Thomas Castellaw – Germany

· Is the will of God more like a location, a journey, or a maze?

I don’t know that I understand the question exactly. I’ll skip this one.

· Did you experience any confusion in regards to the will of God (in regards to your spouse, job, area of service, etc.)?

Absolutely. I found myself needing a pragmatic way of putting God in a “pickle”. I traffic in the real, not the ethereal. And occasionally when under time constraints, I’ve said, Lord, this is the only light I have and I’m going this direction unless you give me more light or a different way. Sometimes he has, sometimes he’s not. Confusion is what makes finding the will of God difficult. Many times, it’s been an unwillingness to be brutally honest with myself. Why do you want to do what you’re asking for permission on? When one tarries there for a while, it puts difficult decisions in a purer light.

· Did you have to wait on God for any length of time?

Yes, I waited three years on my wife, nine years on my own pulpit, 10 years on my own Bible Institute, 9 years on my degree, months on my first soul, and many years sometimes upwards of 17 on some pointed doctrinal questions. Frankly, I’m still waiting on some things. I’ve gotten two “no, just wait’s” this year alone. 14 years ago, I asked the Lord if we can have kids. I got a distinct NO all three times I’ve asked. Maybe when I’m 100…

· How did you know you were marrying the right person?

I was fasting and the Lord gave me THREE specific scriptures many days into the fast. Besides this, opportunity and peace. Only the combination of these three make for the perfect will of God. Peace Opportunity and Scripture. When dealing with such a powerful drive as testosterone and estrogen, fasting is the only solution. The flesh needs to be beat back so that the spirit can show a clear course. Don’t marry for looks. Marry for what’s on the inside. If you can have both – hal la lu yer!

· How did you know you were supposed to go into full-time ministry?

Could not see myself doing anything else. There was a horrific need. Still see it this way. PS. I volunteered. The call of God is often seen as a Calvinistic perseverance of the called. The idea that once called, all will go well is tripe. The called have as many problems as the volunteers. The important thing is to be accepted into the ministry. Happy is the man that finds the will of God and does it. Miserable is that man/woman who is not.

· Did you ever feel that your will and God's will were at odds?

Not in big things: Marriage, field, call, salvation. But certainly in some smaller things. When this happens, just change them or pray for help until you can. Essentially it’s because you don’t’ have any peace. Wiggle, move and adjust until you find peace.

· Did you ever think you were "going out on a limb" in regards to God's will?

Yes. The “well, here goes” is the faith aspect of it. Otherwise it would be easy and not “by faith”. To do only the safe and well calculated is a boring life. There’s a fine line between faith and foolishness. Only the one on the limb can know the difference. I know that when I get home, I’d rather have tried something for the Lord and it not work than to have been calculating all my life and never try anything.

· Did God use any special signs or supernatural revelations to confirm His will?

Just timing in his word. Time and space wouldn’t afford to tell of the details of how his word has stuck me on certain days. But other than that, no, I think of many Christian’s experiences, mine have been relatively plain and unexciting in this regard. No lightning, voices, accidents, etc… Just Scripture.

· Does God have one plan and only one plan for your life?

Only ONE that is his best. All others are second best, but it’s all better than burning in a lake of fire. If you’ve made a mistake or cut yourself off from some higher ground, praise God that your saved and do what he asks. It’s all going to be all right. Moses couldn’t go into the promised land, Jesus had to go to the cross, Paul couldn’t go to his brethren, etc…

· What things has God used to guide you in specific ways?

Again, his word. I don’t trust my emotions at all. I try not to pay attention to my mood. It’s fickle. Only the word and some circumstances.

· What would you say if an 18-year-old graduate of high school asked you, "How can I know God's will for my life?"

See attached discipleship lesson on the will of God. I wrote it about 7 years ago. This is what I’d give him/her.