Week 9 of 2025
God works in our lives to carry out His will and to reach others for His kingdom, despite our tendencies to be self-willed. He is extremely concerned with each of our lives today and into eternity. As we live in this world, it is hard to see beyond our circumstances and our needs. Instead of waiting for God’s timing and guidance, we continually try to take matters into our own hands and attempt to make things happen the way we believe best. God deals with our free will in one of two ways: if God’s will conflicts with ours, He will work in our circumstances to change our direction and the course we are on, in order to accomplish His will; or, if our actions and decisions will not alter the end result of His will, He allows us to continue in the direction that we choose. He allows this for one of two reasons: either because the decision is in line with His will or because when we realize the decision was a mistake, then we will have the opportunity to mature spiritually, reconcile any damage we may have caused, and grow in our relationship with Him. Regarding the latter, God will use those times of hardship to strengthen our faith in Him and show what He can do for us—if we allow it. An example of how God works this way is the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar (Genesis 16). There were two nations created through Abram (later named Abraham): the nation of the law, through Hagar, and the nation of faith and the promise, through Sarai (Galatians 4:21–31 GNT). Abram became impatient with no promised heir from God born yet and tried to do things his way, but God redirected him, assuring him that the son of Sarai was the chosen one, thereby strengthening his faith in the Living God. Another example is the story of Jonah. He believed that for justice to prevail, the Ninevites should be condemned for the evil they did to the Hebrews. Nevertheless, God had other plans for them, and He wanted to show them grace and establish a relationship with them, which would increase the number in His kingdom, so God redirected Jonah’s travels.
How do we know when our will is contrary to the Living God’s will?
