From Jerry Sittser and his book “The Will of God as a Way of Life”:
. . . . we should consider God’s greater purpose and meditate on his glorious redemptive plan. Two spiritual masters, Ignatius of Loyola and Francis de Sales, have written a great deal about this issue. They suggest that we should study God’s purposes as they are revealed in Scripture, and thus to understand the “big picture” of what God is up to. As Ignatius writes, I must have as my aim the end for which I am created, which is praise of God our Lord and the salvation of my soul. At the same time I must remain indifferent and free from any inordinate attachments so that I am not more inclined or disposed to take the thing proposed than to reject it nor to relinquish it rather than accept it. 9
Francis de Sales believed that God’s greater purpose is to understand. Its basic outline is obvious, if we want to know it. God is clear where and when he needs to be. When He is not clear, it is probably because there is no need for it. We can therefore enjoy freedom.
God’s will is made known to us . . . by what he disposes, what he commands. This calls for no deliberation on our part; we simply carry out God’s orders. In everything else, however, we are perfectly free to make our own choice of what seems good—though it is not a question of doing everything that is permissible, but only such things that are suitable.10
Ignatius adds, “After having thus weighed the matter and carefully examined it from every side, I will consider which alternative appears more reasonable. Acting upon the stronger judgment of reason and not on any inclination of the senses, I must come to the decision in the matter that I am considering.”11 These writers assume that God has given us a brain for a reason. We should use it when we make decisions, learning to ask good questions and exercise good judgment.
God gives us a certain degree of freedom to make choices. According to de Sales, knowledge of God’s greater purpose gives us a great deal of room to maneuver. God’s will is like several trails leading to the same goal. We can take any one of them to arrive at our destination. It is a waste of time and energy to try and make the “perfect decision” (assuming there is such a thing), if all the alternatives are good ones. Besides, our hesitation to choose may keep us from making a good choice. “While they busy or worry themselves trying to discover which is better, they miss the opportunity of doing that which is good. Deeds give God far more glory than any amount of time wasted in trying to discriminate between good and better.”12 ~Jerry Sittser, the Will of God as a Way of Life (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, 2002,2004), p.99-101
Posts with a pre-amble asterisk * are for a more general audience. . . . not specific to teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
