Why Does God Allow Things to Happen We Cannot Understand?

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

This is one of the most difficult questions in human understanding.

God is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

Why should human beings (not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent) expect to be able to fully understand God’s ways?

The book of Job deals with this issue. God had allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him.

What was Job’s reaction?

Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him. Ultimately, that should be our reaction as well.

Why do bad things happen to good people? The biblical answer is there are no “good” people.

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that all of us are tainted by and infected with sin. 

Romans 3:10-18 could not be clearer about the non-existence of “good” people:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Every human being on this planet deserves to be thrown into hell at this very moment.

Every second we spend alive is only by the grace and mercy of God.

Even the most terrible misery we could experience on this planet is merciful compared to what we deserve, eternal hell in the lake of fire.

Yes, sometimes bad things happen to people who seem undeserving of them.

But God allows things to happen for His reasons, whether or not we understand them.

Above all, however, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful.

Often things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. ”

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?

 This question is similar to its opposite: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?"

Both questions refer to what seems to be the perplexing injustice we witness every day.

The 73rd Psalm is our answer to the very same questions that also tormented the psalmist.

Finding himself in terrible distress and agony of soul he writes,

“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalms 73:2-3).

The writer of this Psalm was a man named Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs.

Obviously, he not a wealthy man, but rather one who had dedicated his life to serving God (see 1 Chronicles 25).

But, like us, he had experienced some difficulties and questioned the injustice of it all.

He watched the evil people around him living by their own rules, enjoying all the wealth and pleasures of the world and piling riches upon riches.He complains...

"They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills" (Psalms 73:4-5).

Asaph was looking at these people who didn't have problems.

They could pay their bills. They had plenty to eat and plenty of luxuries.

But poor Asaph was stuck with directing the choir and trying to live godly.

And to add insult to injury, it didn't seem to be getting him anywhere.

He began not only to envy these people, but even to question God as to why He would allow such a thing to happen!

How often do we find ourselves relating to Asaph?

We dedicate our lives to serving God.

Then we witness the wicked, the ungodly people around us get new cars, luxurious homes, promotions, beautiful clothes, and take fabulous trips, while we struggle to pay the electric bill.

The answer lies in the rest of the psalm. Asaph envied these evil people until he realized one very important thing.

When he entered the sanctuary of God, he fully understood their final destiny:

“When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies” (Psalms 73:16-20).

Those who have temporary riches on earth are in reality spiritual beggars because they do not have true riches

—eternal life.

There are many times when we do not understand what is happening to us, nor do we understand how providence works.

Asaph began to see that there was no need for him to be envious of the prosperity of the wicked because their prosperity is in reality an illusion.

He began to comprehend that the ancient deceiver, Satan, had played tricks with his vision and used lies to distract him from the reality of God.

He realized that prosperity is a fleeting fulfillment, a fashion show of what is to pass away, like a pleasant dream that pleases us only for a little while but when we awaken, we realize it was not real. Asaph rebukes himself for his own stupidity.

He admits to being “senseless and ignorant” to envy the wicked or to be jealous of the perishing.

His thoughts then returned to his own happiness in God when he realized how much more joy, fulfillment and true spiritual prosperity he had in the Creator.

We may not have everything we want here on earth, but we will one day prosper for all eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Whenever we are tempted to try the other road, we should remember that the other road is a dead end.

But in all truth, the narrow road before us through Jesus is awesome and is the only road that leads to eternal life.

That should be our joy and our comfort.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge . . .” (Psalm 73:25, 27-28)

We need not concern ourselves when good things seem to happen to bad people. We only need to keep our focus on our Creator and enter into His presence every day through the portal of His holy Word. There we will find truth, contentment, spiritual riches and eternal joy.

God Bless Us All...

Experience Joy in Our Christian Life

Periods of sadness and depression can enter the life of even the most devout Christian.

We see many examples of this in the Bible.

Job wished he had never been born.

David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality.

Elijah, called down from heaven, fled into the desert and asked God to take his life.

So how can we overcome these periods of joylessness?

We can see how these same people overcame their bouts of depression.

Job said that, if we pray and remember our blessings, God will restore us to joy and righteousness.

David wrote that the study of God's Word can bring us joy.

David also realized that he needed to praise God even in the midst of despair.

In Elijah's case, God let him rest for a time and then sent a man, Elisha, to help him.

We also need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, ibut how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

It may be helpful to share our feelings with a fellow Christian.

We may be surprised to find that he or she has struggled with some of the same things that we are going through.

Most importantly, it is certain that dwelling on ourselves, our problems, our hurts, and especially our pasts will never produce true spiritual joy.

Joy is not found in materialism, it is not found in psychotherapy, and it most certainly is not found in obsession with ourselves.

IT IS FOUND IN CHRIST!

In His wisdom and strength, in His riches and goodness, and in His person only.

If we remain in Him, immerse ourselves in His Word, and seek to know Him more intimately, our “joy will be full”.

But, how can we find joy in the midst of trials?

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

Many Christians think once they’ve made that decision for Christ that everything will fall into place and life will be that proverbial bowl of cherries.

And when trials and tough times come upon them or continue, they begin to question, “why?”...

Wondering how they could possibly endure horrible circumstances and consider it joy.

Consider it pure joy…’ ‘In this you greatly rejoice…’ Why? Because trials make us stronger. 

But how? How can we find joy in the midst of all the junk, hardships, and painful circumstances?

First, we need to understand that joy is not the same as happiness.

Happiness comes and goes sometimes as often as waves hitting the shore.

Happiness isn’t something you can cling to when you’ve lost a loved one, or are facing bankruptcy.

Joy, on the other hand can stay with you for the long haul.

The reason? REAL JOY IS FROM GOD.

For the believer, it is like a bottomless well of water—always an abundant supply.

Even in the darkest days, when sadness, grief, and loss may threaten to overwhelm you, God’s joy is there.

Second, we need to understand that God’s joy cannot be taken away.

Oh, you might think that it’s gone. That the hands of misfortune have snatched it from you...but it’s not.

As believers, we are promised the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.

We are promised His joy.

Just as our salvation is assured through Jesus’ one-time sacrifice for all. 

Third, we need to stop wallowing, whining and complaining and grab onto God’s joy.

Just like salvation is a free and perfect gift from Him, we must reach out and accept that gift.

Grab onto it. Like a lifeline. Choose joy. Over bitterness, anger, and sorrow.

Make a decision to choose joy every day. No matter what.

(2 Corinthians 8:2-3) “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability”..

 “Be joyful always”... (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

(Hebrews 12:2)...“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

(2 Corinthians 12:10) "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

This topic is very near and dear to my heart because it is a lesson I am learning each day of my life.

I have been into many trials, humiliations and emotional fights, in which I am facing everyday.

Within myself, my friends, my family and  my love ones.

But you know what I have discovered?

GOD'S JOY IS REALLY THERE...

You can consider each trial joy, you can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory even when you feel like you are face-first in the mud puddle.

You can endure whatever circumstances are making you quake in your boots right now.

If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ...you have all you need.

Indeed, the harder we try to be joyful through our own efforts, the more miserable we can become.

Rest in the Lord's arms and seek His face through prayer and Scripture.

Finally, remember that it is only through God's Holy Spirit that we can find true joy.

We can do nothing apart from the power of God.

(Romans 15:13) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”...AMEN...

                                     REAL JOY IS FROM GOD...

Becoming More Like Christ

Becoming more like Christ is the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us. In fact, the Bible says that God “predestined believers to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” (Romans 8:29). Making us Christ-like is God’s work, and He will see it through to the end (Philippians 1:6).

However, the fact that God will transform us into Christ-likeness doesn’t mean we can sit back and be carried to heaven that easy. The process demands our willing cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Becoming more Christ-like requires both divine power and the fulfillment of human responsibility.

There are three things which contribute to our being more Christ-like: our surrender to God, our freedom from sin, and our spiritual growth.

1) Becoming more Christ-like is the result of SURRENDER TO GOD. Romans 12:1-2 says that worship involves a total self-dedication to God. We volunteer our bodies as “living sacrifices,” and our minds are renewed and transformed.

When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Levi left his money tables immediately (Mark 2:14); so do we freely surrender all we have for the sake of following the Lord. As John the Baptist said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30), so we focus more and more on Jesus and His glory, losing ourselves in His will.

2) Becoming more Christ-like is the result of FREEDOM FROM SIN. Since Jesus lived a sinless life, the more we consider ourselves “dead to sin” (Romans 6:11) and live a life of purity, the more like Jesus we will be. As we offer ourselves to God, sin is no longer our master, and we are more clearly identified with Christ (Romans 6:1-14).

Jesus invites us to follow Him, and we have His example of obedience, sacrificial love, and patient suffering. We also have the example of the apostles, who modeled Christ.

When it comes to restraining sin in our lives, we have divine help: praise the Lord for the Word of God (Psalm 119:11), the intercession of Christ (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), and the power of the Spirit who indwells us (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16)!

3) Becoming more Christ-like is the result of SPIRITUAL GROWTH. When we are first saved, we are immature in wisdom and knowledge, and inexperienced in grace and love. But then we grow. In each of these things, our charge is to become stronger—and more Christ-like.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

Right now, God works in us. It is important to realize that becoming more like Christ starts by receiving Him as Savior from our sins. Then we grow in our knowledge of God by reading the Bible daily, studying it, and being obedient to what it says. This process causes us to grow and occurs over an entire lifetime in Christ. Only when we have entered Heaven for eternity with God does this process reach its culmination.

Our view of the world has changed.

We are no longer citizens of the world, but apart from it (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1).

We understand that we are a part of a heavenly, God-ruled kingdom. Things of the earth no longer draw us.

We don’t fear or over-emphasize suffering on earth or the trials we face, nor do we place importance on things the world values.

Even our bodies and our actions reflect that our minds are no longer conformed to the world, but are now instruments of righteousness to God.

And our new kingdom perspective means we understand that our enemy is not the people around us, but the spiritual forces that endeavor to keep the people from knowing God.

Ephesians 6:12 ... " For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

One of the greatest blessings about our identity in Christ is the grace we’re given in order to grow into the spiritual maturity that truly reflects our new identity (Philippians 1:6).

Our lives in light of our identity in Christ are filled with a heavenly Father, a large, loving family, and the understanding that we are citizens of another kingdom and not of this earth.

God Is In Control

Before we can learn to trust that God is in control of all of life’s circumstances, we have to answer four questions:

*Is God really in control?

*How much control does He have?

*If He is not in complete control, then who/what is?

*How can I learn to trust that He is in control and rest in that?

Is God really in control?

The concept of the control of God over everything is called the “sovereignty” of God.

Nothing gives us strength and confidence like an understanding of the sovereignty of God in our lives.

God’s sovereignty is defined as His complete and total independent control over every creature, event, and circumstance at every moment in history.

Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent, God does what He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases.

God is in complete control of every molecule in the universe at every moment, and everything that happens is either caused or allowed by Him for His own perfect purposes. 

“The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand’” (Isaiah 14:24).

Nothing is random or comes by chance, especially not in the lives of believers. He “purposed” it.

That means to deliberately resolve to do something.

God has resolved to do what He will do and nothing and no one stands in His way.

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” Isaiah 46:10).

This is our powerful, purposeful God who is in control of everything. That should bring us great comfort and help to alleviate our fears.

But just exactly how much control does God have?

God’s total sovereignty over all creation directly contradicts the philosophy of open theism, which states that God doesn’t know what’s going to happen in the future any more than we do, so He has to constantly be changing His plans and reacting to what the sinful creatures do as they exercise their free will.

God isn’t finding out what’s going to happen as events unfold.

He is continuously, actively running things—ALL things—here and now.

But to think He needs our cooperation, our help, or the exercise of our free will to bring His plans to pass puts us in control over Him, which makes us God.

Where have we heard that lie before? It’s a rehash of Satan’s same old lie from the Garden—you shall be like God (Genesis 3:5).

Our wills are only free to the extent that God allows us that freedom and no farther.

“All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:35).

No one’s free will trumps the sovereignty of God.

Some people find it appealing to think that Satan has control over a certain amount of life, that God is constantly revising His plans to accommodate Satan’s tricks.

The book of Job is a clear illustration of just who has the sovereign power and who doesn’t.

Satan came to God and in effect said “Job only serves you because you protect him.”

So God gave Satan permission to do certain things to Job but no more (Job 1:6-22).

Could Satan do more than that? No.

God is in control over Satan and his demons who try to thwart God’s plans at every step.

Ephesians 1 says we were chosen in Him before the world was even created.

We were in the mind of God to be saved by faith in Christ.

That means God knit together Satan’s rebellion, Adam and Eve’s sin, the fall of the human race, and the death and crucifixion of Christ—all seemingly terrible events—to save us before He created us.

Here is a perfect example of God working all things together for good.

(Romans 8:28) "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Unlimited in power, unrivalled in majesty, and not thwarted by anything outside Himself, our God is in complete control of all circumstances, causing or allowing them for His own good purposes and plans to be fulfilled exactly as He has foreordained.

Finally, the only way to trust in God’s sovereign control and rest in it is to know God.

Know His attributes, know what He has done in the past, and this builds confidence in Him. 

Daniel 11:32b says “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

Imagine that kind of power in the hands of an evil, unjust God.Or a god that really doesn’t care about us.

But we can rejoice in our God’s sovereignty, because it is overshadowed by His goodness, His love, His mercy, His compassion, His faithfulness, and His holiness.

There is only one way to know God—through His Word.

There is no magic formula to make us spiritual giants overnight, no mystical prayer to pray three times a day to mature us, build our faith and make us towers of strength and confidence.

There is only the Bible, the single source of power that will change our lives from the inside out.

But it takes effort, diligent, everyday effort to know the God who controls everything.

If we drink deeply of His Word and let it fill our minds and hearts, the sovereignty of God will become clear to us, and we will rejoice in it because we will know intimately and trust completely the God who controls all things for His perfect purpose

A Closer Relationship With God...How?

•  Developing a closer relationship with God is an admirable goal and reflects a heart that is truly reborn, for only those who are in Christ desire a closer relationship with God.
• We must also understand that in this life we will never be as close to God as we ought to be or desire to be.
• The reason for this is lingering sin in our lives.
• This is not a deficiency on God’s part, but on ours; our sin remains a barrier to the full and complete fellowship with God which will be realized once we’re in glory. 
• No matter where we are in our walk with Christ, we can always have a closer walk, and even glorified in heaven, we will have all eternity to grow in our relationship with the Lord.
•  
• There are five basic things we can do to have a closer relationship with God. These activities may sound clichéd to our modern sensibilities.However, as clichéd as they may be, they are definitely biblical and, in reality, they are the only means of achieving a closeness to God.
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• The first thing we can do to have a closer relationship with God is make a daily habit of confessing our sin to Him.
• If sin is what drives a wedge in our relationship with God, then confession removes that wedge.
• When we confess our sins before God, He promises to forgive us and forgiveness is what restores a relationship that has been strained.
• We must keep in mind that confession is more than simply saying, “I’m sorry for my sin, God.”
• It is the heartfelt contrition of those who recognize that their sin is an offense to a holy God. It is the confession of one who realizes that his sin is what nailed Jesus Christ to the cross. 
•  
• The second thing we can do to have a closer relationship with God is to listen when God speaks.
• Many today are chasing a supernatural experience of hearing God’s voice.
• But the “more sure prophetic word” is the Bible.

• In the Bible, we ‘hear’ God’s voice to us.
• It is through the “God-breathed” Scriptures that we become “thoroughly equipped for every good work”.
• So if we want to grow closer to God, we should read His Word regularly.
• Again, daily Bible reading is not something to check off on a checklist, in reading His Word, we are ‘listening’ to God speak through it by his Spirit who illuminates the Word to us.
•  
• The third thing we can do to have a closer relationship with God is to speak to Him through prayer.
• If reading the Bible is listening to God speak to us, speaking to God is accomplished through prayer.
• Prayer is much more than simply a way to ask God for things we need or want.
• Consider the model prayer that Jesus gives His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13.
• The first three petitions in that prayer are directed toward God (may His name be hallowed, may His kingdom come, may His will be done).
• The last three petitions are requests we make of God after we’ve taken care of the first three (give us our daily bread, forgive us our debts, lead us not into temptation).
• Another helpful model to guide our prayer lives is the acronym ACTS, which stand s for Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
• This somewhat follows the Lord’s Prayer in the order of its petitions.
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• The fourth thing we can do to have a closer relationship with God is to find a body of believers with whom we can have regularly worship.
• This is such a vital component of spiritual growth. Too often we approach church with a “how can I get out of it?” mentality.

• We seldom take the time to prepare our hearts and minds for worship.
• God invites us, commands us, to come into His presence for worship.
• How can we, His people, fail to respond?
• Not only does regular church attendance give us an opportunity to come before the Lord’s presence in worship, but it also gives us an opportunity to fellowship with the Lord’s people.
• As we come into the house of the Lord in worship and fellowship with His people, we can’t help but grow closer to the Lord as a result.

How Can I Turn All My Worries and Problems To God?

It is sometimes a disconcerting truth for many Christians that even though we belong to God through faith in Christ, we still seem to experience the same problems that plagued us before we were saved.

We often become discouraged and bogged down in life’s cares.

The fact that even in Bible address this problem the same way indicates that God knows problems and worries are inevitable in this life.

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Psalm 55:22), and

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

Contained within these two verses are several amazing truths:

God will sustain us, He will never let us fall, and He cares for us.

Taken one at a time, we see first that God declares both His ability and His willingness to be our strength and support—mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

He is able (and best of all, willing!) to take everything that threatens to overwhelm us and use it for our benefit.

He has promised to “work all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".

 Even at times when we doubt Him, He is still working for our good and His glory. And He has also promised that He will allow no trial to be so great we cannot bear it and that He will provide a means of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). By this, He means that He will not let us fall, as He promised in Psalm 55:22.

“HE CARES FOR YOU”—gives us the motivation behind His other promises.

Our God is not cold, unfeeling or capricious.

Rather, He is our loving heavenly Father whose heart is tender toward His children.

Jesus reminds us that just as an earthly father would not deny his children bread, so God has promised to give us “good gifts” when we ask Him (Matthew 7:11). 

In the spirit of asking for good gifts, first we must pray and tell the Lord that we hear what He's saying.

John 16:33, where Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Then we should ask the Lord to show us how He has "overcome" our problems, our worries, our anger, our fears and our guilt.

We can be a good "cheer"...How?

1. rejoice in our problems because God will use them to our benefit. 

2. see our "worries" as an opportunity to practice.

3. counteract our anger by obeying .

4. deal with any sinful feelings by believing and acting upon the truth .

God is bigger than all our worries and problems put together, and we must realize that if we are to have any victory in our lives.

Everyone suffers with these difficulties, because the Bible teaches that temptation is "common" to mankind.

(1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.).

We must not let Satan deceive us into thinking that all our problems are our fault, all our worries will come true, all our anger condemns us, or that all our guilt is from God.

If we do sin and confess, God forgives and cleanses.

We need not feel ashamed, but rather take God at His Word that He does forgive and cleanse.

None of our sins are so heavy that God cannot lift them from us and throw them into the deepest sea (see Psalm 103:11-12).

In reality, feelings come from thoughts, so, even though we can't change how we feel, we can change how we think. And this is what God wants us to do.

Philippians 2:5 

 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus

Philippians 4:8 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

So, each day, taking one step at a time, we should pray for God's Word to guide us, read or listen to God's Word, and meditate on God's Word when the problems, worries, and anxieties of life come along.

The secret to giving things over to Christ is really no secret at all—it's simply asking Jesus to take our burden of "original sin" and be our Savior (John 3:16), as well as submitting to Jesus as our Lord in day-to-day living.

How Can I Know God's Will For My Life

There are two keys to knowing God's will for a given situation:

1) Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing is not something the Bible forbids.

2) Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing will glorify God and help you grow spiritually.

If these two things are true and God still is not giving you what you are asking, then it is likely not God’s will for you to have what you are asking for. Or, perhaps you just need to wait a while longer for it.

Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult.

People want God to tell them specifically what to do—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, etc.

God rarely gives people information that direct and specific.

God allows us to make choices regarding those things. 

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will.

God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will.

So, how do you know what God’s will is for you?

If you are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life, God will place His desires on your heart. The key is wanting God’s will, not your own.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

If the Bible does not speak against it and it can genuinely benefit you spiritually, then the Bible gives you the “permission” to make decisions and to follow your heart.

If you truly seek God’s will with a humble spirit and an open mind, He will reveal His will to you...