Over the past year, as my husband considered making a change in employment, I prayed, “Lord, show us your will in this.”
Perhaps you’ve prayed a similar prayer when faced with a big decision in life. Or an uncertain future. Or a season of waiting.
God’s will—as believers, we want to seek after it, follow it, obey it. We want clarity and direction to pursue the will of God. We want to make the “right” choice—whatever it may be. Wanting to do God’s will is a good thing. After all, didn’t our Savior teach us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?
The challenge comes in defining what we mean by “knowing God’s will.” For me, when it comes down to it, what I really want to know is the future. I want to know what’s going to happen. I also want to know which option to choose right now in this moment; I don’t want to have to wrestle with it and weigh the pro’s and con’s. I don’t want to make mistakes and have to learn from them. I also don’t like that unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach as I look to the unknown months and years ahead.
I just want to know.
The truth is, we are not going to know God’s secret will. We aren’t going to know his future plans for us in exact detail. But we can know his will for us in terms of what he calls us to do and how we can honor and glorify him with our lives. He gave us his Word which contains everything he wants us to know.
God’s Will and His Word
So what do we do while we wait? What do we do while we stand at a crossroads and stare at two choices before us? What do we do when we simply don’t know what to do? What do we do when we fear doing the wrong thing?
First, we can pray to know God’s will: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10). We can pray that the Lord would give us discernment. We can pray to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding. This comes through studying God’s word and learning more about him and his character. The more we know him, the more we know what pleases him. The more we know what pleases him, the more we can walk in his will.
Second, the Bible teaches us that learning God’s will comes through a renewed mind: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). How do we renew our minds? We do this by yielding to the Spirit’s refining work in us, by putting off our old self and putting on the new self, and by setting our minds on things of God. We do it by comparing our thoughts to what Scripture teaches and then casting aside everything that does not measure up to it.
We can also seek help and wisdom from the people God has placed in our lives (Proverbs 11:14). As a member of the Body of Christ, we are united to other believers. They have the same Spirit living within them. We can seek out those who are wise in God’s word and receive their help in navigating a difficult decision.
God’s Will for Us
When we are in a season of waiting or when we don’t know what to do, the Bible tells us a few things we can know for certain about God’s will:
1) Nothing can stop or thwart God’s will: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,saying, ‘My counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isaiah 46:9-10). God’s will always happens; there is nothing we can do to interfere or hinder it. If we choose a job that isn’t a good fit, that is God’s will for us. Even if we make an unwise decision, that too is God’s will. He promises to use every circumstance in our life for our good and his glory, including unwise choices.
2). It is God’s will that we grow in holiness: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). When we find ourselves in a season of uncertainty about the future, when we aren’t sure which direction to turn, when we are waiting on an answer to prayer, we can use that time to yield to the Spirit’s work in us. We can ask ourselves: What might God be teaching me during this season of waiting for wisdom and discernment? What sins might I need to repent of? How might I draw nearer to God and depend upon him during this time?
3). It is God’s will that we give thanks in all things: “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In the midst of making a decision, or waiting for God to move in our life, we can give thanks to the Lord for who he is and what he has done. We can thank him that we know him and that we are known by him. We can thank him for his word. We can thank him for his work in this world and in our lives. No matter the circumstances, there is always something for which to give thanks.
When facing a difficult decision or the uncertainty of the unknown, a friend of mine and I often say to one another, “Praying the prayer that never fails.” This statement comes from Father Tim, the fictional character in the Mitford Series. And what is the prayer that never fails? “Thy will be done.” This is a truth we can cling to in uncertain and confusing times. When we don’t know what to do or which way to turn, when we desire to know God’s will in our circumstances, we can rest in the truth that while we may not know what the future holds, God does and his will always comes to pass.
