What God does and does not Control

One of the expressions about God that turns my head is, “God has a plan for me.” We usually say in regard to how we are supposed to live on earth. Another expression like it is, “God placed him in my life.” I don’t like either expression. Both expressions are a denial of free will.

I believe the only plan God has is for us to be with Him in heaven. He desires for us to live a life of faith treating each other with love and dignity and forgiveness. We can do that no matter what profession we are, no matter where we live, no matter how influential we are.

Here’s my problem with these phrases. When we imagine God ‘placing’ someone in our life, it is as if He is picking that person up and setting down “where He wants him,” for our benefit. For me it is as if God is playing chess and we are all His pawns. God doesn’t play chess.

So, if God doesn’t ‘place’ someone in our life, or He doesn’t have a plan for our profession, what does He control? The very question of God’s control is a matter of faith, but not in the way you might imagine. Saying God is in control cannot mean that we are not. Here’s today’s Gospel lesson.

At that time, Jesus stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all. And he lifted up his eyes on His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.”

Luke 6.17-23

In the many miracles we hear about in the Scriptures, not one miracle includes God ‘placing’ someone in a particular place. He told Abraham to leave. He commanded Moses to lead. In today’s Gospel, He healed diseases and cast out demons but didn’t control any person.

God can cast out demons, heal diseases, even send a whole lot of fish into their nets, but God will never ‘just pick someone up’ against His will. I know it isn’t flashy theology, but the gift of free will from God is a serious thing. How we use our free will is in our control, not God’s.

If you’re waiting for God to ‘take control’ of your life, it begins with your free will, not in the actions of others. Read the Holy Scriptures daily. Prayer often. Participate in the Holy Sacraments of the Church.

God speaks to us in prayer. It is then up to us to respond using our free will. Sometimes God acts in extraordinary ways, but more often than not His words are whispers in our heart. We won’t hear Him if we’re waiting for His next move on the chess board.