Truly free and radically dependent
The Bible presents us with a wonderful paradox of what human beings are in their essential nature: “created person”. Since we are people, we have freedom, autonomy and decision-making power; and because we are creatures we are completely dependent on our Creator. So how can we live in a truly free yet radically dependent way? Being a creature, therefore, dependent on the creator, and at the same time a person, endowed with acts of will is something very challenging to understand. How can the sovereign and unchanging will of God be aligned with the margin of individual freedom I have to make decisions that affect my immediate future? I believe the answer remains a mystery.
Today I understand that it is necessary to know who God is and consequently I will understand his will in the short and long term. I believe it is part of our journey to mature and make day-to-day decisions as we align ourselves with the Father's will expressed in His Word. The exercise of spiritual disciplines such as prayer and fasting, associated with the constant action of the Holy Spirit ends up directing us in the commonplace and in the very important things. I believe that when we know and focus on the greater plan of God exposed in Scripture, we are able to walk the path that was proposed to us, do good and endure suffering. Only then is it possible to relinquish control and stop seeking only your own satisfaction. Trusting in God and doing his will, even without knowing every little detail of it, may not be synonymous with a life without suffering, but it doesn't necessarily mean that life will be bad either.
After all, everything is to the praise of His glory. This reality that reveals its eternal purpose through the Scriptures is fascinating. Life gains another perspective. The teaching of God's burning desire to build a people for Himself is what should move us toward partnership with Him. If we love Him, we will also love what He loves. And that which saddens you, will also cause the same feeling in us!
It is important to focus on what has been revealed as a precept. As much as we rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is ample room for choice regarding what has not been revealed as the norm. God actually has an expectation about us growing up and making our own decisions as capable, adult children, including about being responsible and determined to obey His moral will. However, we do have to seek to obey God's moral will, growing in the understanding of what it really is, without wasting energy on non-essentials. Over-preoccupation with what is not revealed, or what God has given us the power to decide, can often drain our energy.
