My Journey’s My Own

A Devotional

When you grow up in a traditional church setting it isn’t uncommon to hear the words “God’s Plan” used frequently. It is often used to explain something that is unexplainable. Often in the same way someone says “It is what it is”. In my experience, it’s used by older people when children ask questions. Especially when those folks don’t want to take the time to sit a child down and explain some of lives hard truths.

I’ve heard it used in sermons in the context of life in general.

• It’s a part of God’s plan that you had to go through that heart ache
• It’s a part of God’s plan that you made this choice instead of that choice
• It’s a part of God’s plan you are here today
• It’s a part of God’s plan that you had this person come into your life

Is it really? Is our whole life mapped out by our Creator?

Do we have free will?

Most of the passages that I have found throughout the Bible that speaks to free will say something to the effect that “even though we can make our own decisions they are still at the mercy of God’s will” But we can choose not to follow God can’t we? I know many good and loving people who don’t even believe He’s real. That is free will. Does that mean that God just forgets them and lets their lives play out without intervening at all?

When my brother in law was killed I had to explain to my daughter, who was 9, why her uncle had been taken from our family. He didn’t live a good life. Drugs, theft, spent time in prison, and not a non-believer but he definitely exercised his free will. He didn’t follow God or keep his commandments. These choices lead him to an early death.

So how did I explain this to a child?

I told her that God let’s us make our own choices and sometimes people don’t make good ones. I told her to envision a road and every time we make a decision our road turns. Now, God can see where those decisions will lead us, and because He loves us He will try to help us along the way, but we have to listen to Him. If we choose not to, then the best he can do is love us no matter where our decisions lead. Just like a parent. Tries to help, loves us anyway no matter how many mistakes we make.

The most important thing that we can realize through our lives is that no matter what we choose, God will love us all along the way. I do believe that He does have a plan for all of us, though there are some things that we choose for ourselves and all He does is let’s us fall, fail, and learn. I don’t think God and destiny are one in the same. I believe in a loving God that does not preordain pain. I believe pain is dictated by Satan, the angel cast down at the beginning of Earth’s creation. One does not exist without the other. He was given domain over the earth and his only goal is to pull us away from God, so why wouldn’t he reek havoc on us in our daily lives? So remember, God is still there, waiting for us to listen to that small voice telling us what to do that will lead us to Him.

Questions/Actions

Are you following the path that will lead you to or away from God?

If your destiny is preordained, where do you think it will lead you?

Verses

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8