A Clash of Wills

Today was a day of battling wills, which most people will understand wasn’t pleasant even though the idea of clashing wills may seem a bit abstract and unclear. In philosophical terms the human will is described as a faculty of the mind, including reason and understanding, which is rather humorous; if the will is a part of reason and understanding, then why does it tend to be so headstrong and unreasonable? Looking to the book of Genesis, this wilful tendency becomes apparent very quickly. God had an incredible plan to create a world where humans could live in eternal communion with him, enjoying his presence and all of his creation, but it doesn’t take long for that plan to be seemingly thwarted by the wilful disobedience of Adam and Eve, and the never-ending stream of wilful humans to follow.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; Genesis 3:6-7

So from the beginning of recorded time, man had a will that rose up against the will of God and chose to disobey, which means man reasoned and chose with understanding to work contrary to God’s plan. So really is it any surprise that humans continue to wilfully oppose one another if we have no hesitation in wilfully opposing our creator? If anything we should anticipate this battle of wills because we operate with reason and understanding from our own point of view, from our own well of wishes and wants. It is the essence of our sin nature.

So if the Bible makes it clear the will of man exists and opposes God’s divine authority, how are we as humans suppose to address the opposition we face daily from fellow humans, perhaps even those we are closely connected to? Throughout the Bible, God demonstrates the answer to this question in offering humans the freedom of choice and the gift of grace. He never forces compliance or manipulates us into doing it his way, and even when we get it wrong he’s willing to offer grace. So how does God expect us to dole this out to the world in our humanity? I can’t say for certain how it will look in every conflict, but rest assured whatever God calls us to do in a situation, it is likely to challenge us, even pushing us to respond against our own will and our own way, by submitting to the will of another, even when we believe they are wrong.

It’s a tough pickle and one we may not always get right, yet upon occasion we may have the opportunity to sit amazed at how God has orchestrated our responses and made something beautiful from what could have been an ugly battle. After a long day of frustrations, this evening was one of those times for me.

I wasn’t prepared when they called from the hospital to tell me my elderly father was wilfully discharging himself from the hospital against medical advice, but I went and I listened and submitted to his will as a man, still able to choose. I didn’t have to agree with the thirty minute drive to his home, where I would make a couple frozen waffles and some sausage before leaving him literally in the hands of God, but I respected and honored him as the man who gave me life on this earth. It somehow reminded me of the many times I let my children go places outside of my care, out of my control and I knew it was right. Dad was pleased to be home and eager for me to leave, and as I made the journey back to my own home, I was at peace and thanked God for the many life lessons that brought me to this place where I could do the right thing, even if it went against everything I wanted, maybe everything I felt was right, and even if it was one of the hardest things I ever do. When people say God wants it all, believe it. Every release of control is training us for a greater trust in him. The battles are not meant to be ours.