We hear a lot about “God’s plan” as though He has a specific plan for each of our lives. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: “You need to find God’s plan for your life.” When something good or bad has occurred, you may have even said: “It was God’s plan,” as if God predetermined it to happen.
God created the natural realm to function with many interacting pros and cons, even “good and evil” energies with productive and destructive processes. (a) [see endnotes for scripture] We are all birthed into this life as God’s offspring, to develop our conscious awareness of life. (b) Since the earth is where we begin our existence, it is appropriate to ask “Does God have a plan for our life?”
“Plans” Translation
Scripture says: “You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb…I am fearfully and wonderfully made…My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths…Your eyes have seen my unformed substance…how precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (c) Our Creator has valuable thoughts for us!
We often hear a verse quoted: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (d) The Hebrew word translated ‘plans’ in this verse actually means “thoughts, intentions, and purpose.” The NASB translated it 19 times as ‘thoughts’, 3 times as ‘purposes’, and 16 times as ‘plan’ or ‘plans’. Does God have plans for us or thoughts towards us?
The above verse in the KJV reads: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you…thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (finish). You may not realize it but the King James Version (KJV) of Old and New Testament does not contain the English word ‘plan’ or ‘plans’.
God has only good thoughts, intentions, desires, and intentions for us and for our future. Scripture does not say God has a detailed plan, blueprint or map for us to discover and follow. While He gives us distinctive talents to use in whatever activity we choose to pursue, He has not planned for us to become a doctor, farmer, engineer, actor, or a writer. We are free to pursue these kinds of choices.
Scripture does not say God has a detailed plan, blueprint or map for us to discover and follow.
Image and Likeness
In Scripture’s first mention of mankind, God announced His ‘purpose’ for each of us. He said we are designed to be His “image and likeness.” (e) This phrase comes from the Hebrew words that mean “reflect and resemble.” God has designed each of us to be reflections and resemblances of Him. As His expressive offspring, we are all intended to grow, develop, and mature as responsive children.
While God created Adam and Eve with a purposeful potential, (f) their actions verified the creative purpose was not finished. As they walked away from their intimate interaction with God, their ability to properly reflect and resemble God into their environment began to deteriorate.
Everyone is born with a deposit of our heavenly Father’s Spirit, “the spirit/breath of life.” (g) This natural life involves more than physical growth; it includes the formation and development of our soul’s conscious mind, will and emotion. (h) Everyone has the potential to develop into our stated purpose.
As expressions of the Eternal One, we are birthed into this life to reflect Him as a mirror reflects the image it views. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” (i) How well we reflect God in this life depends on how clearly we perceive Him and view His character, attitude and personality (CAP).
Besides reflecting God as a mirror, we are also designed to resemble Him as a child resembles a parent. When children grow up without a parent’s influence, their likeness tends to be faint. While a visual likeness may be seen, their character, attitude and personality (CAP) can be quite different.
It is helpful to realize our created purpose involves more than design. It includes a process of making and forming us to make it so. “But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord.” (j)
Our designed purpose is to “be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love.” (k) As doubting offspring and responsive children, our maturity comes through developmental growth. Transformations are often slow and difficult processes that can take a lot of time to settle in.
God has designed each of us to be reflections and resemblances of Him.
God’s Declared Purpose
God has given us an example of our purpose and the goal we are to pursue. (l) The Eternal One illustrated His human image and likeness in the life of Jesus Christ. As our example, he reflectively resembled God by saying and doing what he sensed the Father desired to say and do. (m) Jesus even prayed that we be as he was – people in the earth who hear and follow God’s insightful guidance. (n)
We have no control over our beginnings and do not choose our parents, our heritage, the society we are born into, or the historical time frame we live in. However, as we grow, the choices we make, both pros and cons have a huge effect on our maturing development. The values and qualities we adapt as our own dictate how well we relate to God and to one another. How Christ-like are we becoming?
Scripture gives us a good look at the productive and fruitful effects of God’s CAP: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (o) A caution is vital; we are not created to be “as” God, but offspring that reflect and resemble Him. (p)
There are many stages in our development, which begins in the restrictions of a mother’s womb. When we are released from the womb we grow from infancy into adolescence and eventually adulthood. Eventually we even assist in the birth and developing expansion of God’s family.
As His offspring, God gives us the freedom to decide how soon we respond to His lead and to what degree we follow His insightful guidance. As we personally interact with our heavenly Father and absorb features of His CAP, we become better expressions of His heart and mature into our purpose.
Our purpose is to live, grow, and improve our CAP during this life’s process. God allows us to work through all the gory and glorious details of “working out our salvation.” (q) While at times we act and say things that are hurtful, each day we arise to become better expressions of God’s nature.
The purpose for our life is not a meticulous plan that requires our adherence nor is it considered a futuristic event. On the contrary! Our real purpose in this life is to interact with God’s insightful presence, as Adam and Eve initially did, (s) so we can live and mature more appropriately.
This is achieved through our interactive fellowship with God and with one another. It is helpful to realize that when we pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” (r) we are asking God to open our consciousness to His guidance. When we hear and perceive, we can agree with and move as He leads.
Rather than seeking God’s plan for our life, can we give ourselves more to God’s declared purpose? Everyone can become more mature reflective resemblances of His loving nature! This is active faith!
God gave us Jesus Christ as an example of our purpose and the goal we are to pursue.
a) Genesis 2:9; b) Acts 17:22-29; John 1:12; c) Psalms 138:13-17; d) Jeremiah 29:11; e) Genesis 1:27; f) Genesis 1:26; g) Genesis 2:7; h) Galatians 4:19; i) 1 Corinthians 13:12; j) 2 Corinthians 3:18) k) Ephesians 5:1-2; 4:25-32; l) Ephesians 4:12-16; m) John 5:19; Matthew 26:39; n) John 13:15; 17:24; o) Galatians 5:22; p) Genesis 3:4-5; q) Philippians 2:12; r) Matthew 6:9-10; 6; s) Genesis 3:8
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
When We Arise And Shine author
Created To Relate author