"What God wants"

I have been processing through this thought the last couple days... "Does God prefer or want"? Now you might think it is strage that I end the sentence there. But I pose the question. I am sure you have encountered a Christian who is in the midst of making a decision and has said something along the lines of "Well, I need to know if that is where God wants me", or "I feel like like this is God's will for me". I have made statements like that before.

So I have two questions about those type of statements.

1. Do we have any biblical grounds to make statements like that?

2. Do we understand the theology in them?


This is one of those times when I believe theology is of the utmost importance, because it collides with how we live. (Theology should do that).

Now when someone says "God want's me here", I first wonder how they came to that conclusion. Was it based on a feeling they had? Did they have a sense of peace, (which is a feeling), after making a decision? Did they assume that because they had peace, it was God giving the go ahead? Is that biblical or just what we have been taught to do in America? And what about the counter end of that statement. If God wants you in this specific place, does He not want you somewhere else? Is there a place you can go that is displeasing to God? Now I am not talking about sin. I know God does not want his children (in almost all cases except for Hosea) living in sin. (Romans 8:12-17)

So, if there is a decision that has to be made, for example, should a young college grad apply to Seminary/ Grad School, go overseas with his degree, get a job in the states, or attempt to start his own business? All these are equally good things to do. There is nothing wrong in and of themselves. Now lets say the college student fervently prays all of his Senior year about the decision he will have to make. He graduates and still does not have a direction from God. But he knows what he wants. He thinks Seminary would be beneficial since he has a desire to be a pastor one day, yet he the job in the states is good as well because it is something he likes and he can start building up a resume, but going overseas would give him a vast new array of experiences and he would be serving the Lord under a mission agency, or he could just go for it and try to start his own business because he has wanted to do that since he was a kid.

What should he do?

Does God only want him to do one thing and travel one specific path?

Does God speak through our feelings?

Is God opposed to three of the paths?

How much longer should he wait on God?

Is there a wrong decision to make?

Is there a right decision to make?



The way Americans tend to approach these situations would tend to give me some answers to the questions I have. When we say things like "I am waiting on God to see if He wants me there or not", it leave me with the impression that God could want me doing something or living somewhere where I am currently not. It also leaves a connotation that we do not make a decision in the matter, for all we do is follow God's leading. It also makes me wonder how long this person will wait and what is the clear indication of God's revelation they are expecting regarding their situation? What are they expecting God do to by praying "God I want to be where you want me, not myself?"


I guess the question this all boils down to, is, what is the will of God? Does his will extend into the mundane of our lives as well as the crossroads?


I am not saying any of this is wrong. I just want to know if it is biblical. Biblically, God usually lays out the plan and tells people where he wants them to go and what he wants them to do. (Noah, Moses, Joshua, Jonah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Paul, Peter). Those were the days when God would speak directly to people and he clearly gave direction.

Today, that usually does not happen. He hasn't revealed himself in audible voices or pillars of smoke. But He has given us His word.



So biblically, how do we approach these types of crossroads in our lives? What should we be expecting from the Lord? How should we act? How do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling as God works in us?


no answers today, just many questions.


comments are highly encouraged!



JN