One thing I love about building my new basement office is that I can stick in my IC player and listen to sermons while hammering away. 

Yesterday I listened to Tim Keller field questions from his congregation and the question came up about God's blueprint for our life. One one side you have the "negative will of God" theory that goes like this: If it hurts, then it's probably God's will. Of course, that's ridiculous, God is not a masochistic freak who takes pleasure in watching people writhe in agony. 

On the other hand, I visited a church last Saturday that basically teaches that if you're suffering physically and you pray for God to take it away and it doesn't happen, then you don't have enough faith. Although I have dear friends who are charismatic in their theology, this is a frequent teaching of many charismatic churches. And it doesn't line up with Job's life who suffered because of his godliness. To hold this theory presents an even bigger problem with the gospel. Jesus asked God to remove this cup of suffering He was about to drink and God basically said, "No." So did Jesus have a lack of faith? 

Elizabeth Elliot said it right, "Jesus did not suffer so that you won't suffer but so that you can identify with Christ when you suffer." Suffering for Christ's sake truly is a form of fellowship with Christ (Phil 3:10). On the other hand, "the negative will of God" theory doesn't hold water either, for every pleasure is from God's hand just as much as every trial (Jam 1:2; Jam 1:17). 

But what do you do when you thought God was working something out in your life and it all suddenly changed? From your perspective the change may seem for the worst. But take hope in this: God always chooses what is best for us (Rom 8:28). A pay raise or the flu, a broken relationship or a witnessing opportunity, a beautiful day or a losing your keys—positive or negative, God uses all things to grow His people because of His infinite love for them. Even our dumb choices or mistakes do not thwart God's awesome plan to give us what will help us the most. 

Tim Keller likened it to a child who is playing James Bond and you walk up and say, "Would you like to go see Cirque du Soleil, the amazing circus?" To that child nothing could be better than what he is doing right now because that's all he knows. He doesn't know that Cirque du Soleil would make playing James Bond look like a total bore. When God changes your plans it's because He has something better for you. Better does not always mean immediately more pleasurable, easy, or fun. But ultimately, it will be the most satisfying and the most helpful in His shaping us into Christ-likeness. In God's will is the safest place to be.