Have you ever questioned how to know whether we are in the will of God or not. If you are now working, is your job part of the will of God? If you are in relationship, is s(he) the one that God want you to be with? 

How do we know that we are in will of God? I jump in to a deep reflection for this question. We know that barely God speaks in audible way. For just some case He speaks directly, but mostly He does in another way that we may get confuse. Then I remember the story of exodus. 

When Moses were commanded to guide the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to the promise land, he doubted it (Exodus 3).  The situation at that time were hard to believe that God wanted he and His chosen nation (The Israelites) out from Egypt. Pharaoh the king's heart was hardened and would not let them go. Because it was history, we knew the ending of the story. The Exodus was part of God's will and God's plan. But now, how we could be sure to know what God's will is.  

I found that we can learn 3 things from the story of Exodus to the Promise Land and the life of Moses.

1. Ask for sign(s)

When we are confuse, we are allowed to ask for sign(s). He will reveal His thought. Moses was in doubt. He felt that God's command were so unbelievable. He knew how was he, and he knew who was ruling over the Israelites, Pharaoh who had the hardened heart. So when he got God's command to take His people out from Egypt, Moses was in argument with God. He also did ask the signs from God, and He gave the powerful signs for him so he could no more dodge the task (Exodus 4). He is the God who give to whoever ask and open to whoever knock. But once God give His sign(s), we have to have a gentle heart to submit and obey. 

Moses had a deep relationship with God. He often went up to the mountain to find God. When he was with God, God revealed Himself. God confided many things to him. He told Moses how to judge people (Exodus 18), He told Moses how to lead The Israelites (Exodus 19), He gave His 10 commandments (Exodus 20). 

We can find God in prayer, in devotion, in fasting. We can meet Him through praise and worship we lift up.  We can know the will of God, we can understand His plan when we are close to Him. 

"The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant" (Psalm 25:14, English Standard Version). 

3. There is a perfect peace

When God told Moses to go out from Egypt, He did not say even a word that God would make it easy. He said that He will hardened Pharaoh's heart. God also did not say that He would take the Israelites fly to the Promise Land, but God let them wander in the desert. Moses realized it well. He calmed the Israelites when they were grumbling and groaning because he first calmed and assured by God that God Himself will lead them and deliver them. 

Exodus 6:6-8

" I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgement. I will take you to be my people and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord you God, who has brought you out form under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will ring you into the land that I swore to give...."

Many things may be an obstacle to our journey. It leads us sometimes to confusion and frustration. But one thing we can sure with that if we are walking in the will of God, there is a perfect peace and faith. Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the Presence of Christ. We could feel that God walks with us and God blesses us. Like Moses, he could feel peace, day by day by the care of God (10 Plagues, parted sea, manna, pillars of cloud and fire).

Remember the story of Joseph. He chose and appointed Joseph among his 11 brothers to do a great thing. He gave Joseph the vision to rescue his nation from a great famine.

Believe the vision which God has put in your heart. Don't let the vision be faded by anything. He chose you. He wanted you. He set you where you are now (John 15:16). Maybe you are now dumped off in the wrong workplace. Or maybe you had took a wrong path, and get lost. You are far away from that vision. Just keep that vision alive in your heart. Just believe that God who has appointed you, will fulfill the vision He has put in your heart. His vision is a great thing that you can never imagine what will it bear. Just be strong and courageous!

Back to the story of Joseph, he had waited almost 13 years to God's plan worked well in his life. Nothing good happened in his life. It feels like what kind of great thing God can do through his condition. He was sold by his own brothers, he was accused and imprisoned. But all the evil plan for him God used to his goods. All the condition Joseph faced, all were prepared to test his faithfulness and his purity. All that process he was going through had changed him from an arrogance boy to the humble man.  

Believe that God knows everything about you. He knows what you feel, how hard your life, and how struggle you are. He has intervened in everything, in every circumstance we face (Romans 8:28). You may think it is so bad, but God can turn it into good. He just want you to take the process. The process with Him so that you may be pure, be the stronger person, and be the best of you. Just be faithful and true!

The end of Joseph's story is God used Joseph to save his family and nation.

God will finish what He has started (Philippians 1:6). Continue to believe and proclaim God's vision from the day you heard it right up to the present. God who began the great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish. His plan for you will never fail. No one or not even anything could drive you away from the future that God has plan for you (Isaiah 14:27). Just trust Him and stay in hope!

Let the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.