E
ellen42
Guest
I know that we are supposed to follow God’s plan for our lives and not try to impose our plan that will override God’s plan. However, is this always the case? Are there situations where we can do what we want, or we can determine that what we want and what God wants might just be the same thing?
I know this topic usually comes up in relation to family size, but I just had an interesting conversation with a friend who has had a slightly different experience, so I don’t want this to become yet another “… but I don’t wanna have another baby!” thread.
Said friend, let’s call her Anne, has wanted to work in the medical field all her life – I remember she wanted to be a brain surgeon when she was in kindergarten, but has reset her goal into being an RN. However, the journey hasn’t been easy, and post-secondary education has often been slowed for financial reasons. This has not deterred her and she is working full time while going to school, but this has understandably left her social life neglected. She knows what sacrifices she needs to make to achieve her goal and she’s willing to make them.
Enter Aunt Betty (not her real Aunt, but a close family friend). She’s very opinionated to say the least, and she has ideas (usually coming with a Biblical reference) about how everybody should live their lives and if you’re not following what she thinks God’s will is for you, then she’ll let you know. Recently, Betty set her sights on Anne. Specifically, Anne is in her mid 20’s, working hard, studying hard, but has no serious potential husbands waiting in the wings. Clearly, Anne’s desires to have a career are interfering with God’s plan for her to be married and have children – after all, being a wife and mother is the highest calling a woman can have (according to Betty). Betty has also focused on the fact that since nursing is what Anne wants to do, it cannot also be God’s Will at the same time – especially if it means sacrificing being a wife and mother.
I should also point out that Anne is not particularly bothered by Betty’s opinions. Betty says her piece, we smile and nod, and move on. Betty is also not trying to actively interfere with Anne’s life – there’s no conflict here that needs to be resolved.
To be perfectly honest, if Anne wanted to, I’m sure she could find a husband and start a family. In high school, I know there were many guys who were interested in her (as they often talked to me asking about her), but Anne was too naive or disinterested in the whole process to really pay any mind. She’s never really had a “serious” relationship. Of course, she doesn’t want to – she wants to become a nurse.
So Anne’s Will is that Anne should become a nurse. Betty thinks that God’s Will for Anne is that Anne should be a wife and mother and her ideas at becoming a nurse are interfering with God’s Will. However, Anne has determined that her interest and desire to help people as a nurse must also be a sign that God’s Will for her is for her to become a nurse as well, even if the pathway there isn’t a easy stroll.
Do you think that Anne’s Will and God’s Will might be the same?
I know this topic usually comes up in relation to family size, but I just had an interesting conversation with a friend who has had a slightly different experience, so I don’t want this to become yet another “… but I don’t wanna have another baby!” thread.
Said friend, let’s call her Anne, has wanted to work in the medical field all her life – I remember she wanted to be a brain surgeon when she was in kindergarten, but has reset her goal into being an RN. However, the journey hasn’t been easy, and post-secondary education has often been slowed for financial reasons. This has not deterred her and she is working full time while going to school, but this has understandably left her social life neglected. She knows what sacrifices she needs to make to achieve her goal and she’s willing to make them.
Enter Aunt Betty (not her real Aunt, but a close family friend). She’s very opinionated to say the least, and she has ideas (usually coming with a Biblical reference) about how everybody should live their lives and if you’re not following what she thinks God’s will is for you, then she’ll let you know. Recently, Betty set her sights on Anne. Specifically, Anne is in her mid 20’s, working hard, studying hard, but has no serious potential husbands waiting in the wings. Clearly, Anne’s desires to have a career are interfering with God’s plan for her to be married and have children – after all, being a wife and mother is the highest calling a woman can have (according to Betty). Betty has also focused on the fact that since nursing is what Anne wants to do, it cannot also be God’s Will at the same time – especially if it means sacrificing being a wife and mother.
I should also point out that Anne is not particularly bothered by Betty’s opinions. Betty says her piece, we smile and nod, and move on. Betty is also not trying to actively interfere with Anne’s life – there’s no conflict here that needs to be resolved.
To be perfectly honest, if Anne wanted to, I’m sure she could find a husband and start a family. In high school, I know there were many guys who were interested in her (as they often talked to me asking about her), but Anne was too naive or disinterested in the whole process to really pay any mind. She’s never really had a “serious” relationship. Of course, she doesn’t want to – she wants to become a nurse.
So Anne’s Will is that Anne should become a nurse. Betty thinks that God’s Will for Anne is that Anne should be a wife and mother and her ideas at becoming a nurse are interfering with God’s Will. However, Anne has determined that her interest and desire to help people as a nurse must also be a sign that God’s Will for her is for her to become a nurse as well, even if the pathway there isn’t a easy stroll.
Do you think that Anne’s Will and God’s Will might be the same?
Blessings!!!