I think we have some major misconceptions when it comes to knowing God’s will. We often assume it’s a streamlined, expedient process. You pray, and immediately you know what you’re supposed to do.
Cloudy with a Chance of Revelation | Devotional
When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.
—Exodus 24:15–16
Today’s Bible reading: Exodus 24
I think we have some major misconceptions when it comes to knowing God’s will. We often assume it’s a streamlined, expedient process. You pray, and immediately you know what you’re supposed to do.
You fast, and the answer you’re looking for magically comes before the second skipped meal. You open your Bible, and your sight lands on a random verse in Colossians that tells you what decision to make.
Sometimes that happens. But not usually. Usually it’s more like what Moses experienced on the mountain.
Moses was at Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord and receive directions and the Law for the people. He wanted to know the will of God.
God wanted him to know it even more. But then Moses just sat there. God eventually spoke to him, but it was only after Moses had waited for six days in cloudy silence.
That should be encouraging to those of us who still don’t know God’s will for a particular situation or our life in general, and we think we never will.
How can you make use of that spiritual gift you’ve sensed within yourself but never really practiced? Has the time come to make the leap into that business venture you’ve had in mind? Should you get your degree? Move? Marry? Have kids? Stop having kids?
The will of God often takes time to determine. Cloudy conditions usually come before clear commands. Sometimes God speaks to us immediately and clearly, as He did when Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha’s shoulders.
When He does, we should be thankful for those times and act immediately and boldly. But usually, we’re going to spend days, months, maybe even years in the clouds before we hear anything.
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RT Cloudy conditions usually come before clear commands. #GreaterBook
If that’s you right now, don’t head back down the mountain just yet. God has a clear direction coming for you.
And remember, you’re not alone. God’s silence is not equivalent to God’s absence. The divine glory was on the mountain with Moses every one of those six days before Moses heard anything.
Time spent in worship as you wait on God is never wasted. But as you wait, obey the will of God that you already know. Waiting on God is an active pursuit, not a passive attitude.
God is going to speak to you. He wants you to know His will for your life more than you want to know His will for your life. But He will reveal it on His timetable, according to His purpose.
PRAYER FOCUS: Ask God for patience and persistence as you wait for His will to emerge from the fog.