God Let You ... But Did He Lead You?

Permission Isn't Alignment: Why God Saying “Yes” Doesn’t Always Mean “Go”

A foreman gives his crew a clear task: “Move the tools and lumber into the storage containers.” .

Technically, that worker had permission. But he missed the bonus. He missed the camaraderie. He missed the chance to sign up for a special upcoming project. Others followed the instructions and reaped the obvious benefits. But a few workers did more. They talked with the foreman, found out monsoon rain was coming, and adjusted the plan. They covered exposed materials and moved gear to higher ground.

These few weren’t just obedient. They were aligned! The foreman’s priorities became their own. They didn’t just do the job. They embraced the purpose behind it.

That’s where God’s people find the deepest success. Not just in what’s permitted, but in what’s aligned.

Hezekiah: God Allowed It, But It Wasn't His Best

God told Hezekiah plainly, “Set your house in order, for you shall die.” It was a clear, final word. But Hezekiah pleaded with God. He wanted more time. And God gave it—fifteen more years.

What happened during those extra years?

• He aligned himself with Babylon

• He grew proud

• He fathered Manasseh, who led Judah into deep idolatry

  
  

God allowed Hezekiah's request, but that permission came with a cost. It was never the best path.

Lot: The Danger of Settling for What Looks Good

Genesis 13 gives us another lesson. Abraham chose peace. Lot chose profit. He looked at the Jordan Valley, saw that it was “like the garden of the Lord,” and made his decision.

From a distance, it seemed wise. But it started a slow drift.

• First, he camped near Sodom

• Then, he lived in Sodom

• Eventually, he sat at the gate as a leader in that city

  
  

This is how the enemy works. Slowly. Subtly. Step by step.

Lot lost nearly everything. He was captured in war. He lost his wealth and his home. His wife died. He ended up hiding in a cave, afraid and broken.

In Genesis 19, God tells him, “Escape to the mountain.” Lot asks, “Can I go to Zoar instead?” God permits it. But soon even Zoar becomes unsafe, and Lot flees to the mountain anyway.

God may allow your path. That doesn’t mean it will hold.

Pressing Into the Plan, Not Settling for the Permission

Psalm 106:15 says, “He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” That verse cuts to the heart. Sometimes we ask for things until God says yes. But that yes can carry consequences.

Israel asked for a king in 1 Samuel 8. They were warned. Still, they insisted. And God allowed it. He didn’t abandon them, but they forfeited something better—direct relationship with their divine King.

Are you doing the same?

Don’t Just Leave Sin. Pursue the Kingdom.

Luke 16:16 says, “The kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.”

That word “presses” tells us something. Living in alignment with God’s design requires effort. Abraham waited for the promise. Lot chose what looked good. One pressed in. The other compromised.

It’s not enough to ask, “Is this a sin?” The better question is, “Is this Your will, Lord?”

We often ask God about relationships, jobs, opportunities, and roles. But do we stop and ask, “Is this Your design, or just what I desire?”

Gideon was offered leadership. He refused it because he knew it wasn’t God’s design. Israel wanted a king. God gave them one, but it wasn’t His best.

God’s Design Is Worth the Work

Ephesians 5:17 says, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

That requires more than instincts or good intentions. It requires pursuit. It requires pressing past comfort and stepping into the higher ground God calls us to.

Lot asked to settle in Zoar. It was easier. Smaller. Less risky. But God had called him to the mountain.

Where are you settling?

• In comfort zones?

• In plans that seem right?

• In relationships or roles that are merely allowed?

  
  

God’s will is not just about rules. It’s about alignment. It’s about trust. It’s about letting God lead you out of what is merely acceptable and into what is exceptional.

A Prayer for Alignment and Leadership

“Lord, I trust You with all my heart. I don’t want to lean on my own understanding. I’m not asking You to simply approve my plans. I’m asking You to lead me into Yours. Direct my steps: not just to what is allowed, but into what You designed.”