A Compelling Case -

Asking God for guidance is one thing. Seeing the answer is another. What direction should I take? What does God want me to do next?

Does He send a memo? Do I get a divine text? Often there are many apparently correct paths to follow. Which one should I take? It is confusing.

I was working a newcomer years ago. I had answered his call and 12 Stepped him, and he was going to meetings and calling frequently. And he was dithering.

During the first week of his sobriety, he was obsessed with the question of whether or not he should go to a treatment center for an intensive introduction to this new sober life. Back and forth, back and forth. Should I go, should I not go. It was like watching a tennis match. My neck was getting tired from following the action.

At first, he wanted me to make the decision. I declined. I reminded him that he had to pray and ask for God’s will in this matter. To this suggestion, he would come up with snappy retorts like, “Should I watch for a finger writing on the wall, or will I see a cloud and hear a booming voice?”

My advice to him was, “In my experience, God will show a compelling case. Ask God for guidance, maybe even indicate to Him your sense of what the right course of action might be, then watch and wait for Him to present a compelling case. It will be a surprising and strong indication of the correct path. God has always opened and closed doors that pointed me in the right direction. You will intuitively know from the evidence provided.”

That was week one.

Week two started. Monday, he called, checking in, and reported, “I was looking at the website for my favoured treatment center, and they have a place open. Normally they have a waiting list. But it is expensive, and I don’t know if my firm will give me the time off.”

“Does your firm know that you are thinking about going to a treatment center?” I asked. “God, no, they have no idea that I am an alcoholic.” (I said nothing, but I mentally reviewed the stories he had shared about his performance at some of the firm’s social events, and thought to myself, “I very much doubt that his managing partner is unaware of the problem.”)

Tuesday, he called. With a puzzled tone, he reported, “you know that my father and I have not been getting along, and I owe him a ton of money.” “Yes,” I replied, “I recall you talking about that.” “Well,” said he, “I just got off the phone with him. He called out of the blue and told me that he had been thinking about my admission that I was going to AA meetings. He said that he would pay for a treatment center if I wanted to go, and he deferred payment on the money that I owe him. And he sounded happy to talk with me.”

“Well, that is interesting news,” I rejoined. “Just out of the blue, like that.”

“Yes,” he said, “it’s amazing.” We signed off the call.

Wednesday afternoon, he called and said, “OMG, you won’t believe what just happened. The managing partner came into my office and shut the door. He said that he had heard I had a drinking problem and that I was getting some help. He wanted to tell me that the firm was 100% behind me and if I needed any time to get my act together or take counselling or treatment, he would make sure I was covered.”

I agreed that was amazing.

Thursday, he called again, “I was just checking WestJet, and they have a seat sale to Nanaimo where the treatment center is located. And they still have a place for me if I am going to go.”

I agreed that WestJet was a great airline and that it was a reasonable price, and it was good that there was still a place at the treatment center. He hung up.

Friday, he called again. He didn’t have any new coincidences to report; he was calling to complain that God had not given him any direction on the treatment center decision.

I was silent for a moment, then replied, “Can we review what you have experienced this week?”

Without waiting for his agreement, I recapped the week. “Monday, you confirmed that there was an opening in a great treatment center. Tuesday, your dad called and agreed to cover the costs and defer payment on the money that you owed him. Wednesday, your managing partner walked in unannounced and told you he knew that you were dealing with an alcohol problem and that if you needed time off to get your act together, he would cover you. And Thursday, WestJet announces a seat sale to the city where the treatment center is located.”

I paused and asked, “At what point do you think a compelling case might develop?”

Answering rhetorically, he said, “Well, when you put it like that, it does seem clear; but, you have a sarcastic tone in your voice.”

I apologized for sounding sarcastic.

Over the years, time and again, I have asked God for a compelling case. I have learned to ask for directions, then observe.