I have just this week joined an online community called: Substack. This social media platform is where those who love to think deep, esoteric thoughts can put them out there for the world to read.
(I’ve found my peeps! Ha!)
Being brand-new to this social media platform, I would like to say that I have no clue what I’m doing!
As I scroll through the homepage newsfeed, there are beautiful pieces shared by hundreds of wonderful writers! There are brief writings classified as “Notes” … there are “Posts” … there are “Newsletters” … there are video shares.
Naturally, the question arises: How do I post something?
I have no clue!
Nowhere is there a button which says: “Post”
On the website version of Substack, I wound up somehow clicking some magical something which gave me access to a program called: “Publisher.” Here I was actually able to “post” something.
I cautiously typed out my very first “post” (a whole two sentences! Ha!) … and clicked the button to send it out into the great big world!
Voila! On my account page there has now magically appeared a wonderful bright-orange button which states: “New post.” I can now click this button if I ever want to “post” something.
However … on the App version of Substack this wonderful bright-orange “New post” button is non-existent. Where is it?? How do I get it??
I have no clue.
Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you desperately wish you had some Instructions?!
Life is full of complicated, confusing situations.
How do we know what to do??
We don’t have a clue!
The time I remember most vividly when I desperately wished for some Instructions was when I brought my brand-new baby home from the hospital for the very first time.
I couldn’t believe the nurses were just letting me walk out of the hospital with this helpless, vulnerable little bundle of new life!?! I didn’t have a clue what I was doing!
I secretly wished one of the nurses would hop in the car with us and come home with us for at least the first week or so to show us what to do. The nurses were so knowledgeable and capable! They totally knew what to do.
How I desperately wished for some Instructions!
What do we do in life … when we don’t know what to do … and we are desperately wishing for some Instructions??
Pray.
It’s that plain and simple.
God tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5
God is more than happy to give us wisdom and Instructions.
We just have to ask.
So, when I came home from the hospital with my tiny, helpless, little newborn … practically speaking, how did I get the Instructions I needed for parenting/raising this little life??
* For starters – God gave me common sense. I needed to use it.
Newborns need to eat, they need to sleep, and they need changed. It’s that simple.
If we use the common-sense wisdom God has given us, that will be our first step!
* Second – I prayed for wisdom! For all those things I didn’t know about … I prayed: God please guide and direct me!
If we are followers of Jesus Christ, then Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to live within us. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of wisdom. (see Isaiah 11:2) When we don’t know what to do, the Holy Spirit will help us!
How??
How does the Holy Spirit help us?
#1. First and foremost – by the Word of God (which the Holy Spirit wrote). This is why it is so important to regularly read the Word of God. It’s vital to know the Word of God. Because the Word of God is the primary means by which the Holy Spirit guides us!
When we don’t know what to do, the Holy Spirit will bring to our mind a passage of Scripture to guide/instruct us.
As we are reading the Bible, the Holy Spirit will highlight something in the passage which will become the guidance we need.
We gain the Instructions we need for life from God’s Word!
#2. Secondly, the Holy Spirit will direct our path to cross with someone who is wise and who can help us.
* This could be someone whom we personally know, who we interact with and learn from.
* This could be someone who has written something wise, which we then read and learn from.
* This could be someone wise whom we don’t really know, but who we observe from a distance and learn from their life.
We gain the Instructions we need for life by learning from wise people!
#3. A third way the Holy Spirit helps us – is by convicting us of our own stupid, foolish mistakes! The Holy Spirit will bring people and situations into our life which rebuke us! The Holy Spirit will bring into our life someone who offers correction!
As we, in humility, receive the correction, the rebuke, and the instruction … we become wise!
We gain the Instructions we need for life by learning from our own mistakes!
#4. A fourth way the Holy Spirit helps us – is by giving us insight to learn from the mistakes of others. As we see foolish things done by others, the Holy Spirit alerts us to that. The Holy Spirit lets us know: Pay attention … don’t do that!
We gain the Instructions we need for life by learning from the mistakes of others!
When it comes to my new Substack account, I know I will eventually figure it out. It will just take some time.
I need to be willing to make mistakes and fail as I learn. (because mistakes are how we learn best!)
I will undoubtedly be looking up and learning from “How-to” posts by others.
I need to try and not give up.
What is that thing in life right now that you are desperately wishing you had Instructions for?!
Whatever it is, even if it seems as if there aren’t any “Instructions” on the horizon, Jesus has given the Holy Spirit to help, so you can gain wisdom for navigating the situation.
Thank you Jesus, for giving us the Holy Spirit!
Thank you Holy Spirit, for giving us the Word of God!
Thank you Holy Spirit, for using the Word of God to guide us with Instruction!
Thank you Holy Spirit, for using others/wise people to guide us with Instruction!
Thank you Holy Spirit, for using our own foolish mistakes to guide us with Instruction!
Thank you Holy Spirit, for using the failings of others to guide us with Instruction!
Thank you that we indeed do have Instructions for life!
