A Perspective on Freewill

Someone gifted my family an arrangement of flowers in sympathy for the loss of my brother.  After a couple of days, unsure of how to water the flowers properly in the basket, I decided to take them out and make bouquets in vases.  As I made the arrangements, thinking about the height and color of which flowers and bundles and leaves to place first, I was reminded of 2001.  

In 2001, a florist in my hometown wanted to sell her business so that she could retire.  My dad was going to help me purchase it and I would run the operations.  I was excited about the change of career, owning my own business, and making people happy with flowers!  But…I was a new resident of Rock Hill, SC, I was a new Science teacher, working in my college major, and enjoying it.  I was a newlywed, a new homeowner, and had just purchased a new car!  While my salary was only about $30,000 (if that) per year, it paid the bills, and it was steady and sure.  After some discussion about becoming a florist I began to think it unwise to trade my steady salary for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.  I told the owner of the florist that I would not be able to purchase her business.  

As I thought about it the other night, if I had purchased that floral business, life would have been very different, even today 25 years later!  I don’t mean different with a judgement attached to it.  I’m not saying it would have been better or worse, just different.  I would not have remained in Rock Hill for sure, but other than that who knows!  In 2001, I wasn’t such a praying woman, so the decision not to purchase the business was not likely a prayerful decision, but a decision of my logic and experience.  I don’t regret the decision I made back then.  I did what I thought was best for me, my foreseeable future, and my stress level.  

As He always does, God allows us to use our freewill in our decision-making.  While it’s true, He has a plan for our lives, that He knitted us together in our mother’s womb, He doesn’t control our actions or decisions.  Nor do our actions and decisions change His will.  They may change our immediate outcomes, but ultimately, His good, pleasing and perfect will results.  I could have chosen to purchase the business, but I believe that somehow I still would have had two sons, and married Troy Massey.  I still think I would have written my books, I would be leading Bible study in my home on Thursday evenings - maybe not in this house, but in whatever home I lived in.  I may not have been driving the same cars, and all the minor details, but the big things were predestined and bound to happen.  

Please don’t misunderstand this message.  I have no regrets!  And you should not either.  Whatever has happened due to your decisions or what seemed to be by chance, all of it falls within God’s purview.  There is no need to fret or fear or regret, you are where you are supposed to be.  If you don’t believe this is true, pray and ask Him to guide you into His will.  You won’t wake up in a different city or home, but by opening your heart to His will, you make yourself more pliable, more obedient, and our willingness to be obedient can make all the difference. Amen. 

~Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

~Isaiah 46:10
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

~Psalm 139:7-8
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.​

I don't have to be a florist to enjoy arranging flowers!  Amen!  These are some of my arrangements!