Every decision, big or small, reflects our faith and trust in God’s sovereign plan. Our choices shape our lives, either conforming us to this world or transforming us into the image of Christ. In all spheres of life, we are faced with many choices, ranging from the mundane decision of what to eat tonight to the profound question of whom to marry. The breadth and weight of these decisions can be both vast and intimidating.
This article aims to equip Christians with a Biblical understanding of God’s Will and Providence. These two concepts are intricately intertwined yet denote distinct facets of God’s engagement with His creation. If you’ve ever asked, “What is God’s will for my life?” this article is for you.
Providence
The Providence of God refers to the means by which God governs and sustains His Creation. Historically, this has been subdivided into three categories: Preservation, Concurrence, and Government. Let’s consider each briefly:
Preservation: The natural world and all living beings are sustained and maintained through God’s preservation without exception. Scripture says that our Lord Jesus Christ upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). This means that every aspect of creation, from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy, is continuously upheld by God’s sustaining power (Colossians 1:17, Acts 17:28).
Concurrence: All things in heaven and on earth unfold under the direct involvement of the Triune God toward His ultimate purpose. God is not distant; rather, He actively guides and directs according to His will (Psalm 33:10-11, Proverbs 16:9, Acts 2:23). This involvement, known as concurrence, indicates that God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to achieve His purposes.
Government: All of time belongs to God in a very personal sense. He delicately orchestrates the events of history to bring about His divine plan (Daniel 4:35, 1 Timothy 6:15, Matthew 28:18). This governance means that God is sovereign over all events, ensuring that everything aligns with His ultimate plan and purpose.
God is Sovereign in a way that we are unable to comprehend fully. This means we can truly entrust ourselves to the God of the universe as our Good Father. I urge you to grow in dependence on Him in all facets of life. Pray ceaselessly, knowing that He can accomplish far more than we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). This is also a call for stewardship of what God has given you. Your marriage, career and health are not your own. In times of uncertainty or difficulty, understanding God’s Providence offers hope and assurance. We can trust that God is in control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
The Will of God
Understanding the Will of God can be quite intricate. You may have encountered this concept in your Bible reading and pondered its meaning. What actions should we take in response? How can we ensure alignment with it? These and similar questions may arise in your contemplation. Christians have traditionally understood the Will of God in two ways: God’s will of Decree and God’s will of Command.
God’s will of Decree refers to God’s eternal plan and purpose, which He has determined from before the foundation of the world (Isaiah 46:9-10). It encompasses everything that happens, including both good and evil events, as ultimately being within God’s sovereign control (Isaiah 45:5-7; Amos 3:6; Romans 8:28). This aspect of God’s will is often considered “hidden” because humans cannot fully understand or predict it (Deuteronomy 29:29).
God’s will of Command refers to God’s commandments and instructions given to humanity, as revealed in the Scriptures. It encompasses moral laws and teachings that God expects humans to follow (Exodus 20:1-17). Unlike the will of Decree, humans can know and understand the preceptive will, which guides their behaviour and decision-making (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God’s will is not a target you can somehow miss. You can, or rather, you have the ability to disobey God’s will of Command. But you cannot escape his will of Decree. So, the fact that you disobeyed God at one juncture in no way means you’re confined to a life that’s only God’s second-best. Yes, there are consequences for sin and foolishness—but even they only operate within God’s great, eternal, sovereign will and plan.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105
So, what am I to do with all these choices?
God is sovereign over all things and He has clearly revealed His will in Scripture. So, how are we to live in light of this reality? As Charles Spurgeon famously said, “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly.” It’s crucial to immerse ourselves in Scripture—to read, sing, see, and pray it. By understanding what God has clearly revealed in His Word, we gain insight into His will even in matters that may seem less clear.
We understand the biblical directive to marry in the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:14) and the teachings regarding female eldership (1 Timothy 2:11-12). However, the Bible may not offer specific directives regarding career choices or purchasing a car. Yet, passages on stewardship and integrity in the workplace remind us to work diligently as unto the Lord. So, how should we navigate life’s decisions in light of these principles?
First, God’s will for your life is that you obey Him. The Lord Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (John 14:21). It’s a fundamental principle that God will never lead us to decisions that contradict His Word. This principle may seem straightforward, yet it’s surprising how often Christians find themselves in challenging situations, especially in areas like dating. Despite our best intentions, it’s easy to veer off course when our desires or emotions overshadow Biblical wisdom. This underscores the importance of aligning our choices with God’s commands, particularly in matters as significant as relationships, where the temptation to compromise can be strong. Remember to pursue wisdom. Listen to Job 28:28, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” Obey God in the places you can see clearly, and he will give you the wisdom to discern obedience in places that may be less clear. Conversely, if you refuse to obey commands clearly revealed in Scripture, perhaps you shouldn’t be so surprised that God’s will seems so fuzzy and unclear in other areas that you don’t have specific commands.
Secondly, it’s clear from 1 Thessalonians 4:3 that God’s will for us is holiness: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour…” Now, is Paul illustrating God’s will of Decree or His will of Command here? The answer is both. God commands us to pursue sanctification, aligning with His will for us to obey. However, He also decrees that those in Christ will inevitably be sanctified. Consider Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Will of Command), “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Will of Decree). If you’re truly a Christian, holiness will be evident in your life. While this transformation may not be completed in this life, progress will undoubtedly be made. If you see no evidence of holiness in your life, it’s appropriate to question your faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Ultimately, it is God’s will that our Lord Jesus Christ is exalted in all things. In Ephesians 1:5-10 we read:
“In love, he predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ according to his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
In this passage, we understand that God’s will is manifested foremost in our adoption as sons and daughters, culminating ultimately in His grand purpose of uniting all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. What, then, constitutes God’s will? It is the exaltation of Christ.
Conclusion
Consider this insightful passage from Chapter 8 of Kevin DeYoung’s book “Just Do Something,”1 which encapsulates the core ideas discussed so far,
Simply put, God’s will is your growth in Christlikeness. God promises to work all things together for our good so that we might be conformed to the image of his Son. And the degree to which this sounds like a lame promise is the degree to which we prefer the stones and scorpions of this world to the true bread from heaven. God never assures us of health, success, or ease. But He promises us something even better: To make us loving, pure and humble like Christ. In short, God’s will is that you and I get happy and holy in Jesus…The only chains God wants us to wear are the chains of righteousness—not the chains of hopeless subjectivism, not the shackles of risk-free living, not the fetters of horoscope decision making—just the chains befitting a bond servant of Christ Jesus. Die to self. Live for Christ. And then do what you want and go where you want, for God’s glory.
Notes
