The Will of God

This small book packs a powerful punch, and as a collateral benefit, provides a way to practice discerning the will of God. Rev. Leslie Weatherhead wrote this book during World War II, but it still remains relevant more than 50 years later. It provides a portrait of God that begins to humbly attempt to explain the will of God, particularly in bad circumstances. Weatherhead divides the will of God into three types: 1) God's intentional will; 2) God's circumstantial will; and 3) God's ultimate will.

It is comforting to worship a God that Weatherhead sees as wanting only good things for his people. Nonetheless, our God is one that has vested us with free will, that often interferes with God's intentional will, creating circumstances that are bad or arise out of evil. In these circumstances, we see the circumstantial will of God, i.e. how God's intentional will can still be realized. As an example, he uses Jesus on the cross. God's intentional will was that the world would accept and follow Jesus. When they chose not to, God's will was still realized through Christ's death and resurrection. Nothing can defeat the ultimate will of God, which is man's reconcilliation with God.

Weatherhead also sets out how he believes we can discern the intentional will of God, which is far more pragmatic and do-able for people like me. I've always felt spiritually inept because, unlike many other Christians, I don't "hear" God's will the way I hear my kids telling me their desires for dinner. However, he suggests that conscience, common sense, talking with wise Christians, as well as working to develop a close relationship with God will aid in discerning God's will. I think I can do that.

Weatherhead admits that he doesn't have all the answers as to why God would "allow" bad things to happen. Overall, a very good and important book.