Nov 26 min read

Fork on the Road: God's Will vs. Human Will

In our journey through life, we encounter countless "forks in the road"—moments where we face choices that shape who we are and who we become. The paths we choose carry us closer to or farther from a life filled with purpose, love, and peace. But where do our choices fit in with God’s omniscience? If God knows every choice we’ll ever make, does this mean we’re predestined to follow a specific path? Does His foreknowledge of our choices cancel out the reality of free will? Let’s explore the balance between God's omniscience and our freedom in ways that reveal both His boundless knowledge and His unending respect for our independence.

The Uniqueness of Every Human Being

To understand this mystery, we must first recognize that each human being is utterly unique, designed with an individuality that goes beyond surface similarities. Even identical twins—who share the same DNA—possess distinct qualities. They may look nearly identical, but unique traits, like a birthmark or a different voice, set them apart. Beyond physical differences, they have individual personalities, virtues, love languages, strengths, and quirks. They may laugh at different things, love different things, and respond differently to life’s challenges.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms this uniqueness: “Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world…God wills the interdependence of creatures” (CCC 362-344). Each of us is irreplaceable in our distinct combination of gifts and experiences, forming the “image of God” in our very being (Genesis 1:27).

In fact, we are each the sum of our choices. Imagine a person as a complex equation, woven from countless variables that shape their uniqueness, for example:

Person = ((love language(s) x positive number of languages mastered or negative number of walls built against each love language) + (gifts + talents x effort) + (-traumas x fears) + (coping mechanisms [where if coping mechanism = vice, then addiction > self-control then multiplied by anxiety, or if coping mechanism = prayer, then self-control > addiction, then multiplied by trust]) + (personality traits) + (strengths - weaknesses) + (hobbies / interests) + (sense of humor x attitude) + (worldview) + (-wounds + healing) + (knowledge + education - ignorance) + (archetypal behaviours) + (physical traits + health - illness and/or disability) + (discipline or - lack thereof) + (sensory issues or strengths)) All multiplied by faith, which in turn is multiplied by trust (where if no faith or trust, these potentials are multiplied by fear of death and/or anxiety).

Our unique sum of personal traits and choices forms a one-of-a-kind individual. No two of us are exactly alike in the eyes of God, and He values this uniqueness as part of His creation. But God, who knows every detail of our “equation,” also knows every possible result of it. This doesn’t equate to predestination. Instead, it speaks to His intimate knowledge of who we are and the infinite potential paths that lie ahead.

God as the Master Mathematician

Imagine God as a master mathematician with infinite knowledge and wisdom. Just as a brilliant chess player can foresee every possible move of their opponent, so does God foresee every possible decision we could make. And yet, just as the chess player doesn’t control their opponent’s moves, God doesn’t control ours. He has given us the freedom to choose our path, even though He knows the consequences of every decision.

In Psalm 139, David marvels at this perfect knowledge: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me… You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether” (Psalm 139:1-4).

God’s omniscience enables Him to calculate every possible outcome of our lives. He knows our next move and every conceivable reaction that could follow, as well as the ripple effects each choice will have. In this way, God’s omniscience does not control our choices; it accommodates them. His knowledge of all possibilities allows Him to offer paths that gently guide us back to Him, no matter how far we may stray.

St. Augustine illuminates this mystery: “God is not subject to time; His knowledge is not bound by time. He sees in one glance the entire course of human history”. Through His transcendent wisdom, God respects our freedom and patiently provides a way forward.

God’s Desire for Us: The Path Back to Him

What does God want for us? Ultimately, His desire is that we each become saints, sharing in His own divine life. God is love, and He made us so that His perfect love could dwell within us. His deepest desire is to unleash the creative power of His love in our lives, transforming us into our truest selves. That’s why, at every choice, He provides at least one path that leads back to Him.

This is where the “fork in the road” appears. Every decision—no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem—holds the potential to draw us closer to God, entrench us in self-centeredness, or lead us further away. Each choice opens a new fork in the road, and we are free to decide which way we’ll go. Yet, we can rest assured that God, in His omniscience, will always provide at least one way back to Him, no matter how far we’ve wandered.

In his wisdom, St. Thomas Aquinas teaches: “To love is to will the good of the other” (CCC 1766). God, in His perfect love, wills our good even when we fail to choose it for ourselves. His love provides us with countless chances to return, to seek His grace, and to walk the road back to Him.

The Reality of Free Will and Divine Guidance

God’s respect for our freedom is profound. He grants us the dignity of making choices, even when we may misuse that freedom for selfish or harmful purposes. Our choices can lead to real suffering when they’re not aligned with His love, whether they harm ourselves, another person, or creation itself. Sin, at its most basic level, is simply choosing a path that diverges from God’s path of love. When we act against His love, we disrupt our own peace and diminish the harmony of the world around us.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that human freedom is a cornerstone of God’s love: “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will…to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility” (CCC 1731). God respects our choices, and even when we stray, He invites us to freedom in His love, a freedom that brings life to the fullest.

However, when we choose the way of Divine Will, we join in a kingdom of love and healing, building up a fallen world. Each small decision to follow God’s will at the forks in our road allows us to contribute to His kingdom and brings us closer to the life He desires for us.

Embracing God’s Will at the Forks in Our Road

Each fork in the road is an opportunity to choose: Do we walk the path that leads us toward God, or do we take the path that locks us into the prison of self (and which eventually will obliterate even such self existence)? These choices, large and small, weave the story of our lives. They draw us nearer to or farther from the abundant life God offers. And yet, with every fork, God is there, offering us a way back. Through His omniscience, He anticipates each step we take and lovingly provides guidance that respects our freedom while inviting us to journey home to Him.

As St. John Paul II so beautifully expressed, “God respects our freedom, yet He gives us the opportunity to freely respond to His love…so that by the grace of the Holy Spirit, our freedom may bear fruits of life, peace, and joy.”

In this way, we navigate our lives with true free will, even as God operates with transcendent knowledge of all possibilities. His omniscience does not overshadow our freedom; it makes space for it. And as we walk this road, God is always near, calling us toward a life of love, creativity, and purpose, so that our choices become the very paths through which He transforms our lives.

Written by: Frida Abaroa

Founder of 3NITY

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