Have you ever had a very strong sense that you were to do something? So, you did it, but it ended up being a complete catastrophe—or at least not near what you imagined it would be? What do you do with that? What do you do with thinking you were to do something, and you did, but it flopped? Will I ever trust that inner premonition again—or will I just ignore it?
Before we discuss that, let’s also consider the other side. How many times have we thought or have heard someone say “Oh, I had that sense but I didn’t pay attention to it.” Or, “I was thinking that but I didn’t do anything about it.” After all is said and done, we realize that what we were picking up on was right on.
I think that as long as our hearts and our motivations are in the right place, these feelings, those premonitions, nudges, or whatever you may call it—are often right on. It’s just the timing of moving forward that isn’t so right on. Not only is listening to that ‘quiet voice’ important, but the executing of those nudges is just as important—not only in how I do it, but in when I do it. It may be the right time for me to pick up on something, but it may not be the right time to move forward on it.
We have inner promptings about many things. Maybe it’s about talking with a close friend or a spouse about something. Maybe it’s about a career change. Maybe it’s about pursuing a life-long dream. Whatever it is, don’t ignore the inner nudges. Listen to them. Then watch very closely for the right time to ‘play out’ the nudges. In the meantime, make the most if it. Do what you need to do so when the right time does come, you are ready and prepared.
Also, I have found that sometimes those inner nudges are only for me to be aware of what’s going on around me—not necessarily for me to ‘do’ something about it. There have been many times when I have sensed something, but it’s more for my awareness and understanding than it is to actually visibly do something about it.
We won’t hit it a 100% of the time. But hopefully we hit it more often as we not only listen to the ‘quiet voice’ inside of us, but we ponder what it is, exactly, that I am to do with those nudges and what is the timing of acting upon those nudges.
24/04/2009 at 9:24 am Permalink
Interesting that you would write that… timing… I think for some of us with more “impulsive” natures it is easy ( and natural) to move before the time is “ripe” or present something before the time is right… but it’s inside of us and on our minds and therefore difficult to wait for the right time!
I think that in the piece of determining “if the timing is right” it would help us to look at: what is motivating us?. Are we feeling this urge out of our own fears… or our frustrations… or our lack of control in a situation so we feel the need to step in and make something happen…etc ? It might be wise when we feel this “urging” to see if we are moving out of these factors or if it is really that God urging, or God-sense about something. That will help us to have wisdom in discerning “whose” urging we are feeling.
In hind-sight our vision is 20-20!!!
24/04/2009 at 9:35 pm Permalink
Well said, Brenda! Looking at what is motivating us sheds a lot of light on the ‘nudges’. It’s interesting you mention the more ‘impulsive’ natures may jump to soon… On the other side, I have wondered at times, especially when it comes to these nudges, maybe I wait too long or should have done more. Maybe at those moments, looking at the motivating factors would help discern the timing…
25/04/2009 at 8:23 pm Permalink
I agree with you. I think as we look at our heart to see what we are really thinking about the decision we are looking at we will see much more clearly. To honestly assess the “why” behind our thinking. Don’t you think that in the Christian world we just want God to send a lightning bolt and deliver us and often He is wanting us to expose an area that is a landmine that could bring destruction if not dealt with. I think the Christian culture breeds comfort thinking, or God giving us the answer and we don’t want to expose and be honest about what we are really thinking – instead we just want to have it easy for us.
I love the life of Joseph… a man with vision and skill and the call of God, yet one who walked the path of God’s timing. I love the confidence in God’s timing when Joseph says to his brothers, “What you intended for harm God meant for good, to the saving of many lives…” For Joseph the timing looked like it could happen at different times and then it kept defaulting… but he didn’t let it make him bitter but could look at the piece that if God didn’t make it happen it wouldn’t but he would still remain faithful. The timing wasn’t ready because Joseph wasn’t ready… all of the skills to run a country and the humbleness to do it under God, and not under Joseph, … and the country wasn’t ready yet either. “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and in due time he will lift you up.” What a tricky place to be when the hand of God seems heavy and it doesn’t fit the thoughts of what should be that are in our mind!! For me the grappling of the timing of God’s purposes in my life are ongoing. Knowing that to be released prematurely will be to my going backwards… but the human part of me wants to find that release…
And so we wait together…