I know a couple who have on their wall a framed piece of needlework that someone gave them for a wedding gift. It has their names and their wedding date, and it says, "God gave us each other." I think many Christian couples believe that they were brought together by God's providence. People often feel the same way about their vocations, believing they have been led into a particular life's work by God. As a church, we trust that our plans and decisions are guided by God's spirit.

But why would we think such a thing? How do we know our lives are following any sort of divine intention? God doesn't appear to us in visions and tell us who to marry. I've never known a pastor who claimed to have heard a voice from heaven calling him or her into the ministry. God never serves as a voting member …