“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

College

The evening hour was late and not a soul stirred in the Carter house—except an anxious high school senior mulling over his college decision. For an 18-year-old accustomed to low-impact decisions (what to eat, how much studying this high school senior could get away with not doing, etc.), picking a college was the biggest moment of my adolescent experience. 

As I paced around my dining room table, I carefully weighed the pros and cons of my top two choices: Geneva College and Southeastern University. The former school was close to home, promised academic rigor and was my parents’ alma mater. Southeastern, on the other hand, was ideally situated in sunny Florida, boasted a vivid campus and offered a robust campus life. Though I leaned heavily toward that latter school, one gnawing question gave me pause: how do I know going there is God’s will?

Uncertainty

The question of how to know God’s will lurks in the minds of many Christians. We want to know where to go to college, what job to take, who to marry or what to do with the rest of our lives. Many hours of study, prayer and counsel get poured out to answer these perennial questions. Often, we won’t move until a heavenly light opens on us and the voice of God booms a command in the proper direction. Our concern is that one misstep could cause us to crash and burn out of the Lord’s favor. What if we’re missing the point, however, of knowing God’s plan?

A Blurry Image

Our lives are often characterized by a litany of hasty choices and quick decisions made on uncertain prospects. Clarity is a luxury we covet, yet frequently lack. Sometimes we can barely discern the future beyond today. We may only be able to see the next step looming ahead of us.

The Apostle Paul reflected on this prospect in his own ministry. How much clarity could he have enjoyed after languishing in prison, almost drowning in the Mediterranean or receiving an undeserved stoning from enraged mobs. Luxury was something alien to him, and yet he persisted. The King James Version of 1 Corinthians 13:12 poetically captures Paul’s thoughts on his circumstances. “For now we see through a glass, darkly,” the persecuted evangelist wrote, “but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.” Though today is uncertain, God offers us an alternative to our anxious efforts to divine His will. 

Love

In our earnest quest for God’s direction, we usually pursue information and certainty. While we long for propositions, God provides a simple alternative: love. The totality of His will for our lives can be summarized in two commands: love God. “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5), and “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). This paradigm gives us certainty for how to live today and the freedom to move into tomorrow. In any given moment, I can be sure that God wants me to make choices that will honor Him, bless those around me and steer clear of evil. Looking into tomorrow, I don’t have to be anxious about where I’ll move, who I’ll marry or what I’ll do with the rest of my life. If I can love God and my neighbor through my decisions, I am happily in His will. While we should pray about decisions and seek out wisdom, the call to love frees us from the anxiety of pursuing propositions God never promised us. 

In the Father’s Hand

As my nervous pacing wore a rut into my parents’ kitchen floor, I felt very strongly that God wanted me at Geneva College. Reflecting on that moment, however, I wish I could give my younger self the advice I offered above. If I had attended Southeastern, I wouldn’t have been stepping out of the Lord’s will because I could have loved Him there. But I also loved God at Geneva College, and I don’t regret that.  

Hold On

When we’re walking with God through decisions, we’re like tiny babies trying to hold our dad’s hand. Our little palms are so tiny they can barely latch onto his finger. As we grow older, however, we will be able to grab more of his outstretched hand. Soon our fingers will intertwine His, grasping more firmly to God’s holy hand. While this process is happening, we can be confident that our Father’s hand is guiding us. All we have to do is hold on. 

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Chris Carter is the author of “Learning to Follow: Devotional Reflections from Luke.” He lives in Washington, DC.