Strong-Willed

It’s funny — that word can sound both positive and negative, depending on how it’s used. Some people hear “strong-willed” and think “stubborn.” Others hear it and think “determined.”

But being strong-willed isn’t a bad thing — it just needs direction.

Isaiah 30:21 says, “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.”

That’s the key. God doesn’t want to break your will — He wants to guide it. He made you passionate and driven for a reason. But even the strongest will needs a Shepherd’s voice to lead it.

You can be bold and still humble. You can be confident and still teachable. And you can be strong-willed — as long as your will listens for His whisper.

We all have moments of being strong-willed, like when standing up for our beliefs or for someone.

That’s all good, but when we do that, we need to make sure we are doing it in the right way and with God’s guidance. We can be so headstrong that we take control.

I know what it’s like to fight for something just to learn that it was either the wrong thing or the wrong way of doing it — and it doesn’t end well.

Don’t let your stubbornness blind you from the good you could be doing through God. Let God guide you and remember that He knows what’s best.

Determination — there is nothing like a determined toddler.

If you know, you know. They will do what they want at all costs, and they will do it until it is complete.

That kind of head-down, strong-willed determination is good; it means things will be handled and that we can do it on our own.

But that same head-down, strong-willed determination can keep us from blessings — either for others or from others.

Have you ever tried to help a toddler who is determined to do something? They will let you know really quickly that they do not want your help and that they can do it.

We can be the same way, and when much-needed help is there, we can refuse it.

But what if that help was sent by God because He knew your need? Well, you have then refused the blessing.

Be discerning in your determination and know when to release and let God in.

I wonder how many people think that if they surrender to God, they have to give up who they are completely.

The Bible does not say that. It says to live your life for Christ — not to give up your personality and character, but to become more like Him.

This becoming more like Him doesn’t mean we give up ourselves; it means that God will use the gifts and the personality He has given us for our good and His glory.

So, if you have been that person who hasn’t surrendered your life to God because you don’t know what that means for you, understand that there will be things that you will have to give up — but you will be used by God in such a great way that those things won’t matter, because our fulfillment comes from God.

So don’t worry — that strong-willed personality that God gave you, He will use.

If you’ve got a strong will, you probably like to take action. You plan, you decide, you move forward — and that’s great! But sometimes, that drive can get ahead of God’s direction.

Isaiah 30:21 (NLT): “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.”

Isaiah says we’ll hear a voice behind us — not ahead of us. Isn’t that interesting? It means God often leads through quiet correction, not loud commands.

Maybe you’ve felt that gentle nudge in your spirit —

“Slow down.”

“Wait.”

“Don’t say that just yet.”

That’s God helping you steer that strong will in the right direction.

When we’re willing to pause and listen, He aligns our determination with His wisdom. And when that happens, our strength no longer works against God — it starts working with Him.

We like to push through, don’t we?

We know it has to get done, and we will work diligently and do everything we can to get it done.

We have schedules, and we need to check things off, and if we don’t, then we feel like we’ve fallen behind and won’t catch up.

But what if something comes up and makes you take time — and instead of embracing it, you are frustrated the whole time?

We all do this. We like to keep going and don’t want to be stopped or distracted, but that again can keep us from something God might have for us in that moment.

Don’t let your determination keep you from being open to what God has for you.

When I am focusing and getting things done, I don’t like to be interrupted because I know how long it could take for me to get back on track. I am also pretty strong-willed and like to get things done when I have a plan. But as soon as there’s a distraction, that just might be the end of that.

Then comes the bad self-talk and the guilt of not finishing and the frustration of having to now get motivated again.

Sometimes it is in our strong-willed selves that we set some expectations that don’t need to be set. So instead of taking things as they come, we think we have somehow failed because we didn’t finish according to ours or someone else’s expectations.

When we are doing what God has called us to and let the enemy get involved, we can lose sight of the real reason why we were doing what we were doing.

Let God be the one who steers you and keeps you on track. With Him in the lead, you will be less worried or stressed about what you have to do, when it needs to be done, or what anyone else has to say about it — because you know God is in control.

Strong-willed people often end up carrying a lot — responsibility, expectations, maybe even the weight of other people’s needs.

But strength without surrender can lead to exhaustion.

Isaiah 30:21 (NLT): “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.”

There’s a deep peace that comes when you stop trying to figure everything out and start listening for that quiet voice behind you saying, “This is the way.”

You don’t have to know every next step. You just have to be willing to take the one God shows you.

Your willpower is a gift — but your willingness is where transformation happens.

When we allow God to be our guide and let His peace fill our lives, the weight of the world and all it involves doesn’t seem like too much.

For the majority of my life, I have been a caregiver for different people — siblings, parents, and kids — and some of those seasons were so very heavy. I’m thankful that God was with me because there were times that I was just done.

It was because of my faith in God that I made it through. I learned really quickly that He does have a plan, and no matter how I try to will things, His plan prevails.

Don’t worry about what tomorrow brings because God already knows what is to come, and we can trust in Him — that He is with us no matter what may come.

We all like to know what’s next, and when we don’t, we can feel helpless. But our scripture today tells us, “This is the way you should go.”

Now, I know that this is something all of us want — someone just to tell us what to do and where to go.

God does help us with that, but He will not give us every direction needed because we do have to make some choices on our own.

Remember that though you may think you know what is right, God truly does know what is right — and that you need to seek Him first above all and let Him give you some clarity, especially when you are feeling helpless.

God is with you, ready to answer your questions.

If you’re a strong-willed person, thank God for that strength — it’s part of how He designed you. But remember, strength is safest when it’s surrendered.

Isaiah 30:21 reminds us that God’s voice will always guide us — sometimes through peace, sometimes through conviction, always through love.

You don’t have to be less strong to follow Him — just more sensitive to His leading.

Let His voice shape your choices today. Because when your strong will and God’s strong hand work together, there’s no limit to what He can do through you.