Here’s the way I understand it as of now:

We have free will to do whatever we want… choose whatever we want… etc.

But because we are CREATED by an infinite being who was before creation… who is all powerful and always accomplishes His will — then the creator’s will is greater than the created’s will.

In short, we have the ability to control our lives — to an extent — but God can turn our choices into working His perfect will.

For instance, Adam chose independence away from God in the garden. This didn’t surprise God, He knew it would happen. It wasn’t the original plan but that’s the result of giving creations free will, but He also knew it would happen before Adam was even created. So He also had a plan to reconcile Adam and the entire world back to Himself (Jesus).

Just like God knows people will choose to murder other people… He doesn’t initiate it, yet it doesn’t surprise Him — and yet, even though it’s not the original plan — God can use that persons “bad” choice (murder) to work towards His ultimate glory.

I hope this makes sense as it’s very difficult to explain and to be honest, I don’t understand it all myself anyways.

With Love
Caleb