When Your Desires and God’s Plans Are Different

Just because you desire something deeply doesn’t mean it’s God’s
plans for you. Sometimes our desires and God’s will are different.
Our desires are not predictors of the future and they’re not the
voice of God. We are supposed to tend to our desires and discern
what is being revealed through them, but letting them dictate your
path in life is not wise. Especially when it comes to romantic
relationships, we tend to favor the decisions that would give us
our desire. If the person you desire keeps coming up in prayer,
it’s because you keep bringing him or her up. Don’t fool yourself.
At the heart of this desire is probably a good longing for marriage
and a family. Acknowledging the desire for what it is will help you
make a more clear-headed decision regarding it. You may also have a
desire to pursue a certain career path. If you want to sing, for
example, do you want to spend every day singing and live the life
of a singer? When you acknowledge the realistic lifestyle your
dream job would entail, it often brings sobriety to your desire. If
the desire still does not subside, don’t automatically assume it’s
because it must be your destiny. Examine your past, your
conscience, and the things that have influenced you. Examine the
things that may have brought about this desire. This examination
will teach you valuable things about yourself. Our desire for
goodness and holiness is a good thing. We have these desires so we
can learn more about what’s deepest in our hearts. So next time one
of your recurring desires come back, go deeper and ask yourself,
“What does this desire really reveal about me? What do I really
want at the very core of it?” Bring it to prayer and God will
reveal something very profound, as he has often been known to do.