Matt Ehresman
Director of Communications, Online Engagement
Whenever we face difficult choices or are forced to make big decisions, most Christians wrestle with the idea of “God’s will.” If we believe God is the ultimate Creator who designed us and has a specific plan for our lives, it seems wise to seek His direction in these kinds of decisions. However, this can also be a frustrating process, since we rarely audibly hear direct answers from God about day-to-day issues we face.
Still, we want to walk in alignment with God’s plan for our lives, and the Bible is full of examples and invitations to bring our cares and our requests to God (1 Peter 5:7). So, if you’re in a season where you’re seeking direction about God’s will for your life, here are a few things that may be helpful.
Still, we want to walk in alignment with God’s plan for our lives, and the Bible is full of examples and invitations to bring our cares and our requests to God (1 Peter 5:7). So, if you’re in a season where you’re seeking direction about God’s will for your life, here are a few things that may be helpful.
What is God's Will?
Before we get too far, there is one important distinction to make about different types of God’s will. First, there is a principle called God’s “general will,” or sometimes called His revealed or perceptive will. This general plan is universal—the same for everyone on earth.
There are certain behaviors and characteristics that God outlines throughout Scripture that are wise for all of us to follow to live a successful and God-fearing life. For example, all of us should love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), follow the Ten Commandments, and strive toward daily devotion with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 even specifically instructs us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” These kinds of things will always be God’s will for all of us.
When we talk about seeking God’s will, we’re often talking about the second type of God’s will, often referred to as God’s “specific will.” Here we’re talking about… well, specific things God has planned for individuals or groups of people. These things are personalized and tailored to each person’s life circumstances, calling, and context.
Scripture teaches that God has had a plan for your life long before you were born (Ephesians 2:10), and He gave you specific talents and placed you in a specific time and place to make those things possible. These specific plans are not found in the Bible, because they’re unique to you.
This specific will is often a lot harder to discern. So how can we begin to discover God’s will for our individual lives? God reveals His will to us in four main ways.
There are certain behaviors and characteristics that God outlines throughout Scripture that are wise for all of us to follow to live a successful and God-fearing life. For example, all of us should love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), follow the Ten Commandments, and strive toward daily devotion with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 even specifically instructs us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” These kinds of things will always be God’s will for all of us.
When we talk about seeking God’s will, we’re often talking about the second type of God’s will, often referred to as God’s “specific will.” Here we’re talking about… well, specific things God has planned for individuals or groups of people. These things are personalized and tailored to each person’s life circumstances, calling, and context.
Scripture teaches that God has had a plan for your life long before you were born (Ephesians 2:10), and He gave you specific talents and placed you in a specific time and place to make those things possible. These specific plans are not found in the Bible, because they’re unique to you.
This specific will is often a lot harder to discern. So how can we begin to discover God’s will for our individual lives? God reveals His will to us in four main ways.
How God Reveals His Will
- The Bible. Ok, so your specific will is not spelled out in Deuteronomy. And not even in 2 Peter. Still, in order to discover our specific will, it sure helps if you’re following God’s general will. If you’re not living the kind of life God intends for us to live, you may not be ready to address the specific pursuits He has in mind for you. Before worrying about specifics, start by becoming the type of person God can use.
- Prayer. If we believe God is who He says He is—a wise, all-powerful, and loving Father—a great way to ask for God’s will is to ask Him! James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” We have unbelievable access to the Creator of the world, and He longs to tell you what He wants you to do. Again, we rarely audibly hear direct orders from God, but some people do. And even if you don’t, regular, ongoing communication with God is the first step to learning to discern the gentle nudges that often come from…
- The Holy Spirit. If you’ve given your life to Jesus, God lives inside you. The Spirit’s job is to be our counselor, guiding us through the ups and downs we all face in life. In order to grow closer to the Spirit and learn from Him a little easier, you have to grow that relationship just like you grow any other relationship. It takes time and effort, but eventually, Christians can learn to sense the Spirit’s guiding hand in their lives, and those holy nudges can give you confidence you’re following the plans God has in store for you.
- Other People. There’s a good reason why a lot of lawyers and politicians study history; when we look back on our lives and the examples of others, we often pick up on trends. You’ve probably heard the popular line that history repeats itself. This is true sometimes, but the truth may be closer to a line made famous quote from Mark Twain: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” Historical figures or even your own friends and family may not have experienced the exact same thing you’re currently facing, but odds are they have faced something similar. Wise people seek counsel from others (Proverbs 11:14), especially if you have close friends or family who are also followers of Jesus. Not only do they have a decent idea of God’s general will, but they also know you. Sometimes we need an objective outsider who can look at our lives and point out things we may be blind to. Just like you can often give good advice to your friends, they likely have helpful input for you as well.
Keep Searching.
In the end, searching for God’s specific will for your life can feel daunting and often frustrating. You likely won’t pass a billboard on your drive home today that explicitly tells you what to do about your career or who to marry. (If you do see that billboard, maybe take it with a grain of salt. That seems sketchy.)
Still, if you move forward with patience and trust, in time—with the guidance of the Spirit and advice from other people—it is possible to follow the plan God has in store for you. Keep searching, and make sure you start from a place of living within God’s general will.
Let’s end with some comforting words from Matthew 7 about what we’re told to do when we have requests or questions for God:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
God longs to give you direction and peace. Keep asking, and He will answer.
Still, if you move forward with patience and trust, in time—with the guidance of the Spirit and advice from other people—it is possible to follow the plan God has in store for you. Keep searching, and make sure you start from a place of living within God’s general will.
Let’s end with some comforting words from Matthew 7 about what we’re told to do when we have requests or questions for God:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
God longs to give you direction and peace. Keep asking, and He will answer.