The short answer: God’s will isn’t a secret code to crack or a tightrope to walk. Get to know God through His Word, delight in Him, pray for wisdom, seek counsel, and then make a wise decision and move forward in faith.
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What we cover
Teens sent me several questions about God’s will, including this one: “How do you know God’s plan for you when there are multiple choices and none of them are against or detrimental to your faith or God’s Word?” In this episode, I answer four of those questions, about choosing between good options, hearing God’s voice, trusting Him when His will is hard, and finding your calling.
God’s will isn’t a secret code or a tightrope
Three ways the Bible speaks of God’s will: decree, desire, and direction
Delighting in God shapes our desires
Choosing between good options with prayer, wisdom, and counsel
Feelings vs. the final authority of God’s Word
Why a hard outcome doesn’t always mean a wrong choice
Trusting God when His will is difficult
Being faithful to the calling God has already given you
Scripture
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” — Psalm 37:4
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Lines worth remembering
“God’s will is not a mystery He’s hiding from you.”
“Feelings are real, but they’re not the final authority. The Word is.”
“Faithfulness is measured by obedience, not by how smooth the road feels.”
“Don’t spend so much time worrying about finding God’s will that you forget to walk with God.”
Take the next step
If you’re weighing several good options, ask God for wisdom (James 1:5), talk with one or two mature believers who know you, and then make a decision.
Before calling a strong impression the Holy Spirit’s leading, test it against Scripture.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 and pick one way to rejoice, pray, or give thanks today.
Name one place you can be faithful right now: a gift to develop or a person to serve.
To go deeper, read Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung.
Common questions
What if there’s only one right choice and I miss it? When several options honor Scripture, you don’t have to live paralyzed. Pray, seek wise counsel, consider your gifts and opportunities, and then make a decision with confidence.
How do I know if a feeling is from the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit will never lead you in a direction that contradicts Scripture. Feelings are real, but they’re not the final authority. The Word is.
If a decision turns out hard, did I miss God’s will? Not necessarily. A hard outcome doesn’t always mean you made the wrong choice. Sometimes God uses difficult circumstances to grow us.
Can God’s will be something I dread? Sometimes, yes. Even Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” When the path is hard, we can trust that God’s wisdom and goodness are greater than ours.
