Is God's Will Really Good For Me?

As hopeful as I am, I have realized there are areas in my life where disillusionment has kept me from rigorously reaching God’s fullness. You know what I’m talking about right? The times where you have believed for change, contented for transformation, expected healing, or had faith for movement, but nothing seemed to happen. It is as Solomon shared, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” (Proverbs 13:12). Many times I have chalked it up to, “It must not have really been God’s will for it to happen.” But is that really the truth?

 

My pastor & spiritual father, Benjamin Robinson, challenged me this week by sharing how Christians often refer to the will of God as a default. If something great happens then it was because you made it happen or had enough faith, but if you are expecting God to do something & it doesn’t happen then you just say it was not God’s will. God’s will is often spoke of in a way that is ‘less than.’

The will of God is often seen as something that needs to be endured, rather than something that is pleasurable, good, exciting, & profitable. When you view God’s will this way you are positioning yourself either for glorifying your efforts to make something good happen, settling for something that may be less than God & blaming it on God, or priming your heart disillusionment. You may be settling for something that has nothing to do with God!

When Jesus was in the garden preparing for the cross He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done,” (Luke 22:42). This was not Jesus saying that God’s will was unpleasant, powerless, or less than good; it wasn’t just something Jesus saw as He had to endure. He was praying for the greatest manifestation of God’s goodness & power to be revealed. Jesus could have called down legions of angels to His defense, but if that was not the Father’s will then He didn’t want it. Jesus was coming in line with the Father’s heart, recognizing that it took more power for Him to remain on the cross, to allow Himself to suffer, then it would to call down angels.

God’s will is a powerful thing & it is a good thing; not just good for Him, but good for you too! Matter of fact, Paul tells us that, “it is God who works in to will and act in you according to His good purpose,” (Philippians 2:13). God’s will is that His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10). In heaven there is no sickness, anxiety, fear, demon oppression, sorrow, poverty, or division. You can’t allow your experience or lack of experience to keep you from believing, contending, & reaching for the fullness of God’s will to manifest in your life; God’s will is good, pleasing, & perfect & He desires you to know it in every area of our life (Romans 12:2).

Let’s Do This Together

Where in your life have you been disillusioned because something you believed for didn’t happen? In what areas of your life do you see the will of God as less than: finances, family, work, healing, etc.? What does the kingdom of God look like in those areas?