Many people nowadays have a wrong understanding of God's will. They equate what is happening to them as God's will, believing that everything that is happening happens because God willed it and wanted it to be so.

This is just plain wrong.

Why did I say that?

As humans who, in the flesh, naturally want to escape accountability and responsibility (see Romans 3:10-12), we are always quick to point fingers to another, especially if we are the ones to be blamed.

This also applies to how many of us say everything that's happening is "God's will."

• "It's God's will for us to suffer this" even when we are the ones who caused our suffering;
• "This is God's will for us," as an excuse for making the wrong choice;
• "God willed that I am in this situation" as a cover for immature decisions.

These and many other "God's will" statements come out of our mouths as quick as a hot knife through butter when we're in a difficult position. Let me explain.

"God's will" as our means of escape

When we're to blame for the things that happen, we quickly look for the quickest route out: blaming God.

This is probably the reason why most of us, when talking about bad and unpleasant events stemming from our wrong decisions, say it's "God's will" that these events happened.

The idea that everything that's happening is what God wanted to happen effectively takes away the faults from us and ultimately blames God for everything that is wrong in the world.

So, can we say that everything that happens to all people around the world as "God's will"?

No. We must not.

What God's will is

The Bible tells us that God is Sovereign and can turn the hearts of kings to do what He wants. (see Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 21:1)

Be that as it may, there are many things that God permits, but does not necessarily prefer or want.

God wants all men to be saved, but because belief in Christ is a personal decision that God won't manipulate, He won't force people to believe in His Son. (see 1 Timothy 2:4; John 3:16-18)

God wants all men to live in the fear of Him, but many don't fear Him. Thus, what these people do is not His will. (see Ecclesiastes 12:13; Psalm 14:1-3)

God loves all men, but wants all men to live in holiness, righteousness, and justice, away from sin. We can't say that God allows us to keep living in sin because "He loves us." (see Romans 6:1-4)

We can't consider everything that's happening as God's will. Yes, He permits things to happen, but just because He allowed it doesn't mean He wants it.

Unpleasant things often happen because we don't obey Him.

I leave you with this passage from Romans 1:18-27.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."