06/04/2026
Deo Volente: The Art of the Flexible Pivot
We’ve heard the Latin phrase Deo Volente—“If the Lord Wills.” But if you grew up anywhere in the South, you probably heard it translated a little differently: “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” It’s a colorful phrase, but it carries a heavy truth. It means: I’ve got my blueprint, but God holds the master plan. It’s the delicate balance of being fiercely committed to your goals, yet entirely flexible when God decides to reroute your GPS.
The Apostle James didn’t mince words about this in James 4:13-15:
“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’”
The "Senior Partner" Problem
Let’s be clear: there is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition. It’s not a sin to work hard, crush your goals, and strive to be the absolute best version of yourself. God didn’t create you to be passive.
The danger arises when we treat God like a silent investor rather than our Senior Partner. We map out our careers, our finances, and our futures, and we completely forget to consult the One who holds our very next breath. We build entire empires on paper without ever asking Him for the permit.
Finding the Sweet Spot
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste a single day running on my own fumes. I want to live in the dead center of God’s will for my life. That is the ultimate sweet spot—the exact coordinates He designed specifically for you.
Before you make your next big move, stop and ask the simplest, most revolutionary prayer you can pray:
“God, what do You want me to do about this?”
Give Him the steering wheel. Lay down your blueprint, trust His vision, and let Him guide you all the way home.