Want to know how not to miss God’s will? Maybe you’re concerned about a certain relationship, career move, financial decision, or how to protect yourself during a pandemic.
Or all of the above.
Regardless of the area in which you’re seeking God’s will, here’s the first of three truths you can take to the bank:
If you seek God’s will, you may miss it.
Of course, that’s just what you’re afraid of, right? Perhaps it’s a reality you’ve already experienced, and you’re trying to figure out where you went wrong so you can make sure you go right next time.
I can relate, because I have gone wrong more times than right in my own life. However, I’ve discovered a simple, yet challenging principle behind knowing God’s will, revealed by the three truths I share in this post.
By “simple, yet challenging” I mean to say that this shift in perspective is quite simple to understand, but quite challenging to maintain, but that brings us to our second truth: ultimately it is not God’s will to give you His will.
Confused?
If so, you might be a tasked-oriented, goal-driven person like I am. But that’s where the final truth I want to share with you comes in, because ultimately God’s will is to give you something far greater than His will.
Ultimately, God’s will is to give You Himself.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” – John 5:39-40 (ESV) (emphasis mine)
You see, when we think of God’s will, we often think about what we’re supposed to do, where, and when, and how. And this thinking makes sense when you consider all our earthly relationships where the person we’re relating to needs or expects something (or somethings) from us.
But that’s not God. The only thing God has need of is… nothing.
Which means He doesn’t need you, or me, or anyone out there carrying out His will. He was doing just fine in eternity past without any of us around at all. And frankly, since creation you’ll have to admit we’ve done more harm than good.
Then again, that might be a motivator behind your fervent desire to know God’s will. You know you’ve screwed up in the past – at times royally screwed up – and you’d like to turn things around.
That’s not a bad desire, but it is a hopeless one. Because we can’t fix what we’ve done in the past.
However, praise be to God, because Jesus already fixed our past, present, and future and offers us life! Not a life of working for Him, but a life of working with Him. It’s the very way Christ, Himself, lived life.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.” – John 5:19-21
Ultimately, in Jesus’ life and death, God accomplished His perfectly beautiful, perfectly brilliant, perfectly boundless will without any help from any of us.
Well, I suppose we did crucify Him. After an entire day of torture. So you can’t say we didn’t play our part. But, of course, no one on the day of Christ’s passion had any idea of how they were playing right into God’s hand; carrying out His will without even realizing it.
And God will be happy to do the same through you, if you like. He can merely carry out His sovereign will through your own choices without your awareness.
So you need not worry about seeking God’s will. His will can never be thwarted. And that includes in your life. And that’s why I’m urging you to embrace this shift in perspective from pursing God’s will to pursuing God, Himself.
God doesn’t want our help. He wants our attention. He wants our focus, our praise, our honor, our worship. He wants to share an intimate, life-giving, life-altering relationship with us!
Ultimately, God’s will is to give you Himself! It’s what the eternal life promised by the gospel is all about!
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” – John 17:3
When you can throw your arms around this truth you can finally walk in God’s will the way He desires. Not so much aware of what you’re doing for Him; or the impact You’re making for the kingdom; or the differences you’re leaving behind, but aware – more than aware – consumed by Him! Christ’s presence in your life. His Spirit working all around and in and through You.
You see, God could accomplish whatever He wills without human involvement, but we’re His image-bearers made to delight in Him as He delights in us, and so He loves to invite us to partner with Him in what He’s doing in our little part of the world.
So He does want us to know His will.
However, the whole point of knowing and doing God’s will is not about making the right call in regards to that relationship, or career move, or financial decision, or quarantine boundaries. It’s about being in right relationship with Him. Our hearts set on Him. Our souls abiding in Him. Our minds focused on Him. Our eyes looking for His divine activity in every area of our lives.
Does that describe you?
If so, then you are already right smack dab in the center of His will even as you read these words. Even if you still don’t know the answer to the question you’re pondering.
Because if you seek God – HIMSELF – His kingdom and His righteousness, He will not let you miss His will.
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:31-34
However, if the truth is you just want to know God’s will so things will go well for you, or so you make the biggest impact on our world, or so you can simply avoid your next mistake, then I want to challenge you.
God has more for you than the answer to your question or the solution to your problem. He offers Himself. He’s all you need.
And when you have Him, He will make His will known to you one step at a time.
Next week, we’ll continue our series on How to Know God’s Will, when I share some questions you want to ask yourself about whatever specific question is staring you in the face right now.
But before I go, I leave you with the lyrics to a song* I pray will encourage you to seek God and not just His will.
Eyes on Me
When you’re looking for the answers that you do not know, eyes on Me!
When your fear takes hold of you and won’t let go, eyes on Me!
When you heart is weary; heavy burdened down,
And shame’s the only game that’s playing in your town,
And no one’s left to blame cause no one’s left around,
Eyes on Me! Eyes on Me!
When desire’s lit a fire that you can’t put out, eyes on Me!
When you can’t find the truth for all your doubt, eyes on Me!
When you’ve reached the bottom with no end in sight,
And everyday Goliath gets back up to fight,
Know my yoke is easy and my burden light!
Eyes on Me! Eyes on Me!
Only with your eyes on Me can you ever hope to see
the very truth that sets you free to become who you were meant to be!
When the pain’s so paralyzing that you cannot move, eyes on Me!
All choices tantalizing so you cannot choose, eyes on Me.
When you’ve held a grudge so long you cannot bear to part
When the dread of being judged means you never start
You can trust my gentleness and humble heart
Eyes on Me! Eyes on Me!
Only with your eyes on Me can you ever hope to see
the very truth that sets you free to become who you were meant to be in Me!
Date Night Advice (DNA) series: How to Know God’s Will
Part 2: How Not to Miss God’s Will
Click here for the next post in the series
DNA: It’s What’s For Dating
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The LoveEd discipleship series, Beyond Sex & Salvation, will empower you to prepare for relational success when it counts: BEFORE you fall in love!
It’s NOT for couples, but for any wise individual who thinks they might want to get married sometime before they die. And would like to learn how to better build healthy relationships in the meantime.
Check out all three study guides in our store. You can walk through them on your own, but it’s more fun with friends (that and it kinda makes sense to grow in relational success in actual relationships with others), so consider putting together an FMU LoveEd small group study.
Even better? And ask a rock star married couple you respect to lead it!
*Words & Music by MJ © 2016 – RAHJah Music
