The Collisions Between God’s Will And My Will Reveals Much!

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

The Collisions Between God’s Will And My Will Reveals Much!

You know the song and it goes like this:

This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings, The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!

So why do we love this song so much? We love it because it brings us great comfort. It reminds us that He is the sovereign Creator, and he not only has the power to create, but what he creates is beautiful and reflective of His glory. It also reminds us that no matter what we face in this world, our loving Father is ruling and because He loves us with a love beyond our comprehension, we can continue our walk in this life and even find joy in the madness of it all.

Every Christian welcomes the will of God to be done in their lives, but what happens when the desires I have for my life differs from His? Put another way, what happens when God’s Providence for me does not align with my everyday expectations for my life? Answer: hard collision.

I do believe these so-called “collisions” with God’s will are not so apparent when we experience the smaller negatives in life such as a minor car accident, or a short term physical malady. As people who have been raised in America, we have been taught that all people experience ups and downs in life, and we need to pull ourselves together, work harder, and trust that those short term negatives will pass, and better days are ahead. Unfortunately, these are missed opportunities for the Christian because this is part of God’s plan to condition our minds to think properly about our short term stay here on earth. It is important that our awareness of God’s presence and activity in our lives grows overtime as part of our sanctification.

But what happens when these “collisions” are not small collisions? What happens when you are devastated by the death of a loved one or your life is being continually diminished because of aging?

Such is the challenge that my wife and I are experiencing. In the past three years, she has had two total knee replacements and one hip replacement, and we’ll soon have another hip replacement. Following that, there is significant signs that we will have to deal with a degenerative back as well. I have had a number of setbacks physically, but they are pale in comparison to hers. I am so grateful that God continues to provide the grace that enables us to weather His storm, even with joy.

However, our walk through these calamities has not been without questions and the temptations to disagree with God’s will for our lives. For example, If we pray for relief, will he give us the desires of our heart? Does it make sense for us to pray for relief of pain when our theology tells us God uses suffering to make us more like Christ? How do we think about praying for things that are essentially asking Him to give us a pass on the curse He promised? We are so thankful for His financial blessings and how that has made us anxiety free about the future, but is it possible that due to future health issues, we may experience the God who gives and takes away?

I am not looking for answers to those questions. Thankfully, I have been taught by many good men, both alive and dead, and have answers sufficient enough to strengthen my faith. But what I am pointing to is what this time has revealed more clearly in myself and maybe sharing these thoughts with you will be helpful.

First, as much as I do not think I lead a worldly life, the significant setbacks that we are experiencing has revealed that I am much more attached to this world than any Christian should be. Therefore, daily repentance is needed.

Secondly, I need to wake up every day and declare to myself, my life is not my own. I have been purchased with the precious blood of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I should have no plans other than my Master’s plans revealed for me and all Christians in His sacred book. Therefore, I live not to please myself but to please God. I serve at His good pleasure and the only reason myself or my wife are here today is because He is not done using us for His glory. And that may be for our sanctification, the sanctification of others, or both at the same time.

Third, I need to pray God will continue to diminish my love for this world and He will give me a greater yearning for heaven and help me remember that He is not in my world; I am in His world! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for some kind of fatalistic death wish, but I do want to have a perspective that the Puritans had- they said you should have one foot in this world and one foot in heaven. In other words, prepare for and welcome the river crossing of death that takes you from this world into His presence.