My personality is such that I tend to agonize over decisions. I see every side of every issue, the pros and cons ad infinitum. While it can be very helpful in a group discussion as it allows me add a viewpoint that might be lacking, it makes for challenging living. So knowing the will of God is something I’ve thought about (and agonized over) a great deal. Probably more than necessary.
Wade Burleson (who is rapidly becoming one of my very favorite bloggers) wrote today Quit Agonizing Over Finding the “Perfect Will of God” and Just Get on With Your Life. He starts:
There is not one verse, not one, in the New Testament that exhorts the believer to “seek the will of God.” Every command regarding seeking God’s face or God’s will is in the old economy. Christians who emphasize seeking the will of God for their lives are operating under a broken system of assumptions, not the least of which is that God’s will is actually “lost” and needs found or “hidden” and needs revealed or “best” and can be missed.
The teachings of Jesus Christ and the writings of the apostles make clear that we experience God’s will passively and daily. A.W. Pink once said that nothing ever happens but that God “either promotes it, permits it, or prohibits it.” God is on His throne and He does as He pleases, only as He pleases and always as He pleases in us, for us and through us. The good news for us is that we are His kids, and He delights in us and is always orchestrating the events of our lives–even the mistakes we make and the afflictions that arise–for our ultimate good.
And I think he must have read my life story (and the deep, dark corners of my mind) when he wrote this near the end:
So much of the “seek God’s will” teaching is based on insecurity, the fear of making a mistake, and a desire for self-protection. We erroneously believe that if we just had the right divine information we could avoid a wrong decision and its temporal consequences.
Um, guilty, guilty and guilty? 😯
This was a good word for me today. I hope it blesses someone else. 😀
Interesting….I fully want to do what GOD wants me to do, has called me to do, has gifted me to do…but I often get bogged down in that as well and sometimes feel like I should just LEAP and do what I feel I should do.
Sometimes God is SILENT on these matters and we wait for big crashing symbols or signs to show us the way. When they don’t come, we feel defeated or worse.
Thank you Sallie, very interesting.
Hi Sallie~ I take it as meaning will be done as in the Lord’s prayer. Beth
So true! I needed that reminder.
My pastor explains it like this;
God’s will for your life is not like footprints painted on a sidewalk, he doesn’t expect you to stand on one foot waiting for the next step to appear so that you can put your foot in the exact right spot.
instead HIs will is like a sidewalk. as long as you stay out of the street (those obvious spiritual dangers warned against in the 10 commandments for example), and out of the neighbors yards (not harming or harrassing other people) then you can go down the sidewalk as you like. Run, skip, turn cartwheels or ride your trike it brings him joy to see how you choose to live the new life he has given you. Just as I’m sure you love to see Caroline make her small choices in life, some of the joy of being a parent is in seeing the child’s personality blossom. He made you who you are so he could enjoy watching you blossom as well.
Mrs N
I love what your pastor said, Mrs. N!
Very interesting points to ponder, Sallie. It’s so easy to feel paralyzed with indecision, in wondering if you are doing God’s will.