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Tuesday, 21 November 2006 15:01 |
 | | Roland Martin |
CHICAGO ÇƒÓ How many times have you ever prayed for something, only to be surprised and shocked that it didnët work out as you planned?
Take your pick: job, home, spouse or children. No matter what it is, Iëm sure many of us have at one time or another prayed to God that we be blessed with something that we really, really wanted. Yet have you ever asked yourself, "Lord, is this your will for my life?"
Trust me, Iëve been there.
In
my first marriage, I often thanked God for my first wife. She had a
wonderful smile and a pleasing personality, was good looking and had a
great job as a TV anchor. But it didnët take long for the marriage to
sour; and after six years, it ended. What I discovered is that I spent
a great deal of time thanking God for her, but never at one time did I
ever ask, "God, is this the woman you set aside for me?"
I know some of
you may very well be perplexed and find that what Iëm saying is trivial
or not really important. Some may even throw back the scripture that
God will give you the desires of your heart. But that still doesnët
mean itës what you need. It may very well be a want, but not a need.
This came to
mind recently when I emailed Frank Turner, a Detroit TV news anchor,
who was embroiled in a dispute with his station owners. It seems that
Turner wanted to host his own radio show on a Christian station, but TV
station officials said that conflicted with his contract with them.
Turner took them to court, leading to a contentious battle with the
station. He eventually decided to leave TV in order to do the radio
show.
I was curious as
to what Turnerës reasons were for trying to force the stationës hand,
so I sent him an email. He replied by asking why I was asking, and I
told him that I wondered if God told him to take the course of action
or if it was his choosing.
I really wanted
Turner to respond, because it would have been great to find out if he
was pushing the action, rather than have God lead him to the right
decision.
There is no
doubt that it was hard for Turner to give up a good six-figure salary
as a main TV anchor, but if it was Godës will that was more important,
He may have wanted Turner to leave one job to accept another. Some may
have thought the TV job was better, but we never know Godës reasons.
The radio gig could have been what was needed ÇƒÓ now.
I strongly
believe that many people make the mistake of accepting jobs that on the
surface look great, but in the long run arenët good for their well
being. Others may be in marriages that have gone wrong, unwilling to
accept the position that maybe had they asked God if this is the person
they should have married, they wouldnët be in that position. Iëve seen
individuals mired in financial difficulty because they moved out of one
house for a larger one, never wanting to admit that that wasnët the
best decision.
My experience
tells me that our flesh wants one thing and the spirit seeks another.
We may very well have to go through the trials and tribulations before
we wake up and realize one day that God simply wants us to come to Him
and seek His guidance before we make such life-changing positions.
Folks, there
have been jobs that I would have loved to have landed, but the Lord
said, "Roland, thatës not for you." The pay was awesome, but God would
never allow me to take the job. At one time, I wanted to return to my
old job in Dallas running a newspaper, but God told me that under no
circumstances could I accept the position unless three individuals were
no longer employed there. Their mere presence polluted the place, and
God make it clear that I could not co-exist with them.
I told the
publisher that, and he made a decision to keep them. That was fine. He
did what was best for him, and I had to make a decision that was
pleasing to God.
If you are
having to make a decision in your life, take the time to step back and
ask, "God, is this in your will?" You might be surprised at the answer
you receive.
ï
Roland S. Martin, editor of The Chicago Defender newspaper, is author of "Speak, Brother! A Black Manës View of America."
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