Q & A Archives
These are Questions & Answers posed by ordinary people looking for guidance. Dr. Judy Baus has thoughtfully answered each person and feels that these responses just might help someone else in their time of need.
To submit question please feel free to click here.
08/15/2008 07:01 PM
Dear Judy,
How can I know the right thing to do? Take this week, my sister-in-law had surgery and is having complications so she's laid up. I know it'd be really nice if I drove the two hours to help her in her home this weekend, but I have so much to do at my own place. And our church is having special meetings that would be good to attend, but it'd make it very late by the time I got to bed, and I still work. I have little strength each evening, no matter what time I get home. How can I know what’s right for me to do?
-Needing Direction
-----------------------------------------------------
Dear Needing Direction,
Pray and obey! It is nice if God wants you to go and help your sister-in-law. But Nice and God are two different things.
It's in the area of emotion and compassion that the believer can get in trouble. Jesus was not moved by need but only by what the Father wanted. This is clearly seen when Jesus' dear friend Lazarus was very sick. "Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick" (John 11:3).
Surely this plea touched Jesus' emotions, but He knew that emotions and obedience are two different things. Emotions say it would be NICE if I go because they need help, but obedience says it would be GOD if I go because He is sending me to help.
Believers have the person of the Holy Spirit in them to lead and guide them. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). Many believers listen to their emotions rather than to the Spirit of God. As followers of Jesus we are to be led by the Spirit of God and GO where He sends us with kindness and compassion. The compassion comes AFTER God instructs us to GO. When we are following the direction of God, then it will be perfect for you and for the person in need!
Now about the meetings at your church, if God wants you to go to the meetings He will give you the energy to go, and then the energy the next morning to do what you must get done. Once again you must pray, and then obey whatever you sense the Holy Spirit directing you. There’s no blueprint for listening to and following the Lord's leading; sometimes you just need to do what seems best at the time.
I hear people say all the time that "I am so burned out." Being burned out is not God's plan; it's Self's doing! The Bible says that when we are in the presence of the Lord, we WILL be refreshed. So if I am tired all the time, my house is not in order, I have chores stacked up, etc., I have done this to myself by myself. I must go back and adjust my priorities and put boundaries around myself. The boundaries of the Holy Spirit will keep us from things that would BURN US OUT! I cannot be all things to all people and I can't be in all places at all times. I can, however, "do all things [all things the Lord says to do!] through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
You can't be moved by what people might think of you if you do or don't do something, but you MUST be moved by what God will think about you if you do something or not! Remember the key to everything is to PRAY and OBEY!
I hope this helps!