Living in Accordance With God’s Will
I had a good conversation today with my friend Jean about living in accordance with God’s will. I reflected much on this, especially in the case that during the last 5 years of experiencing spiritual challenges, I’ve asked God to reveal His plan for my life. How do we know if we are living God’s will and what are some guidelines to consider? Personally speaking, I had to come to the realization that I am already living the will of God in my life right now. I realized that for me God’s will is not something I keep hoping for, but rather accepting my current circumstances as His Divine will. Once I accepted it, living in the present moment and trusting God became a little easier. While we live in accordance with God’s will, there are a few guidelines we can consider as people of faith such as: surrendering, intentionality, and serving others.
Surrendering
Acceptance and surrender go hand in hand while living the will of God. If I may be honest with myself, caregiving is difficult, and incessant household duties aren’t fulfilling. However, living God’s will means that caring for my family right now is living in accordance with God’s will. Surrendering to your current situation and accepting it is practicing trust, gratitude, and contentment. You will have difficult days ahead, but you defer back to your decision of choosing to accept it not only for your mental health but as an aid in self-care.
Become Intentional
When I became a Catholic, I became intentional with my faith and had a strong desire to immerse myself in the teachings. Study and understand why you believe what you believe. If someone has different beliefs than you, meet them where they are in their tradition, have a positive dialog, and learn from the other person with a sincere heart. Study sacred texts, the lives of those within your belief system who inspire you, take classes, whatever you need to understand the principles and values that are central to your beliefs. Then take a pause and live it out. Be intentional and self-reflective.
Serving Others
When I was out of state caring for my father, my friend Paula dropped off food for my husband every day for 6 months! My husband is a UPS driver and works late shifts, and it was a gift to come home without having to worry about preparing dinner. Look for opportunities to serve and help others in need because it reflects God’s compassion, love, and mercy. The Lord is merciful, and we can pay it forward by being merciful to others.
Take a moment to reflect on how you are already living out God’s will in your life. He controls our path and allows adversities so that we can grow. If you believe you are currently not living the will of God, He will reveal it to you when it is time.
“Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry” ~ Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
