What is God’s will for my life? What path should I take? These were burning questions for me at an earlier period in my life as I faced career choices and the question of whom to marry. It could be that you are struggling with these issues in your life even now. It’s comforting to know that God has a plan for our lives. Paul writes, “For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Not only does God have a plan, but He promises to reveal it to us, as we read in Proverbs 3:5-6- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
That being said, this topic can be confusing. A great resource is a little booklet published by InterVarsity Press called “Affirming the Will of God” by Paul E. Little. Little says that there’s two aspects of God’s will – first, that which has already been
revealed in God’s Word, the Bible, and secondly, those decisions on which God has given no specific instructions. A great deal of what we need to know about walking with God is revealed in the Bible as His clear commands, at least in general terms, such as going into all nations with the gospel, or being conformed to the image of Christ. But hear this: We don’t need to ask God for guidance on things His Word specifically commands any more than we do on things His Word specifically forbids. For example, II Corinthians 6:14 says that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This means, among other things, that a believer is never to marry an unbeliever. Little says, “If you’re praying for guidance about whether you should marry a non-Christian, save your breath.” Beyond that, there’s quite a bit of room for what Little calls our “sanctified preferences.” If we’re expecting an exact blueprint of what to do next, we’re likely to be disappointed. The Bible doesn’t say, “John Smith will be an engineer in Cincinnati,” or “Mary Jones will marry Harry Williams.” Little says, “The will of God is far more like a scroll that unrolls every day” than a once and for all blueprint. Life is more a series of daily decisions based on what we know to be true from God’s Word and/or our sanctified preferences, the sum total of which lead us in a particular direction.”
There’s more to say on this subject so check back again soon. So long for now. -MAJ