“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

A missionary once told me that God’s will is not always a dot, it is sometimes a circle.

What he meant by this is that many people search all their lives looking and waiting for God to line things up perfectly for that thing or purpose they seek to find. But what if things do not happen the way we think they should? Did God mess up, at least in our eyes? We may begin to question the “what ifs.”

1. What if God does not reveal an exact plan or purpose?
2. What if God does not bring along that perfect mate?
3. What if you pray and seek but at the present see no change?
4. What if hardships come?
5. What if no matter what you do to improve a situation nothing seems to help?

Will you still trust Him?

1. What if God does reveal an exact plan or purpose?
2. What if it is scary or hard?
3. What if you pray and see answers come?
4. What if times are good and all is well and one does not acknowledge God as much?
5. What if everything falls into place?

Will you still trust Him?

That missionary suggested we take a different viewpoint on it. Maybe God gives some the flexibility to live their lives and move around as they wish while remaining within the bounds of moral and spiritual truths and guidance, acting on things as God reveals them. For some, this “living in a circle,” rather than seeking a dot, may allow the person to both lead a spiritually and personally satisfying life.

Some say that we have to take some action on our behalf to get things going. God may plant a seed but leaves some of it to us for making it grow. So rather than worrying about that “dot,” sitting and waiting for something big to happen, live life and act when God prompts it. But be ready to act when it does happen.

A big aspect of faith is facing a choice between going all in or nothing. One must be willing to give up and sacrifice everything – comfort, securities, possessions, stability, jobs, and often relationships for the sake of seeking and following.

A pattern I have noticed in my life is that in the long run usually the harder route is better than the easy route. This may be difficult to understand in a culture that tends to lean on comforts/securities and the minimum to get by.

For example, on the hard route one has to work hard, increase in faith, and go outside their comfort zone to grow as a person. They earn the experience. Much of these life learned lessons and experiences may be skipped going the easy route.

People may tend to take things for granted on the easy route but learn to appreciate more on the hard route.

So, what makes a well-rounded person, life experience, and spiritual journey?

Be flexible, enjoy the freedom of movement in the circle, be sensitive if a dot comes up, and be ready to sacrifice and have the strength to take the hard way than the easy way out. Trust me, it can make for some better stories too.