Afraid you’ll miss God’s will?

There are 18-year-olds across Tennessee launching into life’s next phase and dreading the inevitable question.

“So, what’s your major?”

Some have a strong idea what they’ll study, but then there are the clueless many. They’ll name something, but their responses will sound more like a question than a fact of life’s future.

I responded with certainty when asked. “Accounting,” I said with pride. People respect accountants. People seemed to respect me for choosing accounting. Accountants make good money. Many go on to be CEOs. It seemed like a solid choice at the time.

However, you must pass the courses — which I didn’t — before the respectability, money, and being CEO come your way. And when I flunked out, I had no clue how I’d survive the next 50 years. I mean, what was I going to do? Had I missed God’s will for my life? It felt like it.

And that’s the paralyzing reality behind the question many Christians ask — especially young people taking their first independent steps toward their futures, having grown up in a “find your purpose” and “follow your dreams” culture.

There are a million decisions to make about which college, which major, which job, which spouse, and more. Unfortunately, there is often a specter lurking in the shadows for people who want to obediently follow God’s direction, but they can’t shake the question, “What if I miss God’s will?”

Too often Christians believe God has a singular, mysterious, “don’t miss it” Holy Grail of a will for them — one hidden path for every major decision — and that one wrong choice will permanently derail God’s purposes.

That fear can paralyze us. But Scripture does not teach that believers must discover such a blueprint before moving forward. God calls us to obey His revealed Word, seek wisdom, make responsible decisions, and trust His providence. He is faithful to lead and sustain His people as they walk with Him.

Kevin DeYoung, in his extremely helpful book, “Just Do Something: Or How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Impressions, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, Etc.,” describes that there are two wills in God: His sovereign will of decree and His revealed will.

God’s will of decree refers to what He has sovereignly ordained; everything that comes to pass occurs under His sovereign providence. His revealed will is what He has made known in Scripture — what He commands, approves, and requires from His creatures.

It includes loving and glorifying God, obeying His Word, pursuing holiness, serving others, making disciples, and seeking wisdom.

DeYoung explains that Christians spend inordinate amounts of time concerned about God’s will of direction (“What should I do next?”), while neglecting God’s revealed will concerning who we are becoming in Christ.

So, rather than being paralyzed by life and career choices, there is a real question that should be asked when making decisions about colleges, majors, jobs, spouses, and more: “Is this decision consistent with Scripture, guided by wisdom, and likely to bring honor to God?”

That does not mean God never appoints people to particular roles or providentially guides them through particular circumstances, and even paths that take us through hard places. But we should not assume that every strong impression, open door, or closed door is a direct message from God.

Proverbs 16:9 has become a pillar to which I cling. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” We plan and act responsibly, but our plans unfold under God’s providential rule.

We are certainly to pursue God’s wisdom in these decisions. However, we can also take comfort in God’s faithful purposes for His people, even in confusing and painful seasons (Jeremiah 29:11–14). Our lives are fully known to God before they unfold to us (Psalm 139:16), and He will finish the saving and sanctifying work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).

Choosing a major and making other significant life decisions are still daunting, but we don’t have to fear missing God’s will. We don’t go out into the world and take our chances. We go out into the world with confidence that the God who loves us and redeemed us is ordering our steps for our ultimate good — conformity to Christ — and for His glory. B&R