God’s Revealed Will and His Hidden Will: What We Know and What We Don’t

Good morning, warriors! Today, we’re diving into a very important topic—God’s will. But not just any will—God’s revealed will and His hidden will. Now, before you roll your eyes and say, "Pastor Cris, this sounds like some deep theological stuff," don’t worry! We’re going to break it down so simple and relatable that even my dog, Tweety, could get it (well, maybe not Tweety, but you get the point).

Let me start with a little story: Imagine you get a mysterious letter in the mail, and it’s addressed to you in fancy, old-timey script. You open it, and inside, it reads: “You have been chosen for a mission. A mission only you can accomplish. You will need to gather these items, go to these places, and carry out this plan... but there’s one problem.” What’s the problem? The rest of the letter is blank. No more instructions!

Sound frustrating? That’s kind of how we experience God's will. Sometimes, He reveals exactly what we need to do. Sometimes, we’re left with a blank page, trusting He’s got it all figured out in the background.

God’s Revealed Will: What He Tells Us to Do

Let’s start with God’s revealed will. This is the part of God’s will that’s crystal clear. It’s not a mystery or a riddle. We don’t need to sit in a dark room with a candle and “meditate” to figure it out. It’s in the Bible. Simple, straightforward, and totally not hiding.

Let’s see some examples of God’s revealed will:

1. God Wants All People to Be Saved (1 Timothy 2:4) You ever hear someone say, “I just don’t know what God wants me to do with my life!” Well, here’s a start: God’s revealed will is that everyone is saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 says, “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God’s will is that we know Him. So, whether you’re trying to figure out your next career move or what to have for lunch, remember, God’s will is for you to know Him first and foremost.

If you’re wondering if you’re in the right career, make sure it’s leading you to fulfill God’s bigger calling for your life. It's not about what you do, but why you do it. Do it for His glory!

2. God Wants Us to Live in Peace (2 Peter 3:9) Here’s another big one: God’s will is for peace. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is patient, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” God desires peace between us and Him. He wants peace in our relationships and our hearts.

So, when you’re sitting in traffic, about to lose your mind, remember this: God’s will is peace. Maybe that’s your reminder to take a deep breath, put on some worship music, and let the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your heart.

God’s Hidden Will: The Eternal Plan We Don’t Fully See Yet

But here’s where things get a little more mysterious. God has a hidden will—the eternal plan He’s got going on behind the scenes. It’s the ultimate plan for the universe, and while we might get glimpses of it, we can’t fully see or understand it all. It’s like watching a few minutes of a movie without knowing how it ends.

1. God’s Eternal Sovereign Plan (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5) In 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, Paul talks about how God has chosen us for a specific purpose. It says, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” God’s will is not just for us to do good stuff; He has a bigger picture in mind. You can’t always see the full story, but know this: He’s got a plan.

2. God’s Chosen People (1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 2:9) 1 Peter 1:1 and 1 Peter 2:9 make it clear: God has chosen us. He has set apart a people for His own purposes. Sometimes, this hidden will is about us stepping into our identity in Christ. Maybe you don’t know why you’re going through a certain season, but trust that God has a plan. You’re a part of His family. He’s got the blueprint even if you can’t see it all yet.

3. The Big Picture: Revelation and God’s Ultimate Plan (Revelation) Now, let’s talk about the grand finale. Revelation. What do we know about God’s will from the book of Revelation? A lot, actually. But the one thing that stands out is that God wins. If you’re feeling lost, discouraged, or wondering what God’s doing, look at the end of the story. Revelation tells us that no matter what happens, in the end, God will make everything right.

Sometimes, we feel like we’re in the middle of a movie with no idea how it’s going to end, but guess what? We already know the ending! We win. Christ wins. That’s the ultimate will of God. The story isn’t over yet, but we can trust He’s got it under control.

How Do We Live in the Tension Between Revealed and Hidden Will?

So, we’ve got two big categories here: God’s revealed will (the things we can clearly understand and do) and God’s hidden will (the big picture we don’t fully see). But how do we live in this tension? Here are a couple of thoughts:

1. Live in Obedience to the Revealed Will: When in doubt, start with what God has already revealed. Be saved, live in peace, love others, share the gospel. These are things we don’t have to guess about. If you don’t know what to do next, do what you already know to do: live for God’s glory, be kind, love your neighbor, and make disciples.

   
   

2. Trust God’s Hidden Will: God’s hidden will is bigger than you and me. He’s not caught off guard by anything happening in the world. Trust the process. You don’t need to know all the details. God’s got it under control. When you don’t understand, remember that His plan is perfect and He’s sovereign over it all.

   
   

Conclusion: God’s Got the Plan, and You’re in It!

Here’s the bottom line: God has revealed His will to us in many ways, and those are the things we should focus on doing—living out His commands and loving others. But for the things we don’t understand, the things that feel hidden, let’s remember that God has it all in His hands. His sovereign plan is unfolding, and He has chosen us to be a part of it. So, when you don’t know what’s next, just know: God’s got it under control, and you are part of His plan.

Let’s pray,

Father, thank You for revealing Your will to us through Your Word. Help us to walk in obedience to the things You’ve clearly shown us. When we feel confused or unsure, help us to trust Your hidden will, knowing that You have a perfect plan for our lives. Thank You that You’re in control of all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.