Many times the desires of our heart are clear. We know exactly what we’re praying for and we’re intentional about pursuing this very thing. But at other times, our desire comes online later – responding to the situation given to us rather than initiating it ourselves.
For instance, we might pursue our careers, marriage, family, and the like all with a clear desire from the start. We know what we want, and we work within our power to make this a reality.
But sometimes God invites us into something new that we don’t have a natural or spontaneous desire for initially. And it can be difficult in these moments to even consider such a request because it doesn’t seem to align with the desires of our heart.
But it’s possible our desire is sparked after we’ve accepted the invitation.
For example, we might move to a new city, change jobs, or open to a new relationship simply because we sense God is calling us to do so even though we don’t have a desire to do so ourselves. It’s a decision in faith without the benefit of natural excitement to motivate us.
But, in time, we might discover a true joy for where we’ve been called. In fact, it might satisfy deep desires we didn’t even know we were missing or to ask for. And now with much gratitude, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is a responsive desire. It’s a faithful decision to say Yes to God even when we don’t have a natural motivation to do so otherwise – trusting he knows how to give us the true desires of our heart.
We miss many of his rich blessings when we always expect our natural desire to come first.
In the end, pray and faithfully pursue every good desire stirred in your heart. And also stay open to the possibility of your desires coming online later – in response to God’s calling for your life rather than before.
Photo by Gaetano Cessati on Unsplash
