Can We Know God’s Will for Our Lives?

Last updated on: May 17, 2018 at 11:29 am by Kelley Mathews

Can We Know God’s Will for Our Lives? 2018-05-17T11:29:40-05:00 Kelley Mathews

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Stop seeking God’s individual will for your life.

Two sorts of things exist: those things that God reveals, and those things that God keeps secret. We are responsible to do what he’s told us. And in the things he keeps secret, we have freedom. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed to us, they belong to us and our children forever, that we may follow the words of his law” (Deut. 29:29).

This perspective didn’t originate here. John Calvin said, “When God closes His holy mouth, I will desist from inquiry.” I will desist, I will stop inquiring. If God hasn’t spoken, I won’t ask any questions. Martin Luther said, “We must keep in view His Word and leave alone His inscrutable will, for it is by His Word and not by His will, His inscrutable will, that I’ll be guided.” In other words, go back to the Bible for God’s will, and if you don’t find it there, either he doesn’t plan to reveal it to us, or our decision falls under the amoral, personal choice category.

Off we go!

I am not saying God does not have an individual will for our lives. We just don’t have to worry about finding it. God will make it happen.

God could have spoken to me about marrying John in a powerful, supernatural manner. Lightning bolt, talking dog, whatever. But he didn’t, and neither did the Bible give me a direct answer. He allows us to make decisions, and I decided that John displayed the godly characteristics that I wanted in a husband. I chose joyfully and freely. In the light of God’s Word, trusting the God of the Word. But I could have done the same with another young man of similar character. John wasn’t necessarily God’s will for my life—until we were married. From that moment on, we were one in God’s eyes, and our continued oneness is his will.

“So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6), and “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (Heb. 13:4). God’s Word shows the way here (back to rule #1).

*These four steps to discovering God’s will were borrowed and adapted from Dr. Vic Anderson’s notes for a class at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Previous Post

May 14, 2018

Five Strategies to Ruin Your Kids' Summer

Next Post

May 19, 2018 The Royal Wedding: Images and Video

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category adoption art bible Bible study books compassion creation culture dogs facebook faith family friendship funeral grieving justice leadership Mardi Gras marriage memorial mental illness milestones missions MOPS movies parenting politics race relationships social media technology Thanksgiving theology trusting God Uncategorized wedding women worship

Select a Month June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 October 2013 September 2013 October 2012 August 2012 January 2012 October 2011 May 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am three that testify on earth and agree as one. The Spirit, the water, and what completes our trio?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The word The church The blood The truth

Books by This Author Books by Kelley Mathews

See All Titles »