What am I allowing God to answer?

When we hit the hard times in our life we tend to lean in even closer to God. I am guilty of it.

When things are going right, I to often get complacent, and at times find myself going through the motions. But then, life happens. Trouble stirs in the waters around me, and it's a quick right turn to want so badly for God to tell me what to do.

I know I'm not alone in the feeling, but it's on my heart to share some thoughts. I know God knows me, and that He embraces me no matter how I come to Him.

I also know He never stops speaking to me, and to admit that means, I just stop listening. He isn't the one that goes silent or walks away - that's on me. I have to own that reaction.

I find myself, in the hard times saying, “God just tell me what to do. Speak to me God ... let me hear an audible voice and give me direction.”

But, I look back and notice I don't say that when things are going right. When the good things in life take place I'm not asking God to tell me what the next step is. Instead, I find myself getting comfortable in the goodness of God. I find myself getting comfortable in the fact that I can take a moment and breath because life isn't going crazy around me.

I was thinking and praying the other day and it hit me, why don't I ask to hear God's voice in the good times? He still has a plan for me when things are going right. He is still using those moments to shape the next, to prepare for the next hurdle that will come, to refine me for the next level that He chooses to carry me into.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man's hearet deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

I have learned we can plan out to ‘perfection' and God will quickly show us and redirect us to a different plan.

In the good days, and even more so on the bad days (at least in my life) I find myself trying to direct my own path. The human part of me takes over and says ‘Lord this is what I want to happen and make a way.'

The struggle comes when I hit the bottom and I want so badly to hear God's direction, but what I've never realized is God is speaking to me, and the real prayer shouldn't be to hear his voice, but to hear His voice and be strong enough to be obedient and follow His instruction.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know - we know in our heart, we know because

God tells us - that all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called - He's speaking to us, He's telling us, - according to His purpose.

So really, I guess my struggle comes down to ... do I have the faith to trust Him, and will I be bold enough to be obediant.

I would say I walk by faith - most days - but what I realize is I need to walk by faith everyday. Maybe, God is speaking to me and just maybe He is telling me, the hard times, the chaos is the door to hearing his answer - But the beauty of

God is He allows me to decide when to open the door.