A Battle of Wills

4 min read

I'm feeling chatty today, sober kinda chatty so let me share my personal reflections with you 💭…This is not doctrine, just the by-product of some introspection.

I’ve soon come to realise that what God wants to happen always has a way of happening…well at least so far in my life. I mean he is God, isn't he? He is sovereign after all and though I may complain or go about my own way, he always seems to bring me back to what he always intended. I think I may have also contributed to this by praying that "his will should be done" and then I act surprised when it finally happens. Soon enough, I eventually realise that his will is usually the best and what I want but I just didn't know initially. Confused? Ok, let me try again.

What I mean is what always looks right may not always be God's plan and what is right but doesn’t fit my mould may not also be God’s will. The reverse is also true, there is no one size fits all approach. There have been times when an opportunity presented itself with a lot of resistance and I thought that must surely mean this is not God's will, yet that turned out to be his will not necessarily the resistance but the opportunity. There have also been times when everything went so smoothly and I thought that means that’s his will and it turned out not to be so. There have also been times when I’ve been completely oblivious to what’s going on but God was behind the scenes planning things beyond my reasoning. Seeing what I like and then "inviting" God to take control and calling it his will is also not God's will. I’ve learnt this the hard way. I like to think of this as ambition/self vs purpose/divinity..but that’s another story lol. My biases may influence me. My emotions and desires may sway me. However, God's opinion of the matter is always objective. He takes my wants and desires into account but beyond that also puts into perspective what he has assigned for me and the grand scheme of things.

What do I do now?

Well, irrespective of what I am 'seeing' I try to seek out God's opinion first and see things as he does. I have decided to trust God's will for me because it eventually turns out to be what is right for me, in the present and future. It also turns out to be what I need but didn’t consider because the packaging or environment wasn't familiar, appealing to my "preferences" or out of sync with what I assumed God would have for me. I’ve chosen to learn how to see from the eternal to the physical rather than from the physical to the eternal. Paul said the things we see are temporary whilst the things unseen are eternal (2Cor.4:18). I didn't believe him until recently.

“I realise now that God doesn’t see or rate things and their “packaging” the way I do. God looks and chooses from the inside out. Even when I thought I assessed the situation or opportunity from the inside out, it still can't be as thorough as God's assessment because he sees from a different plane and perspective. "

You've read this far so can I ask you for a favour?

I won't ask you to do exactly as I now do or adopt my approach, but only that you consider God's will in all you do. Before making that decision or venturing into that new opportunity that looks so good, seek God's opinion. It'll save you time and unnecessary mistakes. If anything it is good practice for learning how God speaks to you in the little things so when you have to make major decisions for your life, you are able to accurately hear what he is saying.

Trust and Believe God. His will for you is good and timely.

He alone can give what he gives and the gifts he gives add no sorrow, responsibilities maybe but not sorrow (Pro.10:22).

Take-home points:

  • God cares for you more than you care for yourself and you may only realise this when you allow his will to be fulfilled in your life and then compare it with what you originally wanted.

  • If it is God's will he will protect and provide for it.

  • If it is God's will he will nurture it and use it as a seed for the bigger context of his kingdom but also for the other areas of your life that may be in need of the fruit that seed bears.

  • "Jer.29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

  • "Psa.32:8-9: The Lord says, “I will teach you and guide you in the way you should live.  I will watch over you and be your guide."

Resources:

Some helpful resources regarding the will of God and what it is:

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