The Bigger Picture: Life, Free Will, and God’s Calculated Plan

Throughout my life, I’ve felt a deep and often unexplainable pull toward God, even during the most confusing and challenging moments. I have always been someone who seeks meaningful connections with others and with God. Growing up in the Bible Belt of Louisiana, I was surrounded by many individuals who professed their faith, but I often found myself questioning how those teachings were reflected in daily life. This led to a sense of disconnection, even though I understood the core principles of faith. I had a desire to live according to Biblical teachings, especially when it came to relationships and family, but I often felt there was something more I needed to grasp.

I’ve always had this sense that my home isn't on Earth. There’s this internal understanding, almost like a homesickness for something beyond this world. I can’t explain it entirely, but it’s something I’ve always felt. Even when life has been difficult, I’ve felt God’s presence in small ways, guiding me along. Whether it was prayers I didn’t fully understand at the time or moments where I felt alone, I know He was always there.

I had my fair share of struggles, times when I felt emotionally lost, confused, and like my world was spiraling. I made impulsive decisions in my teenage years, including running away from home twice during periods of despair. I was emotionally erratic and didn't yet understand the theological concepts of God’s love and grace the way I do now. I didn’t fully grasp God’s plan for me. I didn’t understand His love in the way I do today. I wasn't the person I am now, but looking back, I can see the hand of God working even in those chaotic moments.

It wasn’t until later, especially in my college years, that I began to understand God’s purpose for my life. I began learning how He had a plan for me, even though I couldn’t see it then. And now, as I reflect on the journey, I can see how each of those struggles that were very real and deeply personal moments of hurt, have brought me closer to understanding not just the world around me, but God’s deep, calculated love for me. God is truly the Ultimate CEO, orchestrating every detail of my life and using even my darkest moments to lead me to where I am now.

Interestingly, the place I ended up living now, here in Florida, was where I was drawn during a pivotal time in my life. It’s almost as if God had a roadmap for me, a blueprint I couldn’t understand at the time but that has now unfolded in ways that make perfect sense.

Through all of this, God has shown me that life on Earth, with all its struggles, is not a random series of events. It's a series of lessons and opportunities, meant to deepen our relationship with Him. My journey, though messy and far from perfect, has led me to see how calculated God's plan is for each of us. I’m not perfect, and I’m still a work in progress, but I am closer to the person I was meant to be because of God's unwavering guidance.

Understanding Our Purpose on Earth: Why We Are Here

The journey of life on Earth, filled with challenges and heartbreak, can sometimes seem overwhelming. It’s easy to wonder why we endure hardships, why bad things happen, and why life isn't as perfect as we imagine it should be. One of the most profound ways I’ve come to understand this is by considering the fall of Satan. Satan, once a beautiful angel created by God, chose to rebel. His fall wasn’t because of something he lacked, but because he was given the freedom to choose, just like us. He had everything, beauty, power, position, and yet, he chose rebellion. This shows us that even the best of creation can fall and that the capacity for evil exists within the gift of free will.

Why does this matter to us? The reality is that free will is a gift we share with Satan, but unlike him, we are given the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Through our lives on Earth, God allows us to experience struggle, loss, and heartache, not as punishment, but as an opportunity to grow closer to Him. These trials are part of a bigger picture, helping us understand why we must never betray God, as Satan did. The mistakes of others, both in the Bible and in our own lives, teach us valuable lessons that prepare us for eternity with God. If we had everything perfect from the start, we wouldn't be able to fully appreciate the beauty of God's grace, love, and forgiveness.

Earth as the Place for Growth and Reflection

As humans, we live in a cursed world that has been impacted by sin and rebellion since the fall of Satan and the original fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. But we weren’t placed here by accident. Our struggles are meant to help us develop virtues like patience, kindness, empathy, and a deeper trust in God. Just as Satan’s fall is a cautionary tale of the dangers of pride and rebellion, our lives here on Earth help us reflect on these lessons.

If everything were perfect, if we lived in a paradise with no suffering or difficulty, we would never fully grasp the depth of God's love or understand the significance of free will. Life on Earth allows us to experience firsthand why it is so crucial to align ourselves with God’s will. We are given the opportunity to make choices that reflect our trust in His plan, which ultimately will bring us closer to the truth of who God is.

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

The question of why bad things happen is one that’s often asked when people are struggling. When I’ve been asked this question, my response is simple: Bad things happen because we live in a fallen world, one that was impacted by Satan’s rebellion and the choices of mankind. But just as our world has fallen, so too is our journey a path toward redemption. We can’t see the full picture yet, but I believe that through the struggles we face, God is refining us, drawing us closer to Himself, and teaching us the importance of free will.

Mathematically speaking, if this life were the only thing that mattered, it would seem absurd. But life is not about this moment; it’s about eternity. Time doesn’t hold the same weight in God’s kingdom. What may seem like a lifetime of suffering here is but a blink in the span of eternity. The pain we face today is shaping us for an eternal reward, a deep, intimate relationship with our Creator.

The Bigger Picture: God’s Calculated Plan

I often reflect on how everything in my life, even the struggles, has shaped me into who I am today. God has a calculated plan for each of us, and it’s in our moments of struggle that we begin to understand just how deliberate His love for us is. Life on Earth isn’t random, it’s part of God’s perfect design. Satan's fall, our free will, and our ability to choose love over rebellion are all pieces of the puzzle. They shape us into the beings God intended us to be.

We can never truly understand the depth of God’s grace without having gone through trials. That’s why life on Earth, as difficult as it may be at times, is a critical step in our journey toward eternity with God. The struggles we face now are preparing us for a life with Him, one where we will never be able to betray Him, just as Satan did.

Final Thoughts

This life is a precious gift that allows us to make choices, grow, and ultimately understand the incredible nature of God's plan. Although I still struggle at times, I can see God’s hand in my life, guiding me toward something far greater than what I could ever achieve on my own. My prayer is that we all begin to see the beauty in these struggles and learn to trust in the bigger picture God is unfolding for us.