A lot of Christians talk about the will of God. Whether they are talking about a “call” for their lives, or direction for day to day choices, a lot of people are curious how they can know God’s will. Part of the mystery is that whatever process we use for determining the will of God doesn’t seem to work.
We pray, sometimes using a specific method or for a scheduled amount of time. We submit ourselves, “Thy will be done.” We seek counsel. We study. And then a choice comes, and we listen closely. Nothing.
We throw out a fleece, like Gideon, and still get nothing. We put God in a box, making deals with Him, and however it works out we take it as confirmation that we should do whatever we want. “God, if you want us to build that new sanctuary, supply the 1.2 million dollars for the down payment.” Only $750,000 comes in, and we decide that God wants us to step out on faith. “I mean, it’s a big thing for God to bring in so much money for the project.” Or we say, “God, if you don’t want me to do this, close the doors; stop me.” And months later, we look back thinking, “The devil sure was resisting me in my service to God. Look at all the persecution I went through!” Which is the correct view? Should we make deals with God? Which voice is limiting Him?
Some people claim to know the will of God. They get a sign. They have dreams. A quiet voice whispers to them. How can we trust these mystical revelations, when the Bible has so many examples of people being influenced by other powers in the spiritual realm?
Why did the life of a prophet seem so much simpler? How did he hear God’s voice? When the early church gathered to pray, what did it look and sound like for the Spirit to say, “Set apart Paul and Barnabas”? Men in the early church could not be stopped by chains or prisons or even stonings. We see in these instances the disciples pressing forward, confident that God desires them out on the streets and in the courtyard, preaching the gospel. What does it mean when Paul said that He tried to go to Bithynia (Acts 16:7) but the Spirit prevented Him? If Paul wanted to bring the gospel somewhere, but God wouldn’t let him, he was obviously not just trusting that his desires were from God. So how did Paul know?
But keep reading, because in 2 easy paragraphs, I’m going to solve the problem of the will of God!… No, I’m not making that claim. I think part of our problem is that we don’t want to walk by faith. We want to know every step way in advance. We want a list of do’s and don’t’s. When we wait to hear from God, we get impatient and conclude that we won’t hear from Him. God gave us brains. Maybe we should work it out. Or maybe God doesn’t care what we decide.
Some people really do take finding the will of God that far. Should you give $50 to feed the poor, or $50 to send a missionary, or invest the $50? None of those uses are sinful. All can be good and God-honoring. So it doesn’t matter which you choose. God will bless you anyway. God has a will for the big things, but the little things are up to us. (People have to decide where to draw the line between big things and little things: Prophecy must be a big thing. Jesus coming to die for us had to happen. Sometimes big things are whom we marry or where we go to school. For other people, they consider those life-changing decisions to be some of the little ones where God leaves us to decide on our own.) In any case, it takes a lot of study and extreme moral clarity to make sure that one of the options we’re considering is not sinful. We’re left to make a score sheet for each choice. And how do you add in factors like selfishness or vanity, good stewardship or discernment? What is wisdom anyway?
Or maybe we should stop worrying about the will of God. God’s in control, so everything that happens is what is meant to happen. We’re not going to change that, so why stress? Que sera, sera. There’s an easy way to figure out God’s will: hindsight.
Here’s what I believe. God is in control, and no one will change His plan. His plan covers the details, even the details of how we decide and that we sought to please Him in our decisions. His plan includes His guidance and revelation. Wisdom is not knowing the tally sheet for all the different options. It is a dependence on God’s perspective, even when His way doesn’t seem to be practical or likely to work out. Part of having a relationship with God is waiting on Him. He is faithful to provide the guidance we need, and merciful enough that, if we are seeking Him and asking for His help, our feet will not stumble; our lives won’t be ruined by our God-submitted choice.
Some things are clearly revealed as the will of God. He desires our sanctification. He desires us to be thankful and to pray to Him. He tells husbands to love their wives, and disciples to preach the word. To trespass those instructions would be sinful. So the possibilities are narrowed down.
Duty is another way to make our decisions easier, by limiting our options. We make a commitment (according to the will of God), and follow through. A father may wonder whether to take a job in New Jersey or Texas, but he knows he must provide for his family. A conference speaker may get to choose his topic or his wording, but he’s obligated to speak. A mom must change a diaper. My friend volunteered at an orphanage. Once she was there, she had to do what she was told. Her duty made the will of God for her simpler. When Paul decided to heed his vision and go to Macedonia, he didn’t have to ask God: “Should I move my left foot? Now right? What about my right foot?”
Of course God is helping us just as much to accomplish what we know He wants us to do as He helps us find out what He wants us to do. It is easy to be relieved at knowing we are where God wants us, and forget to excel, forget to walk in the Spirit as we obey. We think God sent us on an errand and now our own intelligence and strength will get it done. There’s danger in duty, the danger of empty legalism. But there is peace, too, in knowing what one ought to do: what must be done.
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn
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Lisa of Longbourn 