The Will of God as a Way of Life: How to Make Every Decision with Peace and Confidence

by Jerry Sittser, Eugene H. Peterson (Foreword by), Gerald L. Sittser

Practical help for understanding and following God's will for your life. "God has a plan for our lives," but what does that mean in practical terms? How do we know God's will for important life decisions, like who to marry, what job to take, what church to join? How can we be free if God has a perfect plan for us? Does suffering mean we are off track? How exactly does God speak? Author Jerry Sittser explores these questions and offers a biblically based approach that is truly liberating. No matter what decisions we've already made, he points out that it is still possible to live out God's perfect will--even if we think we've married the wrong person, chosen the wrong career, or landed in some kind of serious trouble. This new edition includes study questions designed to help individuals or groups who are faced with decisions--large or small.

Genres: Christian, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Theology, Religion, Faith, Christianity

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Also listed as Gerald L. Sittser.

Reviews

[Katie Keseg · Rating 3 out of 5]

We can ask many questions about what the will of God is for our lives, trying to guess what our future will be or wanting to know what the future holds. In this longing for the future, we get lost in what God has for us in the present. If we knew the future, “we would miss the wisdom and character that suffering engenders.”

The premise of the book is “we never do know how things will work out, but we know that God will work then out. He will work them out for our redemption.” God will work things out for our good as that is His loving nature and will for our lives.

[Jessica Sharda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is jam packed with encouragement! Each chapter had so many wonderful points about how God works things out for His glory and our good.

[Austin Erb · Rating 4 out of 5]

unfortunately i did not give this book the time it deserves, so i certainly would have enjoyed it more had i been more consistent.

this book is really good! i had a lot of eye opening moments and took lots of new ideas away from it. definitely a book i would recommend and actually have already quoted to friends. you should read it!

[Anna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comfort to read as many things feel up in the air in life. Filled with good reminders that ease the pressure to get everything 'right'

[Biographyguy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much in this book that is meant for both beginning Christians and also to those who possess a more mature faith. I received this book as a birthday gift from my youngest brother, who told me he read it as a freshman in college as part of his required reading. It is a book that, much like CS Lewis' Mere Christianity, I hope is read by lots of beginning Christians, or at least young Christians as it offers a lot of great advice about making choices that follow God's plan for our lives.

So why did I give it 3 stars if I am recommending it? There was a single section of this book that bugged me beyond belief. To say I disagreed with the author in that section would be an understatement. It occurred in Chapter 7: Making Choices. I will quote from page 96:

"We must be careful that we do not presume to know God better than we do, nor to hear God with greater clarity than is possible. We know God by faith, not by sight. Our knowledge of him is real but it is still "in a mirror, dimly," as Paul wrote, not "face to face."...We must learn to communicate with him in light of this limitation."

99% of this book is genuine, heartfelt, and tender advice given from one Christian to other Christians who read this book. This passage is so jarringly out of place in an otherwise wonderful book. Why? Because it presumes to put limitations on all of its' readers relationship with God.

The passage from Paul that the author quoted came from 1st Corinthians 13:12, and according to the NIV reads, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." This passage communicates to me the truths of God's plan for us(which is a subject later in the book I'm reviewing). We know only God's plan in the present moment and only in our own lives. "Now I know in part". We will only know the full plan after we have gone to Heaven after the second coming.

In other words, I do not think this verse applied to how God communicates his will to us. I prayed in earnest about this not only to make sure that this is correct, but that I should put this in my review. Christians have known for centuries upon centuries that God desires a genuine and intimate relationship with us, those he loves. Why would he limit the way he communicates to us? And I recall the verse from Matthew 7 that says, "Ask, Seek, Knock'. If we desire to communicate clearly with God, I believe that God we do so. At least that is my experience. And it is not only mine, but others like Maya Angelou. I will quote her final tweet before her death:

"Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God."

How awesome. And I agree. So I ask, why would the author write this one limitation when the entire rest of his book is about encouraging Christians in their faith? Being a pastor's kid, I have a theory(though not necessarily something my father has done). I recall what Jesus said in this verse from Matthew 5:20, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." I wonder if those who have more righteousness have different and unique spiritual gifts. A Pharisee's, or Teacher's of the Law, or Pastor's gift is probably leadership and scriptural interpretation. But I wonder if it is threatening to a pastor to find out that their congregation has a stronger faith than them. If a member of the congregation possesses great faith, does it not threaten their position of leadership? And seeing as the author of this book was once a pastor, I think he has a vested interest in making sure that none of his congregation or readers have a faith that surpasses his own.

Is this a sin? Not really. It's human and may be one of the pitfalls of a pastor(like him or my father), and even a writer(like me), to want to be the final authority on things we've said.

Anyway I just think that every Christian who reads this book should know that there are no limitations on how the can commune with their Lord. Remember, he once spoke to Balaam through a Donkey! Ha!

Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main point of this book was a solid reminder:

"The will of God, then, consists of one clear mandate- that we make God the absolutely center of our lives." "If we seek first his kingdom, which is his revealed will for our lives, then whatever choices we make concerning the future become God's will for us."

Keeping that in mind WILL lead to more peaceful decision making I think. I was also challenged by his thought that the freedom to choose can actually become a burden, and that having too many choices it not always a good thing. Further, we should choose quality of life over quantity of options.

[Sam Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plethora of knowledge and wisdom in this book, loved everything he had to say! Although, I wish the the delivery was a bit more dynamic...

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear eyed, practical exploration of decision making and discernment in this messy thing we call life. If you value wisdom, you'll want to find time for this one. (4.5)

[Annie Strawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If anything, life is often hard, mean, and brutal. But in the end life will turn out well because God is good and kind and gracious. He is working mysteriously to redeem us and restore the world to what he intended it to be. All will be well because God is God.”

[Derek Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerry Sittser has a remarkable gift for taking complex theology and applying it to everyday life. Many people are good at telling you how to live a Christian life, but their theology may be weak. Sittser is a theologian, and he supports his points with numerous scripture references. In his book, The Will of God as a Way of Life: How to Make Every Decision with Peace and Confidence, the only thing not to like is the title. The subtitle makes it sound like a self-help book. While you will walk away with a new insight, this is no simple, "follow these three steps to better decisions" book.

Instead, Sittser dives head on into the theological issues surrounding the will of God. God's sovereignty, our free will, calling, and the role of suffering in our lives, all get ample attention.

But what grabs me the most is his opening conversation about God's will for our life. What do we mean we say "it is God's will?" And how about following God's will. What if we make the wrong decision and head down a different path? Sittser explores these questions, and provides an answer.

"As I struggled with the issue of discovering God's will, I came to a startling conclusion. The will of God concerns the present more than the future; it deals with our motives as well as our actions; it focuses on the little decisions we make every day even more than the big decision we make about the future. The only time we really have both to know and to do God's will is the present moment. We are to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. These are the basic responsibilities Jesus challenges us to pay attention to."

In other words, that job we are deciding on, that relationship we are struggling with, that question about our direction in life, are missing the point. Following God's will is reflected in how we live now, not in what the future holds for us. "We can, in good conscience, choose from among any number of reasonable alternatives and continue to do the will of God."

And just as how this no simple self-help book, Sittser encourages us to seek God's direction in scripture, but not as as how-to book. "The Bible does not tell us what to do in every situation. It establishes guidelines and principles, not a long list of rules. It sets the overall direction."

I should also note his strong work in the area of suffering and God's will. I reviewed his book, A Grace Revealed, which explores this topic in depth. He also deals with it in A Grace Disguised. Sittser's entire family was in the car when it was hit by a drunk driver, and he lost his mother, his wife, and a daughter, in an instant. He understands suffering.

He sees God's story in our lives as a story of redemption. Like reading a novel, the author knows the plot, but the characters are learning as they go. But here, the characters know the ending, and it is a good ending. "Sinfulness and tragedies and suffering and everything else never have the final word. God has the final word. The cross is irrefutable proof that God's hidden will, mysterious and unfathomable at times, is real and redemptive."

Sittser never dismisses suffering, but he recognizes our limited viewpoint. It is a humble viewpoint, and thus better focused on living God's will in the present, confident in the future.

[Ashley Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. Outstanding. I would recommend this book in a heartbeat, even if you think you've got your life all figured out. Almost every page had something that I wanted to highlight so that I could refer back to it later. In some areas, I just wanted to highlight the whole chapter. There will always be room on my shelf for this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good read and thought-provoking. It totally changed my viewpoint on discerning God's will and although the title is somewhat cheesy, it's true: I do have more peace about making decisions. Bottom line: if you are seeking God earnestly, you can't go wrong. There is no one right way to do God's will.

[Richard Basch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a practical guide for understanding the will of God. It reverently approaches the subject and provides a pint of view that can simplify parts of a person's theology so that it becomes useful in day to day living. I will use the insights from this book to keep my compass pointed in the right direction.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

This was a really enjoyable book to read. Jerry makes the difficulties of life seem doable with God. I love how he weaves in so many books and cultural references. He is a good story teller and seems authentic.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the author’s testimony attempts to be immensely practical, what’s missing is the theological foundation. I found that in the book which references this one, Kevin DeYoung’s “Just Do Something”. I recommend that title much more, as this one just isn’t as engaging.

[Katie Castor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It changed my life! It should be a must-read for every Christian!

[Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading for my cousin Katie's senior seminar class this year at Hope College. She enjoyed it, thought I would do the same (I have!), and gave me this copy. It’s yet another book I wish I would have read this while in college or soon thereafter.

The book is quite upfront with it’s central idea:“...the Bible says very little about the will of God as a future pathway. Instead the Bible warns us about anxiety and presumption concerning the future, assures us that God is in control, and commands us to do the will of God we already know in the present” (p.22).

Sittser points out that this (while being quite biblical) differs from the “conventional” approach that one finds in the church today that God’s will is a pre-determined pathway that he knows and we need to find and stay on. And yet there is potential they we might mess up, pick the wrong route, and spoil God’s plans. Sittser points out that this viewpoint tends to put way too much emphasis on what we think are the big decisions, rather than what God thinks are the big decisions (and says the choices we make every day are the big decisions). It is also interesting how much emphasis this perspective puts on us, rather than on God. I think I probably would have found this idea a bit more startling and novel, but I remember talking with my friend Jon about a major life decision (or so it felt) one of us was weighing when he brought this viewpoint up.

This book also reminded me of Terrence Tiessen’s book - Providence and Prayer. But whereas that one presented a variety of perspectives on God’s will, this one presents the perspective that the offer finds to be most true. It’s also much more of a practical book. The author’s wife unexpectedly died, and this seems to play no small part in why when he discussed God’s will, he is also quick to comment on what this means for human suffering, which is well addressed in the last 3 chapters of the book. Sittser’s perspective is reformed, but it didn’t seem overwhelmingly so. His second chapter, “Our Astonishing Freedom”, points out that: “There are many pathways we could follow, many options we could pursue. As long as we are seeking God, all of them can be God’s will for our lives, although only one -- the path we choose -- actually becomes his will. (p. 35). Psychologically his interest lies in our living in the present moment, as this is what the will of God focuses on (p. 34). (In reading at this point, I could help but notice some commonalities with the Chaos Theory of Careers perspective -- the emphasis on immediate choices vs. long-term ones, recognizing that things often don’t go as planned, and staying in the present.) As mentioned, he doesn’t seem interested in the topic just for theological discussion or polemics, but to share what he has learned and hopes other can find useful in their own faith.

What I missed, especially given Sittser’s background, was some historical perspective on how those in the church have made decisions. Casting lots in the New Testament, for example. The Quaker "clearness committee" that Parker Palmer mentions in his To Know as We are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey, and charismatic beliefs around knowing God’s will via church leaders also come to mind.

Highlights
-- I found Chapter 2, and the Sittser’s emphasis on freedom in knowing that what we deem to be a big decision may not be to God, and that there are multiple paths we could take to achieve his ends to be… freeing. But he balanced this with a call to the central things that Christ emphasizes in his teaching. I also appreciated his not trying to build a new theory on a handful of obscure verses. His emphases seem to match those found in scripture: in chapter 5 he lays out God’s “clear commands”, in chapter 6 he talks about the importance of how we live our life in the small/everyday things, and then in chapter 7 he talks about ways we can hear God (Scripture, God’s direct speaking, intuition, prophets/seers/dreams/visions, life stories of those before us, our listening to God & Jesus Christ.
-- There were several places where Sittser seemed to be prompting the reader towards more advanced stages of Fowler’s spiritual development (stages 4-5):
- His encouraging us to relax in our decision making and realize what is most important is what God does. “In fact, in the end the will of God has nothing to do with us -- the direction we take, the priorities we choose, the decisions we make. It is not about us at all; it is about God” (p. 104)
- Having an understanding of God's will that seeks to balance God's sovereignty with human freedom (Chapter 15) and his using C.S. Lewis’s analogy of God being like the author of a story but also having characters in the story that develop a life of their own, and then sending his son to be subject to the story and to other characters (p.209-210).
- His view of suffering: “One the one hand God does will suffering because he does not create evil or pain. On the other hand, God does will suffering because he uses it to accomplish his redemptive plan” (p. 219).
In general, embracing paradox (Chapter 15-17)
-- I’ve already alluded to this but Sittser’s perspective on suffering that is woven into the book: the story of the death of his wife, M. Scott Peck quote that encouraged us to remember that life is difficult and suffering is the norm(p.224), the last 2 chapters. He is never glib or blaming God, but always hopeful. You can tell this is someone who has become wiser through their own painful experiences. I didn’t see it quoted in the book, but I kept thinking of the verse “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

[Debra Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book

I have read a Grace Disguised a number of times and decided to read some of Jerry Sittser’s other work. It has been an incredible encouragement to me. A Grace Disguised saved my faith when I was dealing with two of my children having a terminal illness. I read it again when my mom died and again after a second trimester miscarriage. This book is every bit as deep and impactful. He writes in a way that is easy to read but also deep and meaningful, tackling major issues of the faith with balance and scholarship. This is a must read.

[Josh Trice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thesis of this book is strong, that the will of God is not a singular, hidden plan that we must be careful to discover. Rather, the will of God is that we love him and love others, and there are many ways in which we may choose to do so!

Some of the chapters in the book (particularly the first section) are very strong and helpful. Some (towards the middle/end) aren't as much.
This is however a good read that I would recommend to anyone looking to "discern" the will of God in their lives. Good news, it's not that hard!

[Joshua Chipchase · Rating 3 out of 5]

A theologically flawed book that had some good content that I enjoyed. The author rightly pointed people towards God's word in scripture, trust in God, freedom to make decisions without fear, and rightly rejected the view that we need to wait for subjective impressions and clear signs from on high. The book gave many helpful examples and illustrations. But it was often times weak on scripture, theologically off on certain points, quoted hard core Catholics as if they were Christians, and was about 40-50 pages to long.

[Honghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no easy way to find the will of God, especially on our personal life. The authors provide a nice perspective to find the will of God. Some are very practical by looking at the vocation from different angles. Still, there are unanswered questions and we need to embrace mystery, as mentioned at the end of the book. It’s a good book if you have doubts on God or finding God’s will on your life.

[Brian Mcguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have now read this twice!
This book is a blessing to me and I believe for anyone seeking the will of God and a better understanding of their calling.

I love the clarity in his words - he gives new meaning to God is in the details and more so in the ordinary things in life and our attitude towards the ordinary.

This book reinforces the notion of how we go about our day to day is more important than what we accomplish day to day.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for people like me (and many others I’m sure) who are looking for “God’s Big Plan” for their lives and missing the idea that the how we honor Him in the little day to day decisions ARE God’s will. I like Jerry Sittser very much as a writer and will likely read more of his books in the future.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently re-reading this book because I found it so helpful, and importantly, Scripture-based. Sittser writes with clarity and is quite comprehensive in what he covers, identifying the obstacles which we might face in understanding what the Will of God is and in how we approach it as a whole, and how we can face them.

[Emma Chrusciel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, thought-provoking, and above all else, FREEING book. Sittser brings clarity and wisdom to a topic that often feels nebulous and intimidating. Despite the depth of the theology, I found the book very readable and understandable, offering relevant insight no matter where the reader may be in his/her walk with the Lord. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

[Emily Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate how this book helps us take the pressure off the daunting task of following God's calling. We limit God when we feel one decision will send us down the wrong path and away from our calling. God can use so many avenues to get us where he wants us. Simply living well for the Lord in each moment and decision is living the will of God. Definitely worth the read.

[Shinae Noh · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for pointing out and taking away myths frequently held by those who identify themselves as Christian.

minus 1 star since there is no way you can discern with '5 steps to _____' or 'checklist'

The reader must go way beyond.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be one of the best books I’ve read. It amazingly simplifies this idea we complicate about God’s will while addressing suffering and pain and doubt and prayer. It’s just so rich in wisdom and purpose. I highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed some of my fundamental outlooks on life as a Christian and member of our society. I’ve never experienced so much uncertainty in life but also amazingly so much peace from knowing His will for me to live, trust, and hope.

[Claire Cuniffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read! This book changed the way I think about God's will in my life.