What does it mean to exist in the perfect will of God?
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
God’s will is good and perfect because it is born of pure, abiding, unconditional love. When we exist in His perfect will, we rise above the world and all its temptations and pitfalls. God will never lead us astray. He will strengthen us and embolden us to continually seek Him in all things.
Yes, at times this means struggling. It means we will face hardships. It means we will grieve. It even means that we will suffer. Jesus, after all, experienced all these things when He lived. Our lives will be no different. But like Jesus, if we rely wholly on our Father, and surrender to His divine will for us, we will experience unquestionable peace and above all freedom from the world.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:17
God calls upon us to do good, to renew our faith with every dawn, and to trust in Him no matter what is going on around us. Sometimes, this is hard. We become overwhelmed by external events and in our desperation to find answers, we try to take the reigns and attempt to wrest control from God. We do this because we fear, worry, and doubt. Our fear of the unknown often becomes so oppressive that we turn to the world for answers rather than patiently waiting on God’s timing and grace.
Surrender is a hard concept for us for a reason. There’s evil in the world. Evil that does not want us to rely on God and that will do everything in its power to thwart and destroy us. But those are the moments falling to our knees and giving complete control over our lives to God is most needed. For it is only within the perfect will of God that we will be relieved of our burdens, doubts, and fears. It is only within the perfect will of God that we exist in communion with the Holy Spirit and in the abiding love of Christ.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Circumstances come and go, but the perfect will of God is eternal. It is the same from age to age, from generation to generation, from the rising to the setting of the sun. God’s will for us is simple, He wants us to return to Him and to experience the fullness of eternal life where we’ll live forever in perfect harmony with the Holy Trinity.
God’s perfect will is His perfect love made manifest in creation. “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen,” (Hebrews 13: 20-21).
By trusting in His promises, turning to Him in prayer and supplication, abiding by His commandments, and listening to the Holy Spirit, we accept the perfect will of God in our lives, strengthening our walk with Christ and exhibiting our faith unashamedly and with our whole hearts.
Whatever God’s will for me is,
I will accept without question.
For God’s love is so unconditional,
there is no room for fear.
His mercy is so unrelenting,
there is no room for doubt,
and His promises are renewed,
with every dawn.
JN Fenwick (© 2018-2023)