In a world obsessed with finding the “perfect” path, many Christians grapple with the daunting prospect of discerning God’s perfect will. We tend to envision a single, predetermined script laid out for our lives and thinking we need to discern God’s voice so we can know exact next steps to take in situations. We forget, or perhaps neglect to learn in the first place, that God’s grace and our capacity for responsible choice are integral to our journeys.
In discussions surrounding God’s will, we need to escape the trap of fatalistic thinking; the notion of a singular, predetermined path for each individual can ultimately prove stifling and discouraging. Instead, embracing a framework anchored in grace, personal agency, and informed decision-making empowers individuals to navigate their lives with purpose and impact.
Busting the Myth of Predetermined Paths
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21, NIV
The fear of straying from a pre-ordained path often fuels our anxiety and frustration in navigating life’s significant decisions. We fixate on “doing the right thing,” fearing that any deviation might lead us astray from God’s perfect plan. However, a rigid, deterministic understanding of God’s will can likewise stifle our potential and creativity.
The above passage from Isaiah, obviously lifted from its broader context but still offering a Holy Ghost nugget, is one that I’ve always married with Psalm 37:4 which the NKJV renders as “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
If we’re seeking God’s face, spending time in His presence and having intimate communion with him, we will “receive the desires of our heart” and can trust him whether we decide to step to the right or to the left when it comes to a path set before us.
The Bible tells us that humans are created in God’s image, endowed with the ability to choose, to rule, and to administer his Kingdom in the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Remember that God tasked Adam with naming the animals He created, implying that as we co-labor with God in our relationship with Him, there are undoubtedly going to be decisions we make. Our lives are not simply scripts to be followed; they are journeys we actively engage in through our choices and responses to circumstances.
We can choose left, or right, and God will have our back, so to speak.
Embracing God’s Grace and Making Choices
Far from being left to our own devices, we have the invaluable gift of God’s grace. His grace does not merely forgive our mistakes; it empowers us to navigate the inevitable challenges and, gasp — missteps, that come with navigating life with free will.
We will not always make the perfect choices. There will be errors along the way, and there will be occasions when we miss the mark. Yet, God’s grace remains our constant companion, offering redemption and guidance when we falter.
I’m not just talking about sin or making the obvious poor choices, either. But making even good decisions that were not correct, or were not God’s best desire for us, but in His grace, allowed us to figure out for ourselves the hard way.
Taking Initiative and Contributing to God’s Kingdom
Perhaps you also know that person or people in your life who have to pray about everything, no matter how mundane or innocuous. I’m not saying decisions we make in life should not be soaked in prayer, but I am talking about people who are so paralyzed by fear of making the wrong decision they don’t take any initiative one way or another.
I’ve seen this kind of thing repeatedly when I was younger and still single, in my own life and in that of friends, classmates and roommates in Bible college who couldn’t date or court the opposite gender because they needed a fresh “word from God” about if someone was “the one” or not.
One time I was in a dating relationship before I married my wife. In this particular case, I extremely was fond of the other person, and I had the impression she was feeling the same way — but she repeatedly indicated she didn’t have a clear word from God that gave her peace about everything like she was looking for.
I was of the thought that sure, soul-mates and perfect partners do exist, but if two God-fearing people want to be together and are a good match, and nobody in their lives think they’re bad for each other, and both are going after God, then what’s the problem? Obviously as I look back in retrospect I’m glad that relationship didn’t work out as I’m happily married now, but who knows what direction my life may have gone in had I married someone else?
But that’s sorta the point: this reality or the parallel universe where my wife met someone else and I married someone else would also be “God’s wills” had those paths been the ones we each took.
We can apply this same thing to other major decisions like jobs and careers: instead of passively waiting for divine revelation for every decision, embracing God’s grace equips us to engage in proactive living. We can seek wisdom through prayer, study the Bible, and consult with trusted advisors.
These actions show our earnest desire to align our choices with God’s will, even as we recognize the freedom to navigate diverse options.
God’s Permissive Will vs Perfect Will — is This Dichotomy Even Really a Thing?
Depending on the circles you’re in, you likely have heard this. It’s like God uses this dartboard and the bull’s eye is his perfect will and the outer rings are the permissive will, and then if you get off the dart board altogether, you’re “out” of God’s will completely.
Have you ever worried you “missed” God’s will for your life? Do you ever feel like you’re in Plan B for your life instead of the “perfect” Plan A? How about erasing the idea of perfect and permissive will for our meditation today, and instead think of God writing our his plans for our life with a pencil that has an eraser on the end? We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
This approach doesn’t preclude or prevent mistakes, but it equips us to learn from them and grow, ultimately contributing more meaningfully to God’s Kingdom. We become empowered to rule, manage, and administrate our lives with wisdom and purpose, making a lasting impact on the world around us.
Forget the Script: Embracing Freedom and Purpose
The Bible tells us that the Kingdom of God is not merely a future reality; it is also a present experience (Luke 17:21). We participate in this Kingdom now by living lives that embody its values – love, mercy, and justice.
We do this not by clinging to rigid notions of a pre-ordained plan, but by embracing God’s grace and the freedom to make responsible choices. We become agents of positive change, shaping our lives and communities in ways that reflect God’s love and purpose for the world.
Forget the perfect script. Embrace the freedom to choose and the joy of finding your impact within God’s Kingdom. Let go of the fear of the predetermined path and discover the fulfillment that comes from embracing grace and making informed choices. Your journey is yours to create, guided by wisdom and purpose.
