As we consider the will of God, it is helpful for us to differentiate between God’s revealed will and his hidden will. God’s revealed will is everything that God makes known to us in the Bible. In his word, he has clearly revealed his plan for salvation in Christ Jesus. He gives us the law to show us our sin and our need for a savior. He gives us the gospel, which declares that in Christ our sins have been forgiven. The law reveals his will for how we are to live as children of God, and the gospel provides the motivation to follow that will. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we grow in our faith, saying no to sin and gladly living according to God’s revealed will.
God’s hidden will includes those purposes and plans that he has chosen not to reveal to us in Scripture. As we consider this question, the first thing to remember is that God has not called Christians to keep guessing what his hidden will might be. Instead, he calls us to live according to his revealed will—all that he has made known in Scripture. Therefore, when we make decisions, the question is not, “Can I discover God’s secret plan for me?” but “How can I make this decision in faith, guided by what God has revealed?”
If a decision involves sinning—doing something God forbids or failing to do what he commands—we can clearly know that such a choice is contrary to God’s will, because God’s Word reveals this to us. If Scripture neither commands nor forbids a particular choice, we are free to choose between the two options. This does not mean that every available option is equally wise or loving. Rather, we evaluate the options in light of God’s Word, our God-given responsibilities, and the good of our neighbor.
We make many decisions every day. What should I eat for lunch? What should I focus on at work? How should I spend my free time? How should I prioritize my responsibilities? We often have to make bigger decisions as well. Should I keep working in my current job or find another job? Should I live in this city or move to another place? Should I marry this person or wait for someone else? And so on. As we wrestle with these questions, we find that God has not given us one required path that we must take.
In these cases, God gives us the freedom to act with the wisdom he has given us. We pray for wisdom, faith, and God’s guidance and blessing. We won’t, however, expect him to disclose his hidden will through feelings, signs, or private revelation. We seek the advice of mature Christians and others whose knowledge can help us judge the situation well. We consider the options before us in light of our circumstances, vocations, responsibilities, abilities, and the needs of others around us. Finally, in faith, we decide. Since God has not revealed one correct choice in these areas, we may act without fear. As we make choices, we are living our lives as Christians, trusting in God’s care.
It is important that where God has not revealed his will, we also do not judge our decisions simply based on their outcome. If something difficult happens to me after I made a choice, that doesn’t automatically mean that I stepped outside of God’s will. Suffering, hardship, and disappointment are all part of living in this sinful world. Even when we cannot see it, God works through such hardship for the good of his people and for the benefit of his church. In the same way, success or other blessings that come after we decide to do one thing or another do not indicate that this choice was God’s will and the only right option.
In short, where God has spoken clearly, we act accordingly. Where God has not spoken, we act in freedom and trust. Christians do not need to be paralyzed by fear that their decisions about things God has not revealed will place them outside of God’s care. We will also be careful not to describe every decision we make as if what we decided were God’s revealed will. Rather, where God has not revealed his will, we are free to make choices that are guided by his word, relying on his blessing, and trusting that he remains our gracious father.
So how do we know whether our choices are following the will of God? We begin with Scripture. Where God has revealed his will, we seek to do what he commands and avoid what he forbids, confessing our failures and resting in Christ’s forgiveness. Where he has left us free, we will consider how our choices will serve God and our neighbor in love. Then we decide in faith rather than waiting for certainty about God’s hidden plan. We may entrust both our decision and its outcome to our gracious Father, confident that in Christ we remain under his forgiveness and care.