Does God have "specific" plans for our lives?

[HeWillProvide]

Do you think God has specific plans for our life? Like, you will be an orthodontist who went to Yale and will marry at 35 and have three kids and a dog. Or is it more general and then we decide all the things, like job, when we marry, etc.? I heard a quote I didn’t like that went something like, God doesn’t care what you do as long as you do it well - or something like that.

 

[bilop]

Do you think God has specific plans for our life? Like, you will be an orthodontist who went to Yale and will marry at 35 and have three kids and a dog. Or is it more general and then we decide all the things, like job, when we marry, etc.? I heard a quote I didn’t like that went something like, God doesn’t care what you do as long as you do it well - or something like that.

I think His only specific paln is to offer us enough Grace for our salvation.

It gets tricky b/c He obviously knows all our choices before we make them, but they remain our choices.

God Bless

 

[HeWillProvide]

I guess I’m trying to figure out how much of my own responsibility plays in the direction of my life. Like, oh, I don’t like my job, but what if I’m “supposed” to be here. Or, am I “supposed” to be single right now, or am I supposed to wait until 2025 until I start doing something else, etc. etc.

 

[bilop]

I guess I’m trying to figure out how much of my own responsibility plays in the direction of my life. Like, oh, I don’t like my job, but what if I’m “supposed” to be here. Or, am I “supposed” to be single right now, or am I supposed to wait until 2025 until I start doing something else, etc. etc.

It’s pretty much our responsibility. That’s what free will is all about. We should pray and ask God’s help in discerning the proper decisions, but we’ve got to take responsibility.

If God has something specific in mind, He’ll let you know.

God Bless

 

[Norseman82]

I guess I’m trying to figure out how much of my own responsibility plays in the direction of my life. Like, oh, I don’t like my job, but what if I’m “supposed” to be here. Or, am I “supposed” to be single right now, or am I supposed to wait until 2025 until I start doing something else, etc. etc.

This is exactly why I don’t believe in the concept of a micromanaging God. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but this type of outlook and second-guessing is unhealthy and will only make one neurotic and unable to make a decision, and before long one is going to be stopping in the middle of the expressway in busy traffic in order to pray a novena to determine whether one should take the local or express lanes. Just make sure that you are not violating any of God’s commandments; that alone should take up enough of our effort!

The catechism also indirectly refers to our rights and duties to choose our profession and state of life. Please see CCC 2230.

I have heard, however, that our desires often are planted by God, like a desire for a family or a desire to be part of the clergy or religious life, so do not ignore your desires. You will have to examine such things as what is so attractive about your desire, but this is part of discernment and, if a serious life-altering decision appears near, then it is time for a talk with a spiritual or vocations director.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting Norseman:

This is exactly why I don’t believe in the concept of a micromanaging God. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but this type of outlook and second-guessing is unhealthy and will only make one neurotic and unable to make a decision, and before long one is going to be stopping in the middle of the expressway in busy traffic in order to pray a novena to determine whether one should take the local or express lanes. Just make sure that you are not violating any of God’s commandments; that alone should take up enough of our effort!

A good response - jolly good advice…keeping The Lord’s commandments and the laws of The Church sure can take up an aweful lot of energy anyway and a lot of vigilance…

The catechism also indirectly refers to our rights and duties to choose our profession and state of life. Please see CCC 2230.

I have heard, however, that our desires often are planted by God, like a desire for a family or a desire to be part of the clergy or religious life, so do not ignore your desires. You will have to examine such things as what is so attractive about your desire, but this is part of discernment and, if a serious life-altering decision appears near, then it is time for a talk with a spiritual or vocations director.

Good response. I think in Himself God does have specific plans for our life and from all eternity…and as long as we resist temptation and avoid sin (and He gives us the opportunity to repent, confess with sorrow and a firm purpose of amending our ways, and begin again, if we should fail - what a Lord have we!!!)…and we keep the laws of The Church (and if we fail, the same conditions apply)…then we can be relatively sure (common sense dictates) that the good desires of our heart are planted by The Lord and if we are doubtful, then for sure seek spiritual direction and/orvocations director…and a good idea to seek direction before we make any major life decisions (again common sense dictates) affecting our whole life. A good spiritual director is pure gold and a true treasure.

Under these circusmtances, we may be seem to be going on a long journey of perhaps many a twist and turn, and yes in a certain sense The Lord does have specific plans for our life (my personal concept) - from all eternity He has known us better than we know ourselves…and perhaps it will only be towards the closing years of our life we get the “Huh haaaaaa…now I think I can see - things are falling into place” experience. Some get it earlier, for some of us it awaits for us in Heaven…anyway the whole picture is not until then when all will fall into place. What a Heaven awaits us and worth any effort/striving/trying and then some.
1 Corinthians 2
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9 But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.