What Does the Phrase "if it Is God's Will" Mean?
You may have heard someone say, “if it’s God’s will.” The person may be sharing how they have relinquished control of circumstances and are giving the situation to God. Or, perhaps, in another example, when someone says “if it’s God’s will,” they may mean that they don’t know what else to do and are not sure of what will happen, so, they are stating that God’s plan will work out, one way or another.
When we pray and ask God for wisdom, discernment, or revelation in a situation, we are giving God glory and honor (Matthew 6:10 NIV). We want to know how things will happen, yet we must trust in God. His plan is best. We may not know what will happen from moment to moment. Our faith in God gives us comfort that His will is working out for the best.
In 1998, when my daddy was journeying through lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, our family didn’t know how much longer he would live. We knew God had a plan for Daddy. I never questioned if lung cancer was God’s will. The doctors provided possible reasons for lung cancer. Daddy worked in a shipyard for over 40 years. There could have been asbestos in the area and that might be a cause of the disease. Other scenarios were considered. Yet, instead of focusing on the cause of his cancer, our family focused on how to lean on God and help Daddy through diagnosis, treatment, and the effects of that treatment. Through my faith, I knew that whatever journey Daddy endured, God would be with him and God would be with our family.
Did I wish God’s will would be different for my daddy? Yes. I prayed for healing. I knew my daddy would be healed on this earth or in heaven. God called him home on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1998. Daddy was healed in heaven, according to God’s will and plan for my daddy.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Gift Habeshaw