Growing up, we often had to get permission from the adults in our life before we could do much of anything. In fact, they controlled much of what we did and there was very little freedom of choice on our parts. But part of maturity is gaining more freedom in which no permission is needed to direct the course of our life.
Of course, as kids we didn’t have the maturity yet to make wise choices. Needing permission from adults helped to protect us from bringing harm to ourselves.
But growing up means taking on more responsibility and not constantly looking to others to tell us how to live our lives.
For instance, we’ve been given the divine responsibility to guide, protect, and provide for those within our kingdom.
And as such, we don’t have to wait on permission to freely do whatever is necessary to accomplish the mission God has given us to do.
When we’ve not yet cut the apron strings from our parents, we might look to them to tell us what job we should take, who we should marry, and how we should raise our kids.
And certainly, it’s wise to seek their advice. But this is not the same as needing their permission.
At work, we don’t have to wait on permission from our boss to figure out how to best use the talents, gifts, and abilities God has given us. While the boss might be responsible for that particular job, we’re still free to steward our strengths in the rest of life.
Likewise, we don’t need permission from the majority or simply what’s popular to determine the guiding principles and values of our home. We’re free to go against the grain of the culture around us to establish homes and communities that reflect God’s best.
We diminish much of our divine dignity when we constantly wait on the permission of others to fulfill all God has called us to be and to do.
Humbly consider all the sound advice offered to you. And remember you don’t need the permission of others to fulfill God’s call for your life.
Photo by Mariano Nocetti on Unsplash
