Does God really have a plan for my life or is that for important people in the Bible? Why would I want to follow God’s plan, anyway? Those are good questions and maybe you have asked those questions along your faith journey.
In our story, Gideon was hiding from the Midianites when he was in the bottom of the wine press threshing grain. God had to intervene to reveal His plan for him. 11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” [1] Judges 6:11-12.
In Gideon’s case, an angel showed up and talked to him. Many of us wish that God would communicate in the same way to us. We want a loud voice from heaven when we hear from God, complete with trumpets and a burst of sunlight or an angel like in our story. But God works in unique ways that are tailored for who we are. Often, He works in whispers of the Holy Spirit instead of shouts.
It also says in Matthew 7:7 – 8 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. [2]
God is more than willing to show us His will and plan for our lives. Often, He also wants us to show that we want to know it and follow it. He wants us to make an effort – to seek His will. Then He has promised that we will find it. So, if you are asking and seeking and knocking you believe He will show you His will for your life. His will may not always be what we expect, and it can be revealed to us in unexpected ways, but if we are truly interested, we will find it.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.[3] Jeremiah 29:11.
To hear more of the story of Gideon, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-call/the-call-gideon
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.