Amongst young people today we see a rarity. It is hard to find someone who is actually 100% sure about what they want to pursue in life. In my corner of Christianity, I see a lot of this going on in young adult circles. The economy is not great right now, it's hard for young people to get off their feet and do things like buying a house or starting a family, so the stakes are certainly higher. This coupled with other factors such as "needing to know God's will clearly" are causing people to not do anything with their lives, floating around doing the bare minimum, waiting for the day of reckoning where they will finally get that divine revelation. It's wise to carefully consider your path, but it becomes unwise when that turns into wasting your life. Just Do Something is a helpful perspective in this discussion.
Overview
In this short and accessible book, Deyoung begins by diagnosing the problem: Christians waste their lives waiting for a "divine revelation" before they make any decisions at all. Deyoung discusses the possible causes and the consequences. He then moves on to give a biblical case against such a mindset. Deyoung gives us a realistic look at what God's will actually consists of, as described by His inspired Word. Deyoung then brings it to the practical sphere and encourages Christians to make decisions using biblical principles instead of looking for arbitrary revelations from God.
Why Read This?
I think the problems identified in this book are very real and prevalent. This is a shame because we need Christians who are willing to take risks, make a difference, and just do something. I'd hate to see wasted lives because of fear, a Christian life should be cautious, certainly, but not fearful. Deyoung does a good job in this book by making it easy to read, convicting, accessible, and real. Biblical principles are well-used and prevalent in this book, coupled with personal experiences and good reasoning, this makes for a very enjoyable book.
This book tackles a problem that really needs to be fixed. Many Christians do not understand how God's will functions. They look for signs all too often, in every little thing, when God doesn't even promise that. There is also a big fear of "missing God's plan", which can be a result of people's fears of suffering. Again, God does not promise a "perfect plan" that is knowable to us. Read the book, it addresses this very well.
The fearful, reluctant, and nervous Christian should read and consider this book.
Potential Pitfalls
We should be very careful with this topic. "Just Do Something" does not mean we throw our brains out the window. We should still carefully consider our plans with wisdom. Not everyone is a Geroge Muller, it's not wise to move out penniless expecting God to provide. It's not wise to marry the first girl you date without careful consideration. We should always use discernment, pray, and consult God's word before making any major decisions.
Of course, we can't just stereotype every Christian who is uncertain about life as someone who has it all wrong or is slothful or whatever. There are legitimate reasons sometimes for someone's reluctance. Perhaps it's trauma, perhaps there are very complicated circumstances, and we ought to approach those with grace. "Just do something" is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Unfortunately, reading this book can give off that impression.
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