The Perfect Will of God vs The Permissive

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The Perfect Will of God vs The Permissive Will of God

The concept of "God's perfect will versus God's permissive will" has long been taught in Word of Faith circles, especially by Kenneth E. Hagin, as a way of distinguishing between what God ideally designs and what He allows when people insist on their own course.

Supported by Old Testament Scripture

While the Bible does not use those exact terms as technical categories, the idea itself is drawn from patterns observed in Scripture. A foundational verse often cited is Romans 12:2, where Paul speaks of proving "what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." This verse suggests not only that God has a will, but that believers can discern and walk in it. Christian teaching has often understood this to imply that believers can live in God's highest design -- His perfect will -- or settle for something less than His best.

A clear Old Testament example frequently used to illustrate this distinction is found in 1 Samuel 8. Israel demanded a king so they could be like the surrounding nations. God told Samuel that the people had rejected Him as their king. He warned them through Samuel of the consequences that would follow such a decision, yet when they persisted, God allowed them to have Saul. The monarchy itself was not outside of God's sovereign knowledge, but the timing and motivation revealed a departure from His immediate preference. This is often presented as an example of God permitting what He did not originally desire, allowing the people to experience the consequences of their insistence.

Another example appears in Numbers 22 with Balaam. Initially, God clearly told Balaam not to go with the men who sought to hire him. When Balaam continued to press the matter, God eventually allowed him to go, yet the angel of the Lord stood in opposition to him on the road. Teachers have often pointed to this account as a picture of permission without approval. The first instruction revealed God's perfect will; the later allowance revealed His permissive tolerance in response to human persistence.

The account of Hezekiah in Isaiah 38 is also cited. The prophet told Hezekiah to set his house in order because he would die. After fervent prayer, God extended his life fifteen years. During those additional years, Manasseh was born, who later became one of Judah's most wicked kings. While the extension demonstrated God's mercy and compassion, some teachers have suggested that it may not have reflected God's original timing. In this framework, the extension is seen not as rebellion against God, but as an example of divine accommodation to a heartfelt request.

Supported by New Testament Scripture

In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts toward understanding and walking in God's revealed will through Christ. Colossians 1:9 records Paul praying that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, and Ephesians 5:17 urges believers not to be unwise but to understand what the will of the Lord is. These verses show that God's will is not unknowable or arbitrary. It can be discerned, and believers are expected to seek alignment with it.

God's perfect will is understood as that which aligns with His written Word, His redemptive plan, and the leading of the Spirit. It produces spiritual growth, peace, and fruitfulness, and it requires obedience and trust. God's permissive will, by contrast, is described as what occurs when a believer insists on a direction contrary to God's initial leading. In such cases, God may allow the choice, yet consequences may follow. Even then, His mercy remains active, and He works within the situation to redeem and restore.

But, Use Caution

At the same time, caution is necessary. Not every hardship is evidence that someone has "missed God," and not every trial indicates that one is living in permissive will. James 1 teaches that trials can produce maturity, and 2 Corinthians 4 shows that pressure and affliction can accompany faithful obedience. Therefore, the concept should not become a fear-based doctrine that causes believers to second-guess every difficulty. It is meant to encourage careful obedience and attentiveness to God's leading, not anxiety or self-condemnation.

In summary, while the specific terminology of "perfect" and "permissive" will is theological language rather than direct biblical phrasing, the pattern behind it can be observed in Scripture. The Bible reveals that God has an ideal design, that human beings can resist or insist on their own way, that God may allow what He does not initiate, and that mercy operates even when consequences unfold. Properly understood, the teaching is not meant to create fear but to inspire believers to pursue God's highest and best with humility and responsiveness.

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