God's will and free will

God’s will vs free will.  I hear so many people speak of God’s will and God’s plan.  You would think we are Calvinists.  Sometimes I wonder if we are hoping that God will shine a light from heaven and show us exactly what to do and in so doing, save us from taking responsibility for our lives.  Do you have free will?  Yes you do.  Maybe the joy and glory of this life, is not expecting God to show you or give you the exactly right thing, but in your choosing to honor him by making choices.

When we look to circumstances for God’s will, it can get real confusing really fast.  There was an old farmer who kept a horse for tilling his fields.  One day the horse escaped into the hills and when all the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows? A week later the horse returned with a herd of wild horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows? Then, when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows? Some weeks later the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg they let him off. Now was that good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?

The point of the story is that our relationship with God cannot be rooted in circumstances.  If we believe in free will we have to stop trying to make life sound like God is pulling all of the strings.  You have choices and our Father wants you to prayerfully use them.  If you feel a sense of direction, then celebrate that and step out in faith.  If you don’t feel anything special, then you still must live your life and follow God the best that you can, trusting in the fact that he has given you the gift of freewill and rejoices in the positive life choices that we make.

It’s a beautiful day in God’s world, be sure to see the good.