What does "by God’s will" in Romans 15:32 teach about submitting to God? Seeing “by God’s will” in Context Romans 15:32: “so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.” – Paul has laid out an itinerary (vv. 23-29), yet he punctuates it with a humble qualifier: everything will happen only “by God’s will.” – His language echoes a life lived under the hand of a sovereign Lord, not personal ambition. What Submission Looks Like in Paul’s Phrase • Acknowledge God’s ultimate control over every plan. • Tie both travel and ministry goals to the Lord’s permission and timing. • Expect genuine joy and mutual refreshment only when the plan aligns with heaven’s design. Core Lessons on Submitting to God 1. Let God Sign Off on Every Agenda – Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” – James 4:13-15: plan, but add “if the Lord wills.” 2. Keep Obedience Active While Waiting – Paul moves ahead (collecting for Jerusalem, v. 25) yet remains flexible. – Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19 show the same pattern: “I will return if God wills.” 3. Expect His Will to Produce Joy, Not Drudgery – “come to you with joy” links gladness to divine direction. – Psalm 40:8: “I delight to do Your will, O my God.” 4. Submit for the Sake of Community, Not Isolation – Paul’s submission leads to being “refreshed” together. – True submission knits believers, never isolates them. 5. Mirror Christ’s Ultimate Example – Luke 22:42: “Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” – Christ’s surrender anchors Paul’s, and ours. Practical Take-Aways • Start each plan with prayerful surrender; end each day reviewing how God redirected. • Speak the phrase “Lord willing” as more than a cliché—let it calibrate your heart. • Measure success not by completed plans but by faithfulness within God’s will. • Anticipate joy and refreshment as indicators you’ve stayed under His hand. |
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