Does God hold the strings in his hand?
Many Christians say God is in control and has a plan for our lives. Everything that happens to us is part of that plan. Some would even argue that God arranges for us all of the day's events, including challenging ones. Does this thought free you that God is planning every minute of your life for you, or do you rub your forehead over this idea like I do? Didn't he give us free will? Are our decisions real or are they not?
I believe the answer lies in the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They always act together and never independently. “The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who lives in me does his works.” (Joh 14,10)Our shared participation and involvement with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is central here.
Jesus calls us friends: “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (Joh 15,15)Friends always participate in a relationship together. A friendship isn't about controlling each other or forcing each other into a predetermined plan. In a good relationship, love is always at the center. Love is given and received freely, shared experiences, supportive relationships through good times and bad, and mutual enjoyment, appreciation, and support.
Our friendship with God also has these characteristics. Of course, God is not just a friend, but the ruler of the whole universe who loves us unconditionally, unconditionally. That is why the relationship we have with him is even more real than the friendships with our human companions. Jesus helps us through the Holy Spirit to our own, very personal love relationship with the Father. We are allowed to be part of this relationship because God loves us, not because we did anything for Him to deserve to participate. With this in mind, I can imagine the one comprehensive plan for my life.
God's comprehensive plan
His plan is salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the common life in Christ, to know God in and through the Spirit and in the end to have an infinite life in God's eternity. That doesn't mean that I don't take God's work into the little things in my life because of it. Every day I see how his strong hand works in my life: from the way in which he encourages me and reminds me of his love, to the way in which he guides and protects me. We walk hand in hand through this life, so to speak, because he loves me, and every day I pray that I will listen to and respond to his soft voice.
God doesn't plan every tiny detail of my life. I am convinced that God can use everything that happens in my life in such a way that it works out for my highest good. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Röm 8,28).
One thing I know for sure: It is he who guides, guides, accompanies me, is always by my side, lives in me through the Holy Spirit and reminds me of his omnipresence every day.
by Tammy Tkach
