Devotional: What is God’s will for Me?

On multiple occasions throughout my ministry, I have been asked by various members to help them understand the answer to this question: “What is God’s will for me?” I certainly appreciate the question and the desire to live life with a purpose. However, I fear that with this search for an overall, dramatic purpose we often do not see the many things that are ever-present around us where we can and should make a difference.

The Bible has a lot of say about God’s will. It speaks of God’s will to save his people and his will to send his Son into the world to die a cruel death before sinful men in the greatest of humiliation. In addition, we see various characters in the historic narrative where it is apparent that there was an overriding purpose that God had determined for them that affected almost every aspect of their lives. It is difficult to read the Old Testament without seeing that it was God’s will that Abraham go on a great journey of faith that would lead to the miraculous birth of a son in his old age which would make Abraham the father of many nations. Further, we see that God used Joseph, in spite of the trials and tribulations that he endured, to deliver his father, Jacob, and his brethren from the famine in Canaan. No doubt, God had a purpose for Moses when he was hidden in the reeds. God purposed that Moses would lead the children of Israel out of Egypt an on a journey to the promised land. We could certainly go on to detail others whose lives appeared to be guided by some great purpose determined by God and placed upon their heart.

Seeing this in the word, it is somewhat understandable that we might think that God would have similar purpose for us as individuals. However, I would submit that the examples cited are the exception rather than the rule. If we were to collect the names of all such characters detailed in the Scriptures and count them, I believe we would find that the number of those described with such grand purposes is small in comparison the vast sea of humanity that has lived and breathed on this earth.

One could argue that there is a bit of pride involved in believing that God has some dramatic purpose for my life. To believe that I am useful enough that God will use me in some great way is a prideful state that we probably all fall into from time to time. However, with that said, God does have a purpose for every child of God that he has called out darkness into his marvelous light. It is just that this purpose may not be quite as dramatic or fantastic as we might think or hope. The first thing we must realize is that God has never commanded us to be successful, he has called us to be faithful. 1st Cor 7:20 states:

“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”

And further, we find in 1 Cor 7:24:

“Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”

I realize that the context of these verses has to do with those that are called out darkness while being sold has servants in other households, but the overall principle will apply. God first asks us to be faithful where we are called. In other words, rather than seeking some greater purpose in life, we should look around us where we are right now and find God’s will ever before us. Let me share some examples. If you are seeking God’s will for your life, then let me ask: Are you a parent? Then God wants you to be the best and most Godly parent you can be! Are you a husband or a wife? Then God wants you to be the most loving and Godly husband or wife you can be! Are you an employee? It is God’s will that you do that job as though you are doing it for God himself, because you are!

It is not the ability to approach great tasks with great bursts of exuberance and energy that is the measure of spiritual faith, but rather the ability to consistently and tirelessly deal with the mundane and do so with excellence that shows our faithfulness to God.

So the next time you are wondering what God’s will or purpose is for you, look around your life where you are now and find the mundane and be faithful in the little things. If you cannot see them, then pray that God will open your eyes to his will so that you can abide with God where you are called. There is, incidentally, no greater purpose for the child of God than to abide with God!