Natalie just graduated college. She has two job opportunities—one that takes her across the country and another just a few miles from home. There are pros and cons of each. She prays and asks God which choice she should make. 

Ty has been dating his girlfriend, Jamie, for two years now. He longs to honor God with his decisions. He prays hard and asks God if now is the right time to ask Jamie to marry Him. Or if she’s even the girl God has planned for him.

Lacy and her husband are considering moving across the city to be closer to family. They’d need to sell their home and buy another one. They’d have to find another church.  She prays and asks for God’s wisdom. Is now the right time? Does God want them to move? She wishes God would just tell her what to do.

Have you ever been in a similar scenario? Have you ever prayed for God to reveal His will to you? There are a million questions we may ask of the Lord. And if we’re honest, He does not often give us a specific answer.  He may not tell Natalie which job to accept; or whether Jamie is the right girl for Ty; or if Lacy’s family should move now or later. But that does not mean that God is hiding His will for us. Rather, God reveals His will for His children in Scripture. 

God Does Reveal His Will

As always, when we have questions for God, we can go to His Word. God tells us His will in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, as Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The Lord calls to us to live a life of joyful obedience, walking daily with Him in prayer and thanksgiving. 

And then, in Micah 6:8, God teaches us what He requires of us: “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Again, God calls us to a daily dependence where we walk humbly alongside our God. But this leaves us with a lot of freedom, doesn’t it? The truth is that we can be seeking to please the Lord with our decisions—to walk humbly alongside God—and still have to decide between two morally neutral options. How do you determine what to do in moments when you’re unsure? 

A Practical Framework For Decision-Making

As we seek to make the most God-honoring decisions we can, here is a practical framework that you can use as you seek to discern God’s will as you make decisions:

Pray

First, come humbly to the Lord in prayer. You can come to Him for help and mercy in your time of need. God promises that He will instruct you. He will guide you. Ask for His help and confess your need for Him. Tell the Lord your dilemma and ask Him to show you His will. Ask Him for the wisdom to make a decision that will please Him. (If you would like to learn more about what it means to listen to God, check out The Daily Grace Co.’s Prayer Handbook.)

Go To God’s Word

After you’ve humbled yourself before the Lord in dependence, go to God’s Word for answers. God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our paths (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word teaches us not only about God, but also about His Kingdom’s values. Therefore, when we need to know how to operate as Christ’s ambassadors here on earth, the Bible will tell us how to honor God with our lives. The primary way that the Holy Spirit will guide you is through calling your mind to God’s Word. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Scriptures and helps you apply them to your life. Therefore, to be led by God, we must go to His Word.  

Seek Wise Counsel

After you pray and seek God’s Word for wisdom, you can then confide in your Christian community. The same Holy Spirit who dwells within you dwells within them, as well. God often uses our Christian brothers and sisters to speak wisdom into our lives. Perhaps a Christian mentor points you to Scripture that you did not previously know about. Or maybe a godly friend shares wisdom from their own similar experience. God will often use others to help you see your dilemma from another perspective. 

Make the Best Decision You Can

Finally, after you have prayed, sought God’s Word for truth, and spoken to your Christian community, you can move forward in the wisdom you’ve received. Do not forget—you have God’s Spirit dwelling within you—working inside of you to steadily grow you in Christlikeness. The Holy Spirit may nudge you in one direction or the other. As you discern these Holy Spirit communications, remember to hold them to Scripture and to the advice you’ve received from your wise counsel. 

Even after taking all these steps, you still may not know the exact next step that you should take—but by this point, hopefully you have more clarity to discern what is pleasing to God. Often, decisions are morally neutral. God has given you free will, and a mind made in His image, to be able to reason, think logically, and discern your best next step. This next step may not be monumental, but rather a small step in a direction that will help you get “unstuck.” As you step, you can be confident that God goes with you there (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

God Is in Control

Perhaps you feel anxious about making the wrong decision. Or maybe you are afraid of what the future may hold. As you prayerfully make decisions, you can rest in the sovereignty of God. God’s sovereignty means that He has complete control over all things. No decision you make is outside of His purview. Proverbs 16:9 reads, “A person’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” God will work in and through whatever decision you make to draw you closer to Himself. In a year from now, you will be able to look back and see God’s hand in all the details of your present circumstance. Rest in the fact that God is in control. He has never fumbled, forgotten, or forsaken His own.

Perhaps what matters more than the specific decision you make is the posture of your heart. God desires your affection and your attention. After all, God’s two greatest commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30–31). If you are striving to do these things to the best of your ability, you are heading in the right direction! 

Take heart. God goes with you. His Holy Spirit is alive and active within you. You are well-equipped.

(For more on navigating stressful situations and discerning God’s will, check out Peace Under Pressure | Finding Rest In Christ When You’re Stressed in The Daily Grace Co. shop!)

Additional Resources for Trusting God’s Sovereignty:

The Prayer Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practice of Prayer		Peace Under Pressure		Good Christian Girl		Is God Enough for Me? | Contentment Bible Study
Loading price…		Loading price…		Loading price…		Loading price…
Add to Cart		Check it Out		Add to Cart		Add to Cart