Book Review: "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung's Just Do Something in an excellent book for people trying to discern God's will for their lives. It's a relatively short book (122 pages and small-sized), but it's packed with many helpful insights.

The gist of this book is that when seeking God's will for our lives, we ought to "Seek first [God's] kingdom and [God's] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well," (Matt. 6:33). DeYoung argues that as long as we seek God first in everything we do, then no matter what we do, we will please him. In other words, when we surrender our lives to the finished work of Jesus Christ to live in our place, die in our place, and rise again for us, we respond rightly by loving him and living in obedience to his commands in the Bible. When we put the glory of Jesus Christ as the predominant priority in our lives, then we can have peace knowing that whatever we do, it is covered by his work (not ours), and, thus, it is pleasing to him.

DeYoung teases this out in the second chapter, as he distinguishes between God's wills of decree, desire, and direction. God's will of decree is what God has ordained to happen according to his sovereign, divine pleasure. God's will of desire is what God has commanded in his Word--what he desires from his creatures. God's will of direction is his individual, specific plan for the who, what, where, when, and how of our lives. One of the many accurate and liberating statements DeYoung makes about God's will of direction is, "God does have a specific plan for our lives, but it is not one that He expects us to figure out before we make a decision," (24).

DeYoung discusses many insightful reasons why younger generations are so obsessed with finding God's will for their lives, and why this treasure hunt is leaving so many young people daunted, paralyzed, and ultimately, stagnant. DeYoung writes that we ought to disregard the idea that there is one right option out there that God wants us to choose, and if we don't find it and follow it, then we're failures. Instead, God most often uses the decisions we make to teach us about ourselves, the way he's wired us individually, and about his will of direction for our lives.

The most practical advice DeYoung offers readers by the end of the book is that they ought to ask God for wisdom in their decision-making, and that they ought to pursue it by regularly reading his Word, by asking for insight from godly friends and mentors, and by praying to God and growing closer to Him. I agree with the author that this is the best practical advice and approach we can utilize as we seek God's will of direction for lives. This approach will also allow to examine our own experiences and skills to help determine the direction in which God might be leading us.

I really enjoyed and appreciated this book. It reminded me that God is in control of my life, and that he promises to lead me and guide me. My job is to trust him, to love him, and to obey him to the best of my ability by the power of the Holy Spirit, and he will guide me where he wants me to go. I highly recommend this book for anybody in their teens and twenties.

DeYoung, Kevin. Just Do Something. Moody: Chicago, 2009.