Well, God delivered...like always.
I have spent the last week working myself into a spiritual frenzy in an attempt to understand the mind of God. Here's the problem: Outside of God's moral will, you can't know the mind of God. Now, I'll concede that there is the little issue of special revelation, i.e. direct, personal instruction from God. (Voice of God: Taylor, avoid that Chinese buffet, you'll regret it!). I can't speak for you, but I can confidently tell you that I have not been visited recently by the direct presence of God or any of his angelic army. So, for me at least, special revelation is not a part of my "discernment of God's will" equation...at least not yet. I eagerly await my "Moses on the mountain" moment, but God doesn't desire that I base my life around waiting for that moment.
The problem I have been struggling with is a problem I've struggled with in the past, so much so that I read a large book about it: "Decision Making and the Will of God" by Gary Friesen. I was falling into my old trap of assuming God must have an individual, precise, will for my life that I must discover before making a particular decision: He doesn't. Let me explain.
God relates to us on different levels. The highest level is called God's "sovereign will". This is God's broad plan that guides the universe and everything in it in the direction he desires it to go. Our God is involved with the inter-workings of our world everyday. But this "will", or knowledge, is for God alone. This exists outside our decision making paradigm. If something happens, it is by definition within the sovereign will of God, otherwise it would not happen. Through our faithful prayer, God may choose to "open doors" for his faithful servants in regards to specific requests they have; thereby working with his creation to offer them options to follow that all reside within his sovereign will. But there is no mysterious guessing involved. You can't know God's sovereign will until after it happens. Like God himself, his sovereign will simply is.
Further down the relationship chain, we come to the place where humans more actively engage God in order to learn his will. There are two approaches to this level in our relationship with God. The first is the "wisdom approach". The wisdom approach stands in stark contrast to our other approach, called the "traditional approach" to decision making.
The traditional approach would have you believe that God's will must be sought after and "divined" for all decisions (at least the major ones) in such a way that you are able to receive a response from God "telling you" which way to go. You them must choose this way, or you are choosing wrong. The wisdom approach says there are 2 main avenues for discerning God's will in as much as he is willing to provide it to you. They are: Scripture, and other wise Christians. As you grow in your understanding of Scripture, and as you study with those Christians who have gone before you, you will gain the wisdom to interpret God's will. I believe this wisdom approach to be a healthier and more scripturally accurate framework for relating to God.
At the end of the day, there are often many "non-moral" decisions we are faced with in life. (Who to marry, where to go to school, where to live, etc.) In these times, we are called to use the wisdom of God, gained via Scriptures and other Christians, to make as wise of decisions as we can. Beyond this, we are to trust that the Sovereign will of God, which guides all of creation, is working "all things together for good [for] those who love God."
With this in mind, when it comes to my decision, it becomes incumbent on me to pursue God instead of calling on God to give me a vague "sign" which leaves itself open to 10 levels of different interpretations from 10 different people. I must immerse myself in Scripture and surround myself with those Christians who are wiser than myself (many people are). I must make sure I am neither breaking the moral will of God, nor making a generally "unwise" decision. God then calls on me to make a decision, and live confidently with that decision, humbly trusting His sovereign will to take care of the rest.
It may sound like semantics, but the practical difference when you don't know what decision to make - between asking for a "sign" or going to the wisdom of scripture for an answer is truly the difference for many Christians between paralysis in decision making or moving forward confidently.
Now, my study didn't give an answer to my decision...that wasn't the problem. Rather, my study gives me a framework in which to confidently apply the wisdom of God to the tough decisions I face in my life. Keep in mind that my explanation of Gary Frieson's book was woefully simplified. I spent 2 paragraphs explaining a portion of what he spends over 400 pages on. However, the book reads easily and quickly. If, as I expect, my thoughts provoked more questions than answers, pick up his book. It may not be earth shattering, but it is absolutely spiritually empowering.
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