God and “the free desire of the individual soul”

George MacDonald wrote: “[God] lays no plans irrespective of his children; and, his design being that they shall be free, active, live things, he sees that space be kept for them: they need room to struggle out of their chrysalis, to undergo the change that comes with the waking will, and to enter upon the divine sports and labours of children in the house and domain of their Father. Surely he may keep his plans in a measure unfixed, waiting the free desire of the individual soul! … [UnSpoken Sermon titled, “Man’s Difficulty Concerning Prayer”]