Each of us is probably familiar with the phrase "for all the will of God." And many, most likely, thought about it. If we take it literally, it turns out that all aspirations of a person, his desires and prayers have no independent meaning.
One religious philosopher from Denmark, Soren Kierkegaard, has the words that prayer cannot change the will of God, but it can change the prayer itself. Based on this, it means that there is no place for miracles at all, everything is predetermined.
How does this phrase compare with church views and, in particular, with the expression “God's will for everything?” and two others closely related to him? They will be discussed below. Let's try to figure it out. And also consider the expression “whatever is done, everything is for the better.”
Two aspects
What does it mean "for all the will of God"? To answer this question, it is necessary to make a reservation that theologians distinguish two aspects in it.
- Goodwill.
- Permission.
First,regarding intelligent substances, represents the approval of their actions, desires and thoughts. And also support, manifested in the grace-filled help from the Holy Trinity and its blessings.
What does it mean "for all the will of God" in the second sense? It refers to deeds that are either morally neutral or contrary to God. He does not approve of such deeds, does not contribute to their implementation, but, despite this, allows them to be done. This allows sentient beings to act within the limits they were given when they were created, according to their free choice.
To understand the meaning of "God willing", let's give examples characterizing each of these aspects.
Examples of favor and allowance
For the first aspect it is:
- Abel's sacrifice;
- migration of Abraham;
- exit of Jews from Egypt;
- building the tabernacle under Moses;
- building the Temple under Solomon;
- Confession of the Apostle Peter;
- Paul's conversion.
As a vivid example of the second, we can consider the fall of Adam and Eve. God did not favor him, but at the same time did not interfere with this by the power of his own power. He did not stop the hand that reached for the forbidden fruit, allowing him to taste it.
Considering what "the will of God" means, let's talk more about these aspects.
Interpretation of the Church Fathers
What does "God willing" mean in the understanding of religious authorities? They areconsider this expression in the light of the dogmatic position, according to which no one and nothing, in principle, can resist the will of the Creator. This interpretation dictates the understanding that everything that happens in the world of created beings happens only because the Lord desires or allows it. Good and evil deeds - everything is possible only with the knowledge of the Heavenly Father.
However, the thesis under consideration should not be interpreted in a false sense, which suggests that God's providence is a fate. That is, it would be wrong to assume that everything that happens unconditionally had to happen. Just like not everything that didn't happen couldn't actually happen.
A reasonable man
God endowed man with reason, as well as freedom of action, although the latter is largely limited by the Creator. This concerns its nature and individual characteristics, the strength of circumstances. In terms of morality, he can both violate and fulfill the will of God.
If the desires and actions of a person correspond to his laws, the Lord favors him, contributing to the fulfillment of good intentions. If the aspirations and actions of the sinner contradict the highest plans, they are not approved by the Almighty.
What does it mean "for all the will of God" in the case of the freedom of choice of a person? She sees the following. It was the Creator who, by His will, gave man the ability to commit sin. On the other hand, he shows his patience and even longsuffering.
For a better understanding of what it means "for all the will of God", let's say a few more words about freedomthe will of man.
Synergism
Man, created in the image and likeness of God, is given free will. Without the possibility of choice, there would be no good as such, while only necessity would guide the inner life and actions of a person.
Free will is one of the main human virtues. But at the same time, it is also a huge responsibility for him. This raises the question, why is this choice necessary if so many people abuse it?
The whole point is that without it, salvation cannot be accomplished. Since it represents communion with God, that is, life with God, eternal approach to him, enlightenment of the soul and illumination of its divine light.
Man must voluntarily choose the path of salvation. God should be the main goal of his life. Salvation is seen as the Creator's love for his creation, and creations for the Creator. In this regard, the character of salvation is deeply personal. Theologians call this synergism - the interaction of Divine and human will.
Should we resist fate?
Roman Stoic philosophers said that fate leads the willing, while it drags the unwilling. In their view, man's relationship with God was like a one-way street. Only God acts on it, and man only passively perceives the results of his actions. All attempts to resist the predestined fate can only lead to loss of strength and to suffering that has no meaning.
As it became clear fromexplanations of Christian theologians, a person has free will, given to him from above. Of course, if he tries to drive a car towards a dump truck in order to arrange a competition with him about who will push whom off the road, a person cannot change anything here. But the believer has a choice: to move along this lane towards God or away from him.
Next, consider what does it mean to "trust in the will of God"?
Prayer as an approach to God
And a miracle due to his prayer can happen exactly where he moves towards the Creator. How does this happen, and what should be prayed for? One of the Russian ascetics, St. Ignatius (in the world - Brianchaninov) wrote that God does not need prayers.
He knows what each of us needs even without our petitions. On those who do not ask for anything, he also pours out his bounties. Prayer is necessary for the person himself. It brings the one who asks closer to God. Without it, a person is alien to the Almighty. The more a believer practices it, the closer he gets to the Creator.
Thus, the idea is carried out that God knows about the needs of everyone and rewards everyone by his mercy. Therefore, you need to rely on his will, follow his commandments and live according to your conscience. And in your prayers ask for his blessings.
Here, as it were, Kierkegaard's idea, which was mentioned above, is clarified. With the help of prayer, a person can change in a very specific way. She can bring him closer to the Almighty and thus prepare him for the perception of the benefits that he pours ontheir children without any request from them. This is the meaning of the expression that one must rely on the will of the Almighty.
What does it mean to "walk in the will of God?"
The Gospel of Matthew says that not everyone who turns to the Lord will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But only the one who does the will of the Heavenly Father. According to Theophan the Recluse, a bishop who lived in the 19th century, this means that it is impossible to be saved with the help of prayer alone. It is necessary to fulfill the will of God, that is, what is entrusted to a person according to the order of his life and rank.
And in prayer, you should basically ask God to help us not to deviate from his will. The one who zealously fulfills it will have a bolder prayer, and he will more easily gain access to the throne of the Most High. It happens that if prayer is not accompanied by walking according to the will of God, then it is not real, cordial and sober, but only verbal, external.
During its reading there is a moral malfunction, a person closes with verbosity, like a fog, and his thoughts wander. Only by performing both with piety will the fruit appear.
Deep peace and serenity
Theophan the Recluse says that whoever begins to firmly follow the commands of the Almighty, having an unshakable and indestructible foundation, will also become firm and steadfast. Those who chase transient values have troubled thoughts. But as soon as such a person comes to his senses and returns to the path of the will of God, his thoughts, as well as undertakings, will become orderly.
When is he in this lifestylefinally acquires the skill, everything inside him comes into a serene order and calm order. Starting in this world, serenity and deep inner peace will pass into the next life, remaining there forever.
This is what “walking according to the will of God” means - in the midst of the general flow of life around us and the constant, not flowing in us. So wrote Theophan the Recluse.
An example of trust in the will of God
A vivid illustration of such trust is the prayer of Filaret of Moscow (18-19th century), saint, bishop. He, turning to the Lord, said that he did not know what to ask of him. After all, God alone knows what he (Filaret) needs. God loves him more than he can love God. Father, give your servant what he himself cannot ask.
Further, Filaret exclaims: “I do not dare to ask you for either consolation or a cross, I just stand before you. My heart is open to you. You see needs that I don't know about. Behold and do according to Thy mercy. Heal and strike, lift me up and bring me down. I am silent and reverent before your holy will and your destinies, incomprehensible to me. I surrender to you and sacrifice myself. I have no other desire than to do your will. Teach me to pray and pray in me.”
An example of uncertainty
Such is the journey of the apostles with Jesus in a storm across a raging lake. They were frightened and woke up the Master, who was asleep in the stern. At their request, he performed a miracle. He told the winds to calm down. But at the same time, Jesus reproachfully turned to the disciples, asking: “Where is your faith?”.
In the presence of the storm lord on the boat, the students decided to ask him to perform a miracle. The fact that the Creator of the world in the person of the Savior was in the same boat with them, they considered insufficient to feel safe. The request of the apostles was granted.
God sees everything
Through their prayer, a miracle turned out to be possible, it remained forever in the history of mankind, testifying that God hears any requests. However, along with this miracle, the Divine rebuke addressed to the asking disciples entered history.
Something similar happens to people when, experiencing worldly storms, they turn to God with a request to help them. They think that the Creator has forgotten about them, that he does not see what is happening, that he does not control events. And the fragile boat of their lives is about to be overwhelmed by waves of adversity. However, God with his invisible participation always accompanies us in our destiny.
"Whatever is done is for the best": the meaning of the expression
This proverb can be illustrated by the following parable.
One king had an adviser who was a devout believer. Whatever happened to him and those around him, he repeated:
- Whatever God does is for the best. He arranges everything wisely. If he gives something, it's good, and if he doesn't, it's even better.
If the king did not get what he planned, the adviser repeated again:
- It's for the best!
In such situations, the ruler was perplexed:
- I can't believe that when something bad happens, when a person fails, it is good for him.
One day,when both characters were walking in the forest, a thorn of a poisonous plant dug into the king's leg. Without a moment's hesitation, the adviser cut off his master's toe, damaged by a thorn, with a dagger, and said:
- Good God arranged everything!
The ruler was beside himself with rage:
- Isn't it good that you took my finger away?
The adviser answered:
- If I hadn't cut it off, the poison would have covered your whole body, and then you would have died.
However, the king was not reassured by this explanation and drove the adviser away. Continuing the road alone, the ruler came across a tribe of cannibals who were just looking for a suitable victim for the holiday. The king was captured, but then he was released. This was due to the fact that the victim was handicapped due to the absence of a toe.
The king was very frightened, but, having reached the palace, he summoned an adviser to him. He generously gifted him and said:
- I understand that you said wise things, but still explain what good it is that I sent you away in the forest?
The EA replied:
- If I stayed with you, the savages would eat me.
Since then, the ruler has no longer doubted the wisdom of God's plans.
Having studied the meaning of the expression, “whatever is done, everything is for the better”, like all of the above, we can conclude that everything in the world is done by the will of the Creator, who wants only good for a person. But at the same time, the latter has free will, which is given to him in order to approach the Almighty.
