Feeling vulnerable, confused and anxious come with the territory of personal uncertainty, particularly in relation to life’s big questions – Who should I marry? Should I take this job? Where should I live? Why am I here? What’s my life’s purpose?
We only find the answers when we find our truth. Our truth is what’s right for us in our particular situation.
While the good advice of others cannot always be discounted, it is really up to each person to find their own truth.
Finding one’s truth can be very tricky. This is because no one but you really knows what impassions you or what your life’s purpose really is. Intuition – the ability to know without conscious reasoning – for most of us, is generally the source of our truth. Whenever I have come to a crossroads in my life’s journey, I have had to rely on my intuition to take the next step. Admittedly, this is not easy, but I have learned a few lessons, which I share below –
Lesson #1 – Claim your own power
It takes faith to own your truth, which only you intuitively know. Intuitively knowing doesn’t always come easily to most of us as we’ve been taught and conditioned to rely on our intellect, logic and reasoning to solve our problems and find the right answers tough questions. It’s very easy to buy into the good advice of others, without really knowing that what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for us. To follow someone else’s dream is to surrender your own power and deprive yourself of the pleasure and fulfilment of your life’s mission.
As a Christian, I consider intuition to be the quiet voice of God speaking specifically to me and my situation. In fact the apostle Paul, in his first letter to the church at Corinth speaks about the capacity of the Christian mind to discern and understand spiritual truths. When we personalize these truths, we gain personal insight and direction.
What I know now is that following my intuition is the best way to claim my power and find true fulfillment in life.
In my experience, silent meditation opens the mental space for inspiration and the voice of intuition to be heard. Positive affirmations and mantras support alignment of purpose and intention. The inner knowing that comes from intuition empowers me to take action in the face of risk and uncertainty. This requires faith and surrendering the outcome.
On the face of it, it seems ironic to say that claiming one’s power requires faith and the ability to surrender. This is because we often equate power with control. Faith and surrender require that we relinquish the power to control outcomes. My experience has taught me that there is power in faith and in surrendering the outcome.
Lesson #2 – The power of faith
Whenever I tried to control the outcome of situations beyond my control, I realized how powerless I made myself become. I ended up being sick with worry and the effects of anxiety attacks over things like other people’s decision to hire me, extreme weather conditions, election results, etc.
What I know now is that the only power I really have is faith.
Faith is the courage to say “Thy will be done.” For me, faith lets me know that regardless of the outcome, I’ll be okay. I’ve come to understand that the Universe is God’s orchestra and that understanding the interplay of events with the benefit of hindsight has reaffirmed my mantra that “All things are working together for good.”
Lesson #3 – The power of surrendering
Having faith for a specific outcome can be very limiting. In fact, I have been fortunate to learn this lesson the easy way. The hard way would have been to get what I thought I really wanted only to find out later that I had missed out on enriching opportunities. With the benefits of initial disappointment and hindsight, I have come to understand that very often, what seems to be the best really isn’t. Several declined applications to advanced degree programs, made me feel crushed and caused me to question my faith. Taking a partly paid leave of absence from a job in which I saw no future, opened the door to a scholarship to study abroad for 2 years, a promotion on my return and I eventually had the opportunity to migrate to a country where there was greater scope for professional growth and expansion.
What I know now is that if all things are working together for good, then I leave myself open to limitless possibilities.
I don’t have to have all the answers, but I do have to know my truth. Guided by my intuition, if I am clear on my life’s purpose, affirm my intention and have faith, I know that the final outcome will lead me to my highest good.
Christ in me, the hope of glory…That’s why glory matters!
Glory Matters 
One thought on “3 Lessons from Learning to Listen to God”