The Most Helpful Thing I’ve Ever Read About God’s Guidance
The most helpful thing I’ve ever read about discerning God’s call and making big decisions comes from one little page in a very big book.
About four years ago I read through volume 2 of Iain Murray’s biography of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. It’s an 862 page book. But page 177 jumped off the paper and into my chest, forever marking me. The whole book is worth buying just for this page. I’ve not followed this counsel exactly, and it must be nuanced for different contexts and personalities, but it remains deeply helpful.
This comes from a letter that MLJ wrote to his daughter Elizabeth on 5-17-1948 as she was questioning God’s call on her life. Here it is:
The one vital, all-important thing is to know the will of God. It is not as easy as it sometimes sounds. I was for over two years in a state of uncertainty and indecision before leaving medicine for the pulpit. But in the end it was made absolutely and perfectly clear and mainly by means of things which God did.
These are the rules which I would advise you to observe:
1. Never speak to anyone about it. Don’t tell people what you are feeling and discuss it and ask for advice. That always leads to still more uncertainty and confusion. Make an absolute rule of this at all costs. Say nothing until you are absolutely certain, because we are all subject to self suggestion.
2. Do not even think about it and discuss the pros and cons with yourself. Once more this leads to auto suggestion and confusion.
3. In meetings, etc., do not start with the thought in your mind, ‘I wonder whether this is going to throw light on my question or help in any way?’
4. In other words, you must not try to anticipate God’s leading. Believing as I do that God does ‘call’ very definitely, and in a distinct and definite doctrine of a call, and a vocation is distinct from the ‘need is the call’ idea, I believe that God will always make His will and His way plain and clear. With reverence, therefore, I say leave it to God entirely as regards purpose, time and all else.
All you have to do is to tell God that you are content to do His will whatever it may be and, more, that you will rejoice to do His will. Surrender yourself, your life, your future entirely to Him and leave it at that… You must not go on asking God to show you His way. Leave it to Him and refuse to consider it until He makes it impossible for you not to do so.
Also remember, and especially in an atmosphere like OICCU and IVF which tends to be activist and to place such emphasis on works, that ‘to be’ comes before ‘to do’. That is where we all fail. Our business is to make ourselves such instruments as shall be fit and meet for the Master’s use. He always tells such people how and where and when He wants to use them. You prepare yourself and He will then show you what He wants you to do.
Here’s a pdf of what I’ve posted above: MLJ-Guidance
Justin, help me understand this.. I’m confused…
“Never speak to anyone about it” (Councel, The Church Body)
“Do not even think about it and discuss the pros and cons with yourself” (Logic, Wisdom)
“you must not try to anticipate God’s leading” (Planning)
So…don’t seek wise councel from the Body, don’t plan and don’t use your brain…, then you’ll know it’s God’s will?? Is that what he’s saying or am i reading this wrong (I don’t have the book).
The Most Helpful Thing I've Ever Read About God's Guidance – http://tinyurl.com/2u636sd
The Most Helpful Thing I’ve Ever Read About God’s Guidance: The most helpful thing I’ve ever read about d.. http://bit.ly/cXXiA1
I have to voice my sympathies with Mr. Current here. While there is some good wisdom here, like not presuming upon God’s leading in every single circumstance, surely this is an example of where the good Dr. Lloyd-Jones got the larger picture wrong.
I fail to see how this does not encourage an inner dialogue, disparate from the wisdom that counsel brings. Proverbs exhorts us continually to seek counsel and actively pursue wisdom, not isolate ourselves (Prov 18:1) and passively expect the answers to fall into our lap.
RT @JustinBuzzard: The Most Helpful Thing I've Ever Read About God's Guidance – http://tinyurl.com/2u636sd
Guys, great questions/concerns. I have to be brief here.
When I first read the page I wrote just a one-word note in the margin next to point number 1: “odd.” MLJ’s counsel sounded so odd at first. But then I couldn’t stop thinking through what he had to say.
Brian, here’s a very brief response to your 3 lines above:
1. First of all, this is why I gave the disclaimer that I don’t follow this counsel exactly and that it must be nuanced for different contexts and personalities. I think this first point of his may have more to do with his daughter and her personality and history than with a general rule for all people to be followed at all times. For me, I’ve actually found #1 helpful because I’m prone to talk way too much and bounce everything off of everybody. Your concern is a very valid one. In major decisions I still talk to many, many counselors, just not as many as before.
2. Again, same as above. This may have more to do with the traits of MLJ’s daughter. As an over-thinker, this counsel really helps me. But, apart from that, I think the center out of which all his points come from is a radical banking on the sovereignty of God, the points which he bookends this excerpt with. I think this is what he was trying to teach his daughter.
3. I think he’s attacking worry here. I think he’s getting at Prov 16:9.
So, I think the two main clarifying helps here are:
1) MLJ is addressing this one letter to a limited audience–his one daughter whom he knew very well. He was doing what he does best in this letter–being a doctor, prescribing the proper counsel for the needs of a particular patient.
2) MLJ is giving decision making counsel that places God and his sovereignty in the center, freeing one of man-centered burden, pressure, and anxiety.
Does this help?
Justin, I too would be curious as to what part of this you found especially
helpful. MLJ almost seems to imply a radically individualized approach to discerning calling (in contradiction to the Puritans), and it also seems like God doesn’t use means.
Thanks for any insight you might have here!
JT
FYI: I wrote my comment before your response.
Pingback: June Linkathons « BrianD blog