me in regards to putting my complete trust in Him.  I ask that you join is in prayer for what God has for us after graduation and also that I live in the moment through this final year.  Something really neat I’ve heard recently is that the only point where the present touches eternity is RIGHT NOW!  If I remember right, it was in reference to The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, where the enemy was teaching to try to get humans to focus on the past or the future, because if they focus on the present they are harder to defeat…. Or something to that extent.  It turned a light bulb on for me.  When I’m stressing or even just trying to plan or figure out the future, I am not focused on the present.   I also just began reading a book by Mike Donehey, the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North, called “Finding God’s Life for My Will”.  Yes you read that right, Life for Will, not Will for Life.  A direct quote from this book, “I’ve come to believe God is much less interested in what we do with our lives and much more concerned with how and why we live our lives.”  Or put even simpler, "Perhaps God isn't giving me the plan because He wants to be the plan."  I’m holding this belief as close to my heart as possible right now.  I’m making a serious attempt to just focus on Him.  On loving Him….  On allowing Him to love me….  On loving others like Him…. and on making Him known.  When I focus on these things, and trust Him completely, my future will form itself!

I hope you were able to take something from this today.  A quick update on the Hudsons, as you read earlier, Tanja is in her 23rd week of pregnancy.  We couldn’t be more excited for Oakley to have a little sister in just a few short months.  Please pray for the health of Tanja and the baby!  Also the final year of Charis has begun.  It comes with new challenges around the house being in school full time once again.  This year I also attend a local campus two Saturdays a month, so it’s even more of a commitment, but I couldn’t be more excited for what is ahead for this school year.  After looking for a new church home for the last 8 months, and visiting several places, some for several weeks, others briefly, we feel we have finally found a home church for this last year of school at Life.Church Lenexa.  I don’t know what took us so long to check it out, as Pastor Craig has always been a leader I look up to, and I utilize his resources for pastors regularly.  We absolutely love their children’s ministry and Pastor Craig’s messages leave us fed every Sunday!  The current series is a verse by verse study of Jonah that just kicked off last Sunday and the first installment was awesome!  I’d highly encourage you to find it online!  Lastly, PLEASE let us know how Tanja and I can be praying for you.  So many pray for us continuously, and this year we want to make it a mission to go deeper in praying for others.  We pray daily specifically for the challenges those close to us are facing and we want to be praying for you as well.  So leave a comment or send us a facebook message and let us know how we can be praying for you!!

“Take delight in the Lord, And he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.”

Psalm 37:4-5  (NLT)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NKJV)