“Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent” (2 Samuel 7:2)!
David felt moved to build a magnificent dwelling for the LORD. Nathan the prophet endorsed the idea with the stamp of approval coming from God. The thought sounded like a good one on the surface, the problem that was pointed out by the LORD himself was that although the intention may have appeared to be good, it was not coming from God.
What interested God more than a dwelling place for himself, was establishing an eternal kingdom which he sought to establish through one of David’s heirs. At the proper time and place, God would act and send his Son to be born and come from the line of David: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever’” (2 Samuel 7:16).
We can often find ourselves in the same situation as David and Nathan. We may be moving to act on an insight that we think is coming from God, when in fact it is not. We can be seeking to follow through on something good, that is in reality only an apparent good. This is where a pregnant and prayerful pause is helpful. It is important to resist the temptation to get ahead of our skis, and move ahead of God. This can be difficult in a world that is satiated in instant gratification.
What is helpful when we have what appears to be a good idea is to continue to bring it to God in prayer. To wait a period of time and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit during times of regular silence. As St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta taught, “God speaks in the silence of the heart.” Spending time in the Bible daily and listening to the word proclaimed during the Mass as well as seeking guidance from people who we trust, especially in spiritual matters, are also ways to discern well.
Looking back on experiences where God’s guidance was evidenced helps too. Consistently seeking God’s guidance with each, thought, word, and action really helps us to grow in knowing God and his will. The more often we do so, the more we will recognize God’s direction and guidance and each time thereafter his voice will become more distinguishable. God will let us know his will and lead the course we are to proceed. Often there is a peace that accompanies clarity, and sometimes, that clarity and peace may appear instantly. Although, more often than not, the clarity we seek comes with time.
Photo: A few more Advent colors as we prepare to enter the Christmas Season. Walking and looking up helps to clear the cobwebs and see God’s will more clearly.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 