5 Truths to Remember When Seeking God's Will

1. Read the Bible Every Day

I'll admit. I hesitated to include this point because the idea of turning to the Word feels so obvious to even the newest of Christians. But then I remembered all the days, weeks, and even months spent not reading my Bible during stressful seasons of life, and how hard the enemy works to keep us from all the guidance, insight, and promises found in Scripture. It never fails to amaze me how the same book, read for decades, still brings fresh revelation, wisdom, and guidance when we need it most. Unfortunately, as we've all experienced, we're not guaranteed an immediate "aha!" moment every time we click the Bible app or yell, "Hey Siri, read me Psalm!"

One arbitrary flip to Leviticus chapter 3 will probably not help us decide whether to put our kid on ADHD meds or not. But, if we keep at it, He does give us insight and guidance for the exact issue at hand. He will speak through His Word if we slow down and give it time.

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2. Make Sure You're Ready for an Answer with a Surrendered Heart

This one's tough, isn't it? Am I the only one to have cringed, danced with denial, or straight-up ignored God when His revealed will sounds about as good as diving into a poison ivy patch? Sometimes, I think God takes a bit longer to show us his will because He knows we're not quite ready to trust and obey. If He says "yes" to remaining in a currently loveless marriage or "no" to an exciting opportunity that would take away from family time, we may not listen if our hearts aren't truly eager for His direction. In times of wavering faith, we need the Romans 8:28 assurance that God always has our best in mind and that all things work together for good to those who love God. He never calls us to anything we can't handle, or won't equip us for, and he'll never leave us to 'figure the rest out" on our own, when we do follow his will. Simply put: Even when it feels scary, unfamiliar, or uncomfortable, God's will is always best.

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3. Avoid Asking for Signs

God is so good, and He does sometimes offer tangible, supernatural signs to help us along the way at certain points in our lives, but I believe these acts are more rare than the norm. Even those who claim to have heard the voice of God usually only experience this once in a lifetime. Instead of asking God for a clear and undeniable sign that this is indeed time to become a foster parent, change jobs, or have another baby, pay attention to the often overlooked but very real guideposts He's providing all the time.

This could be as simple as listening to the advice of Christian friends, journaling our thoughts with Him, or paying attention to our own bodies. This may sound humanistic or New Agey at first glance, but through the years, I've learned how often God gives us direction through our physicality. For example, if you notice yourself feeling tense or experiencing heart palpitations when you're exposed to or thinking about a situation you're seeking God's will on, don't ignore it. God made us body, mind, and soul; our body's stress indicators were created to let us know something's not quite right. For example, I remember feeling physically suffocated, like I couldn't breathe every time I hung out with the "neck tattoo" guy back in my twenties. Just saying. God is faithful.

4. God Is in Control

No one likes hearing it, but while we're on this side of heaven, we're going to take the wrong turn once in a while. I've seen friends start churches where they weren't supposed to, miss divine opportunities because they hesitated in fear, and even disobey out of pride. The wisest, most mature, spirit-filled of us will, at some point, make the wrong decision. But one of the most comforting truths to ponder when fearing failure or regret is that the Lord will never, ever let us crash and burn, even when we epically go wrong. You may leave a job too early. Or get a divorce before really trying. Or sue that company instead of turning the other cheek. God's got you. And it's going to be okay. 

Think about all the past mistakes we've made or wrong choices we've committed, and hasn't he always rescued us? He's numbered all our days, He knows the entirety of your future, and there's nothing you can do to hinder His good plans. When the weight of your current decision feels unbearable, remember God sees your heart and knows your needs, and He's already worked (and maybe even reworked) every detail and every circumstance for your good. This doesn't mean we should ever stop seeking His will. It just means the burden of fear and worry is His to bear. He's that capable, He's that willing, and He's that good.

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