Will, Purpose, Control
“What’s God’s will and purpose for my life?” This seems like a heavy question, but often when people ask it, what they are truly looking for is God’s plan for their life. We’ve written about God’s will and purpose many times on the site, and the Scriptures are pretty clear about God’s will and purpose for us (see Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:31, John 15:16, Romans 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19,22, James 4:15, Jeremiah 29:11, & 1 Peter 2:15). The question you must consider before concerning yourself with what God’s will is for you is whether or not you believe God is in control all the time. Consider your plans for Memorial Day weekend or tomorrow or what you’re having for dinner tonight; do you consider that God is in control over whether tomorrow will even happen?
“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16)
Boasting about your plans for tomorrow is evil. This boasting puts us in control and at the center. It’s very easy to do, to make plans and then be excited about them, to tell others about them and then slip into a very self-centered mindset. You may have a summer vacation planned and put in your days with your employer. You might have posted about your trip on social media or you might be counting down the days at home. While sometimes planning ahead is necessary, it’s important to take a step back and consider whether or not you truly believe, as James did, that God is in control all the time. James’ writing comes directly from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:31-34)
Do you believe that whether or not you eat dinner tonight isn’t decided by you, but by God? Do you approach day-to-day life with the mentality that God holds every moment in His hands? If you do, then you have nothing to worry about. Jesus said that worrying over what you eat, drink, or wear are things that dominate the thoughts of unbelievers. As believers, we trust God and know that He knows all of our needs. Once you accept that God is in control, then what His will and purpose is for you becomes easier to accept. C.S. Lewis had a great quote about God’s will and purpose in our lives in his work The Problem of Pain.
“For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.”
No matter what we do, if we trust God and because He is always in control, we will carry out God’s purpose no matter what. How would you like to carry out God’s purpose and experience His will—reluctantly like Judas or willingly like John? Do you believe that God is in control all the time? If so, then live in obedience to all He has commanded you (Deut. 5:33) and store these commands in your heart that you may have a long and satisfying life (Proverbs 3:1-2). God has plans to prosper you, not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11). Trust Him, live in obedience to Him, know that God has every moment in His hands, and then each day you will be equipped to carry out His will and purpose for you.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
