God Invites, He Never Forces: A Lesson from The Shack

I recently started reading The Shack by William Paul Young, and I just came across something that completely resonated with what I had been reflecting on: God never forces—He invites.

This realization has been unfolding in my life in so many ways. I’ve wrestled with decisions, especially around whether I should be running a business or how I should be using my skills. For so long, I felt like I had to do something with my talents, like God would be disappointed if I didn’t build something "big enough." But that mindset left me feeling pressured, weighed down, and conflicted.

Then I started to see things differently. Through prayer, reflection, and conversations, I began to understand that God isn’t standing over me with expectations—I’m the one putting those on myself. He’s not a taskmaster demanding results. Instead, He gently leads, opens doors, and gives us the freedom to walk through them or not.

Reading The Shack brought this truth home in a new way. There’s a part in the book where the main character, Mack, is struggling with his understanding of God. He expects control, judgment, and force. But what he learns instead is that God’s way is always an invitation, not coercion. Love cannot exist where there is force. True relationship with God is built on trust, not obligation.

That hit me hard. I realized I had been treating my decisions like a test I had to pass, instead of a journey I get to walk with God. He isn’t waiting to scold me for not doing enough—He’s inviting me to find joy in the things that bring me closer to Him.

That shift in perspective changed everything. Instead of forcing myself to fit into a business model that didn’t feel right, I decided to lean into what does feel right—writing, creating, sharing my heart, and embracing a slower, more intentional life. I don’t have to prove my worth to God. He’s already delighted in me, just as I am.

I don’t know where this journey will take me, but I do know this: God’s will is never something we have to force. If it’s from Him, it will come with peace, with freedom, and with an open invitation. And that is more than enough for me.