“Don’t force it” sounds like great advice to someone trying to follow God’s plan for their life. Only, it’s not. It’s terrible advice.
Certainly, don’t force your way into something contrary to God’s goodness. Do not force a step that steers you away from Him. But not every outcome is dependent on you waiting in passivity. No. Force it.
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12
Our world doesn’t need more passive people of faith trying to court their favorite political ideologue into legislating morality. We don’t need laissez-faire men hoping their kids will become who they hope for. We don’t need to turn over the stuff God’s put inside us to chance.
Yes. Be patient. Absolutely. Pray like crazy. Also, work like it all depends on you. Force it.
Why? Because only by forcing it will you arrive at two really critical conclusions.
First, you’ll realize you had more to give to God’s plan for your life than you believed at first. There was more in the tank than you had estimated. You were more capable than you understood. There was a hidden gear you couldn’t get to until you tried desperately to make it happen. Do you know what happens there? You grow.
Or, you’ll give it all you’ve got and it won’t be enough. Sometimes when you force it, and you’re not enough—you will fail. Get back up and try to force it again. Sometimes when you force it, and you’re not enough—you will learn how strong God is on your behalf.
Do you know what happens when you fail? You grow. Do you know what happens when you learn how your weakness is God’s opportunity? You grow.
Giving everything you do everything you’ve got doesn’t mean your faith is weak. It means you trust God is with you. You know He steers the ship.
Or, you can assume a small weak faith that is too afraid to dare something amazing. You can live a passive faith that keeps waiting “for the door to open”.
So yeah. Force it. Never stop forcing it. Watch your life change as God shows you what kicking the right door down looks like.