There was a gospel song I grew up listening to called “Willing” by Nancy Grandquist. As a teenager, I would sing my heart out to this song, knowing that while I loved the lyrical message, I was not able to sing it with full conviction because I wasn’t willing to do as it said. As I grew into my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, that song became the measuring stick by which I measured my faith. While I was growing as a woman and as a Christian, I still wasn’t 100% willing to adhere to the message of the song. As you read the lyrics below, you will understand why it was so difficult.
My heart is listening to you Lord
Say the words and tell me what to do
I’m so hungry Lord
and I want to serve you
I hope you see something in me
You can use
I’m willing
to do anything that you say
willing
to say yes, when I don’t understand
willing
when there’s a price that must be paid
willing
to do anything that you say
willing
though the pain of loneliness I must bear
willing
to give myself, anytime or anywhere
I’m willing
See Lord this day, your child
Is willing
I already know, it won’t be easy
And sometimes the going is a little touch
But it is no sacrifice
to work for you
I just don’t see where living for you
Would be enough.
I’m willing
to do anything that you say
willing
to say yes, when I don’t understand
willing
when there’s a price that must be paid
willing
to do anything that you say
willing
though the pain of loneliness I must bear
willing
to give myself, anytime or anywhere
I’m willing
See Lord this day, your child
Is willing
This song is such an example of the posture I believe God desires from us. Just a simple state of willingness, but it’s not that easy or we would all be living exampled lives. This blog is not about condemnation but rather about long journey I have been on to finally understand how to live in a state of willingness and hopefully to champion my fellow humans to stay on the journey in the midst of brokenness, uncertainty, change, despair, pain, fear or any other obstacle that threatens your walk of faith.
There is a scripture in the Bible that has been one of my staples I refer to often. It’s found in Isaiah 28:10 “for precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little”. This scripture is a reminder that our walk with God is built and grounded one precept at a time. One line at a time, step by step. It is not something that can be rushed. It is built, and it is the Lord that takes us through the building process (Psalms 127:1)
Before we can ever get to a place of willingness, we first have to trust. Before we can get to a place of trust we first have to have faith, and before we can put our faith into action, we have to go through struggle. Struggle is the place where many give up and quit.
Struggle--->Will--->Faith--->Trust--->Willingness ---= Total dependence on Jesus
(Repeat)
There are so many truths that I have heard my whole life growing up in a Christian home, like “just have faith” or “trust the Lord” or “everything is going to work out for good” but they were just words in print and clichés until I had experienes that caused those truths to take root. Today I know those words are true. I also know that following Jesus is not for the faint of heart. That is why I am writing this blog. It’s time to get into position. Our moment is here.
I want to ask you a few questions:
Where are you in your walk of faith?
Do you struggle as a believer in times of difficulty?
Have you lost faith anywhere along the way?
Do you believe God is able but don’t believe he will do it for you?
I would love to know the answers to the questions above. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. If you are like me, and you desire to live out the words to the song, stay tuned, because I am going to be writing about each of the categories listed above and the process of becoming willing.
