Does God Really Give Us Free Will?

It’s overwhelming to think about the all-knowing and all-powerful nature of God. If God already knows everything that will ever happen, does that mean that my choices are already scripted? Do the choices I make really direct my life? Are we merely characters in God’s book or has he just already read our story? It makes you wonder just how much control we really have over our lives.

These are tough questions. Even when we look at scripture the answers are not clear. Our exercise of free will through choice was evident in the first sin, and in every sin that followed. Our selfish nature tempts us to sin, and sin is nothing less than disobedience to God.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:13-15

Biblical prophecy, however, shows us that God has a clear plan that he will fulfill and God’s plan cannot be thwarted by anyone. How do we reconcile these two apparent opposites? To be honest, I find both choices to be discouraging. If my choices alone dictate my life, this places tremendous pressure on every decision I make. What if I make a mistake or a wrong choice? But if I am merely an actor in God’s play, what is my purpose for existing? How can I be guilty of sin if I am only living the role I was given to play? If God controls every choice I make I become apathetic about my life choices. Maybe instead of it being either/or, there is instead a delicate interplay between both of them.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8

After man was created, God placed Adam in the garden with a warning. He was forbidden to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because doing so would lead to death. Why did God even allow him access to the tree? Why didn’t God remove the tree or place a guard in front of it? Because God wanted obedience to be Adam’s choice. He didn’t interfere with this choice even though God knew what choice he would eventually make. To our detriment, this choice forever changed our relationship with God. Today we continue to reap the consequences of that decision and every other act of disobedience since that time.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Deuteronomy 30:19

God wants us to learn from the consequences of our choices. This discipline helps us to understand why we should choose to obey. These hardships refine our character which helps us to better align our choices with God’s will. We exercise our free within God’s divine plan through his course correction. God has the power to use both our good and bad choices to achieve his purpose. No choice exceeds God’s ability to re-route us back to his plan regardless of the choices we make.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

Choosing to be in relationship with God means yeilding our will and allowing God to direct our lives. We can’t expect to arrive at God’s destination unless we listen and obey. There may be times when we may miss our exit, make a wrong accidently turn, or decide to go our own way. But God never abandons us. When we return to him for our guidance he re-calculates our route to lead us back to his good plan for our lives. On the other hand, if we allow our pride to keep us from accepting his guidance we will remain lost. So how can we blame God when our lives go wrong?

God is always willing and able to re-route us from anywhere we’ve strayed. We are only truly lost when we reject God’s help. Our choices don’t change the destination of God’s ultimate plan. But they do impact whether we will be united with God or separated from God for eternity. Which path will you choose?

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:21

The free will to make our own decisions shapes who we are. I can choose to live my life on my own terms, but God will one day hold me accountable. I may do everything in my power to force my own will, but ultimately it is God who determines if my plans succeed or fail. God alone knows the plans in store for me. When I walk in faith, I am secure in knowing that God will make use of both the good and the bad times. God never misses an opportunity to turn our failures into his success as long as I choose to follow where he leads.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28