First off, the first and best thing that you can do is pray. God will guide you down the path of truth...His will.
Secondly, pray for a softened heart in your parents or whoever is differing with your decisions. I know I am guilty of thinking that they will not have a softened heart (in my case my parents) because I think I know them too well, but God is always able to work miracles. Just because we do not expect someone to have a softened heart to our decision does not mean that God will not work in them to allow them to accept our decision as our decision.
We must always realize that others have dreams for us. My mom has dreams for me as her daughter which she feels are dashed because I have chosen to move. My dad definitely feels the same way - his dream was for me to get a full-time engineering job and to live nearby and pay off my student loan debts. A lot of times when someone disagrees with us, it is because it does not follow their plan for us or what they think is best for us. We must take what they say and pray and mediate on it. God will show us the truth. Whether we end up being led the way of our parents or someone else or the way that we think He wants us to go it doesn't matter. We must set aside our pride and allow God to work in us and others. It doesn't matter who is right, it matters if we are able to differ God's will from our own and follow His will. This is practing humility...a character that all Christians need to have and practice everyday.
The last thing I would suggest is do not wait until a month before you finalize your decision to say so to the other people in your life. I do not mean to say it to someone the minute the idea comes to your head; first pray about it yourself and listen to what God is telling you. Then choose someone who you feel will listen to what you have to say, doesn't mean that they will agree with you, but listening to you is the first step. Of course you will be faced with telling someone who maynot be willing to listen to you and this will be discouraging. But pray for God's wonderful guidance on when to talk to the person and what to say. He will give you the words that you need :)
Blessings in Christ,
I needed that! ^_^
ReplyDeleteChelsea,
ReplyDeleteMy walk with the Lord didn't head a different direction from my parents til I was in my 30's. It was still, however, painful for them and painful for me because I knew they were hurting. However, not following where the Lord was leading me would have been even more painful. It just drives home the verses about Jesus coming with a sword. I'll pray for you as you set out on this journey at a much younger age!