My wife Michelle and I started dating in college, and as we were becoming more serious, my thoughts turned to marriage. But one nagging concern I had was how could I be sure that she was “the one”? Might it be possible that God wanted me to marry someone else?
I talked about it with my dad, and he suggested I read a specific book on God’s will.
Since that time I’ve collected numerous books on the topics of God’s will.
- The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
- The Call: Finding And Fulfilling the Central Purpose for Your Life by Os Guinness
- Discovering God’s Will: How to Make Every Decision with Peace and Confidence by Jerry Sitser
- Step by Step: Divine Guidance for Ordinary Christians by James C. Petty
- God’s Will, God’s Best for Your Life by Josh McDowell and Kevin Johnson
- Discovering God’s Will in Your Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie
- Living the Life God has Planned: A Guide to Knowing God’s Will by Bill Thrasher
- Courage & Calling: Embracing Your God-given Potential by Gordon T. Smith
- Decision-making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen
- How Then Should We Choose: Three Views on God’s Will and Decision Making edited by Douglas S. Huffman
That’s a long list, isn’t it? There are likely many other books on God’s will that I don’t have. Why are there so many books on decision-making and God’s will? Because it is a topic on many people’s minds! Throughout our lives we are making choices, big and small, every day. We can sometimes struggle to know how to choose. We can wish that God would just break through the clouds and tell us what to do.
All these books in the list above aim to help us know what to do when God doesn’t break through the clouds. I have read most of the books in my collection, and they have pros and cons, in my opinion. Some are more theological or philosophical. Some dig deep into the biblical text. Some emphasize practical steps. Some are confusing and unhelpful. In my view, one book in this list is head and shoulders above the rest, and it is the book my dad suggested I read when I was wondering if Michelle was “the one.” That book is Decision-making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen. (Friesen also writes one of the chapters in the Three Views book.)
I am so glad I read that book, as Friesen presents what is in my opinion a thoroughly biblical case for a “Wisdom View” of decision-making. When it comes to choosing who you will marry, Friesen says, there is no one option, no soul mate that God has picked for you that you somehow must find in all the 7 billion people in the world. Instead you can use the tools of wisdom that God generously gives us such as principles in the bible, God-given wisdom from his Spirit, wisdom we gain from experience, and the wisdom of others. I was so relieved to read Friesen’s Wisdom View because I really wanted to ask Michelle to marry me!
This coming week on the blog as we continue studying the life of David, we’ll observe how David approaches decision-making. Does David use a wisdom method? Take a look at 1st Samuel chapters 23 and 24 ahead of time See if you can determine how David makes decisions. Then join me back here on the blog on Monday as I talk about it. Perhaps you are considering some important decisions in your life. I think you’ll find this passage very helpful.
Engaging Scripture 