Frustration with God’s Will
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or free. —Ephesians 6:5-8
A third reason to get a biblical view of God’s will is because there’s so much frustration. I’ll tell you, I talk to so many people who are so frustrated with this whole matter of God’s will. Constantly people are saying, “I’m trying to figure out God’s will for me. I’m trying to determine what God wants.” There’s just a whole lot of pain among Christians on the subject of God’s will. People wrestling with it and people arguing over God’s will without seriously attending to God’s Word on it. It’s frustrating because I realize these people are not trying to avoid God’s will—they want to know so they can obey! Their uncertainty leaves them in a state of frustrated indecision.
We’ve struggled with this notion that God is like some kind of cosmic Easter bunny who has hidden His will in little parcels all over the world. We’re supposed to go around and try to find them. Meanwhile God’s up in heaven going, “You’re getting warmer, you’re getting colder.” Like there’s a game that we’re playing and we’re supposed to try to figure it out. And God is perversely holding from us the understanding of what He wants.
He’s NOT! God is not like that. You and I can know God’s will and God wants us to know it. And there’s no mystery about it. Life’s decisions are difficult and the God who wants us to live in accordance with His will has certainly revealed that will to us. That’s a big part of the reason God wrote a book and took great pains to make it available to us!
How many people would be honest and say, “When it’s time to make a tough decision I find it hard because I’m either afraid of somehow violating God’s will or uncertain about what His will could be in that situation.” It is a hard place to find yourself. Life’s decisions are difficult and people want to know what God would have them do. And we need to know how to use the biblical guide for decision-making so that we can avoid a lot of pain. Understanding God’s will won’t necessarily make life itself easier, but it will provide us with a clearly marked path through life’s difficulties in God’s company.—James MacDonald
Journal
· What would be some of the differences in the way I live my life if I had a clearer understanding of God’s will?
Prayer - O God, teach me to walk by faith in You and Your good plans and will for me. Help me to face the uncertainties of life with confidence that You have provided wisdom for me to live. Show me in Your Word where You have made the choices and where You have left certain choices up to me. I long to live confidently under Your guiding hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Always True: 5 Great and Precious Promises of God
5 CD Series Set - $35.00
Just how would believing God’s promises change your life?
Ask the greatest Christian you’ll ever meet if they hold on to God’s promises and they’ll all say yes. Believing that God will do what He promises leads to a great life. The greatest Christian you’ll every meet knows, treasures, and is resting in the promises of God. They cling to these assurances that God gives His people so they can walk by faith while they wait for Him to work.
So what exactly does God promise? In this topical study of what will always be true, Pastor James MacDonald will explore five great and precious promises that God keeps. Enter into this study with anticipation and faith that the God who makes these promises is faithful and true... always true.
