In preparation for our trip for Africa, my wife and I had a will drawn up just in case something happened to us as we were both traveling overseas. It's nothing that anybody likes to think about but is obviously, a wise and necessary step.In the process of getting my living will completed, I had an option as to what would happen if I was in a comatose state and unable to make a decision as to how long I would want to be kept on life support if the doctor said there was little to no hope of my recovering. My option was to either direct my wife in what she would do or I could authorize her to make the decision for me. The difference in the two decisions was if I direct her, then she would have no say in the decision, she would legally be bound to carry out whatever I had directed. If I authorize her, then I am trusting her look at the circumstances and make the decision on what she hears from the doctor balanced by what she feels in her gut.
I chose to authorize her to make the decision. I chose this because, though I am leaving her to make a very painful decision, I know she will know what to do. Some understandably don't want their spouse to make that decision because it is an unbearably hard one for anyone to make but with us still having young children, I need my wife to make that choice based on what the doctors say and more importantly, what her very reliable gut feeling tells her. I know my wife loves me and her love will guide her to the right decision.
I think, at times, God's will is a lot this process. In the New Testament there are various places where Jesus tells us that He has given us authority but often, in those areas where we have already been given authority, we live as those who need to be directed. What if God's will is sometimes as simple as, "what need do you see? Go meet that need"...or "does the homeless guy in the street need new shoes or a new coat?...do you have two coats or two pair of shoes?...give him one of yours." For us the question was "did Jenna meet a girl in Africa who is an orphan?...do you have the money and the love capacity to take her in and let her call you mommy and daddy?..then you know My will."
And even in all of those questions, we've already been clearly directed in scripture. But we are also authorized to answer the 'how?' and the 'when?'. What if God desires for us to get to a place where He knows that we love Him deeply enough that He can trust us to make decisions on His behalf without us having to wait until He gives us specific direction (when He often already has..). I also know that from personal experience that as soon as we take the authority to step out and do something, He will give us clear and specific direction as we get going, but often never until we get going.
Father, help us to step out in the authority you've already given and let our love for You and our love for one another guide us in doing whatever needs to be done today as those you have authorized to be Your help in a helpless world.
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