Salesian Literature

Chapter 14  :  A short way of knowing God’s will

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God’s will is made known to us, says St. Basil, by what he disposes, what he commands.  This calls for no deliberation on our part; we simply carry out God’s orders.  In everything else, however, we are perfectly free to make our own choice of what seems good – though it is not a question of doing everything that is permissible, but only such things as are suitable.  To discover exactly what is appropriate, St. Basil concludes, we are to take the advice of a prudent spiritual director.

 

However, I have a warning for you, Theotimus. Souls who long to come as near as possible to God’s will in everything often meet with a troublesome temptation.

 

No matter what they are about, the devil raises doubts as to whether God wants them to do one thing rather than another.  Much time is lost in this way.  While they busy or worry themselves trying to discover which is better, they miss the opportunity of doing much that is good.  Deeds give God far more glory than any amount of time wasted in trying to discriminate between good and better.

 

We are not given to weighing tiny coins, only large ones.  Trade would be troublesome and eat up too much time.  Neither are to weigh every tiny action, to see if it is better than another; that way lies superstition.

 

Choosing a vocation, planning something that is important, time-consuming or costly, moving house, making friends – things of that kind deserve serious reflection, to see where God’s will chiefly lies.

 

In tiny daily activities, however, where even a mistake is neither important nor irreparable, what need is there to make a fuss about them, or give them too much thought, or get in other people’s way by seeking advice about them?  There is nothing, normally, to show that one thing is so evidently superior to the other as to call for the making of great decisions.

 

We are to go ahead simply and sincerely on such occasions, choosing what we think is good (as St. Basil says), without giving ourselves a headache, wasting our time, or laying ourselves open to the dangers of worry, scruples, superstition – always on the understanding, of course, that there is no great disparity between one thing and another, or no special considerations involved.

 

Even in spiritual matters we are to be very humble, nor are we to imagine that we can discover God’s will by prying or by clever reasoning.  First we must ask for light from the Holy Spirit, then concentrate on discovering God’s permissive will, take the advice of our spiritual director and (if necessary) of two or three others, make up our minds, and come to a decision in God’s name.

 

Afterwards we are not to question our choice, but devotedly, calmly, steadfastly keep it up, carry it through.  Although difficulties, temptations and many different things may beset our path, to make us wonder if we have done right, we are to remain resolute and take no notice.  Remember: had we made another choice, we might probably have found things a hundred times worse – to say nothing of the fact that we are in the dark as to whether God wishes us to experience comfort or trials, peace or war.

 

Once our decision has been taken with God’s help, we need never fear but that God will aid us to carry it through; as long as it does not depend on us, it cannot fail.  To act in another way is proof of excessive self-love, or of childishness, want of character, and sheer stupidity.

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