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Are you currently asking, “what is God’s will for my life”? Are you paralyzed with fear in decision making about “God’s will”. Find encouragment in reading about God’s glorious will for our lives.

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What Is God’s Will?

Maybe this has been you and you have been asking “what is God’s will”? Possibly you have found yourself quite paralyzed at this daunting question. What should my college major be? What vocation does God have for me? Who should I marry? When should I have children? How should I raise my children? What kind of church should I go to? Should I approach this person I have been having a hard time with? What is God’s Will?

We tend to believe that God’s will for our life is indicative of worldly and glamorous achievement. I’m sure you have heard these messages:

• Follow your heart! Do big things!
• God has a GREAT CALLING FOR YOUR LIFE (that’s the big one)

These messages bombard us even in our churches, Christian homes, and Christian schools. They put pressure on us to seek for God’s will. Heaven forbid we miss one step of His will and completely destroy our lives (much sarcasm here). It is a legitimate fear for many.

The question “What Is God’s Will”, Could Very Likely Be A First World Question.

I went through an awfully hard season, plagued by the question, “what is God’s Will?”. I was crippled and paralyzed in decision making, and life in general. I know I am not alone. This is truly a question that many of us struggle with, some more than others.

However, if I am being honest for a moment, this is probably a first world question. We usually have all of our needs met. Even the poor in America are richer than most of the world. We are often highly educated, many of us work relatively calm jobs (some of you may be laughing and thinking, “yeah, not me”). Let me finish explaining.

There is a flip side. Many people across the world work laborious jobs. In particular, motherhood and homemaking can be especially demanding, especially in other countries. For example, many women may have to forage for food, walk long distances to reach markets, and gather water from faraway sources.

I am noting all of this to bring awareness to the fact that we often have ample time and resources on our hands to ponder, “what is God’s will for my life?” In another country, working hard in our families for the glory of God, is the pinnacle of our life dream. That is beautiful and actually encompasses many of the things considered “God’s will” that we will look at like: sanctification, gratitude, suffering, and more.

Let’s reshape the question, “What Is God’s Will?”

There are many ways that Christ showed and told us what the Father’s will for our lives is. We are going to discuss many of Christ’s desires for our lives. The goal is to recenter our heart and possibly reframe the question: “what is God’s will?” Here are a few topics we will explore from scripture that are clearly God’s will for our lives:

• sanctification
• response to suffering
• the great commission
• making disciples
• bearing fruit
• enduring
• thanksgiving
• Submission to The New Law in Christ

Ultimately, if you are still asking, “but, what do I do with my life?”, we will touch on that too.

How To Discern God’s Will

God’s will is not as straightforward as a prescribed plan such as a job, spouse, move, etc. It is much more than this. God’s will for our lives involves Holiness and sanctification. Romans 12:2 says, “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.

How do we discern God’s will? We discern God’s will by the renewal of our minds. The renewal of our mind is an act of turning our desires to that which will please God.

In the process of understanding God’s will, I encourage you to reframe another question we often ask, “Am I Enough”. Read this post to get more insight on turning your mind from honoring self to honoring God.

When we ask the question, “what is God’s will?”, we can think that this is Holy and required. But, it is often an unintentionally self-absorbed question. Discern God’s will by renewing your mind toward sanctification.

God’s Will Is For His Glory and Our Sanctification

First and foremost, God’s will is for His glory and our sanctification- these two things go hand-in-hand. Taking part in the work of sanctification is also saying, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done”. In Heaven, we will be fully sanctified in Christ. This will glorify God forever. Even still, when we talk part in sanctification here on earth, as unperfect as it feels at times, we are taking part in the work of God. This glorifies Him. This is why glorifying God and sanctification go hand-in-hand.

Co-operating in Sanctification

To cooperate in God’s will, process of sanctification, we must always examine our motives (our heart). I don’t mean this in terms of being scrupulous, which is a mindset of me, guilt, and saving myself. Here is a definition of scrupulosity:

Scrupulosity is a psychological disorder primarily characterized by pathological guilt or obsession associated with moral or religious issues that is often accompanied by compulsive moral or religious observance and is highly distressing and maladaptive.

Cooperating with sanctification is not scrupulosity. Instead, It is allowing the Holy Spirit to constantly center our motives (heart) on the narrow way, Christ. The goal is to do this with joyful and anticipatory obedience. This is where we really engage our heart with The Lord and His work in our lives.

Cooperating with sanctification is not scrupulosity. Instead, it is allowing the Holy Spirit to constantly center our motives (heart) on the narrow way, Christ.

God’s Will Is How We Respond to Suffering.

The time I lived in most assurance of “God’s will for my life” was when I was suffering the most. I witnessed a traumatic event, but will not go into detail about this for two reasons. First, I want to protect the person involved. Secondly, I want to spare you some triggering details.

My life is forever changed from this experience. My life is changed because of God’s grace. In this suffering, Christ called me into trust and fellowship with Him, even though I had known him since childhood. In this suffering, he was truly my only option for hope. I responded to suffering with hope in Christ. This is a scary and glorious place to be. By His grace, through His Word, and with the help of the Holy Spirit I recovered and healed more than if I never suffered. God’s will is found in our response to suffering.

When I had moments of sinking, I would thank God for what he was doing with this suffering. We will talk about gratitude in the coming sections. I can say from personal experience that gratitude is truly medicine. Gratitude may be one of the best responses to suffering.

God truly does work all things for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Have faith in His work in the midst of suffering.

Here is a list of the responses to suffering just mentioned:

• Gratitude
• Faith in God’s work
• Hope in Christ

God’s Will Is The Great Commission, Not The Great Calling

We are often caught up in God’s big plan for our life. But remember, Jesus commanded The Great Commission, not the great calling. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all men”. As Jesus was exhorting the disciples, in Matthew 28, into discipleship He said:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

God’s Will Is For Us To Make Disciples.

God’s will is that we make disciples wherever we are: motherhood, a career job, as a student, etc.

We never see Jesus say to anyone, “I command you therefore to go be a carpenter, a fisherman, etc.” The time that Jesus told his disciples to participate in a job (casting the net), He used it as an analogy for discipleship. He suggested, if they love Him they will “feed His sheep”- meaning they will nurture and disciple the flock. (John 21:17) Discipleship is God’s will.

Side Note: Most of the men that preached The Word still had a side hustle to bring in the money while they preached The Word. Therefore, making disciples of others might look very different in each season of life. But, regardless of circumstance, we can be sure that God still wills for us to disciple. Whatever job falls in line with this command, take it, do it, be free!

Bear Fruit, Increase Knowledge, Endure, Give Thanks

As we see in Colossians 1:9-12, God wills for us to bear fruit, increase our knowledge of Him, gain strength for endurance and patience, and to give thanks. Here is a look at that scriptural reference:

Paul writes in Colossians 1:9-12, “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; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Navigate to our Bible Studies page and use the growth assessment template to keep track on how you are growing in:

• fruit bearing
• knowledge of God
• joyful endurance
• thanksgiving
• making disciples

More On Thanksgiving

As you can see already, there are many verses in scripture that talk about gratitude and thanksgiving as God’s will and calling for our lives. Let’s look at a few more.

1. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalms 50:23
2. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
3. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-8

Obsession over God’s will for our lives leaves very little room to delight in God’s glorious and good Word, in His character, in His protection and all His many blessings that WE ARE CALLED to enjoy with thanksgiving.

God’s Will Is That You Grow In The Knowledge of God

Growing in the Knowledge of God will answers an array of life and faith questions that we will ultimately, encounter. We grow in the knowledge of God primarily through reading His Word, discussing it with others, praying over it, and meditating over it.

A good read to grow in the Knowledge of God is The Knowledge of The Holy by A.W. Tozer.

As a quick and practical take away start by researching and growing in your knowledge of the attributes of God. God is:

• Sovereign
• Eternal
• Omniscient
• Omnipresent
• Omnipotent
• Immutable
• Righteous
• Just
• Love
• Truth

Growing in your knowledge of these attributes will put many of your fears regarding God’s Will for your life to rest.

God’s Will Is Ultimately Perfected In Christ: The New Law

Possibly you are fearful about finding God’s will for legalistic reasons. You may feel a pressure to follow the law completely and to not miss a step in “following God’s will”. Let’s look at one passage that can really help us work through this concern. Matthew 5:17-20:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20

Let’s analyze this passage in greater detail.

Jesus Fulfilled The Law

We are free to live in obedience without fear of punishment. Take delight in the law rather than becoming anxious by it. Here is a look at what Christ did.

1. Jesus did not come to throw the law away. He came to fulfill the law perfectly on our behalf (v. 17). This frees us to try our best at obedience, not because we can work for our salvation, but because we now get to take delight in the law rather than being ridden with anxiety to follow it without flaw.
2. None of the law was thrown away, however every single thing ever mentioned in the law was fulfilled at Christ’s death and resurrection (v. 18).
3. We are called to instruct and train each other in righteousness and not to relax any of the laws given to us in scripture (v. 19).
   • All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17

Laws for our Protection

Laws are good and they protect us. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:23:

All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

Under the Law of Grace, provided by Jesus at His death, we are fully forgiven. However, a true believer who is regenerate and bearing fruit, does not take this route. This believer understands, although anything is allowed, many things are not helpful for building a relationship with Christ or the church. Therefore, is not loving of God or the church.

Law of Love

One final thing to remember about the law after the death of Christ is that the most important thing to do is love God and love others. Jesus was asked “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

When we follow the command to FIRST, love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind we are giving all of our heart’s desires to Him and letting Him shape our passions, we are entrusting the longing of our soul to Him and knowing that all we can ever want is in Him alone, and lastly we are keeping our thoughts pure (mind) while also remembering (mind) that only Christ makes us pure. Our heart, soul, and mind work in a beautiful melody when we love God with each facet of our being.

Then Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. When we love our neighbor as ourself, we are relinquishing our pride, we are treating others with utmost hospitality, we are releasing selfishness, envy, boastfulness, and so much more that corrupts our heart and mind. This frees us to delight in The Lord and to continue loving Him and putting our focus on Him. When our heart is centered in this way, we naturally make the choices that please God. This is His will for us.

So, even the law is not a reason to fear! Christ has already fulfilled the law and we get to joyfully live in obedience without the stress of perfectionism.

Practically Speaking

Think about if God went to the courthouse and wrote a will in the format we write our wills. Out of all of the great gifts we are heir’s to in Christ, do you think He would ascribe to each person a highlight career and great purpose for self glorification? Or would His will for us look something like this: “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.

This passage does not prescribe a life plan. Instead, the calling is that we grow in good works. This is not a recipe for our salvation. Instead, living in God’s way is instruction for a spiritually fruitful life. This is what God created beforehand for us to do- this is what God willed for our lives.

He Is The Straight Path, He Leads The Straight Path

Your job is obedience and in this obedience He will lead your path. He will do it. Proverbs 3:3-5 says:

Trust in The Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.

Don’t you love seeing God’s character built into His Word and into all of His creation. Jesus is the straight and narrow way to the Father and to eternal life. Similarly, He is the guide of the straight path in our lives to the Father’s will for our lives.

Trust In God to Direct His Will

Therefore, let the first question be, “what does God want for my heart?” Do not first ask, “how can I achieve, find success, or be wealthy?” Don’t even let your first question be “how can I find God’s will”? That is not your job. You absolutely cannot read the mind of God, even though God does lead us through His Holy Spirit. Often our first job is to look at His revealed will to guide our heart into honoring and glorifying Him.

The second question could be, “how do my gifts and desires align with this to bring him glory?” I think that is what we are really searching for when searching for God’s will. We want to enjoy our path in life, and so does God. He made us all unique and gave us individual gifts to enjoy.

Ultimately, You May Still Be Wondering What To Do With Your Life

You may still be saying, “I don’t know what to do with my life”. As previously mentioned, I think the real search lies in wanting to discover the person God made us and how to use our unique gifts for His glory. This is something we all need to reflect more on. I think we are most joyful and connected to God when we are living out our gifts.

If you are wanting to know more about who you are in light of what you just read, I suggest talking to Christ like mentors, leaders, friends, and hopefully your parents (if they are in Christ), to help you discover more about yourself and the special qualities God gave to you. Don’t think of this as helping you find God’s will for your life. Rather, think of it as helping guide you on a path that with glorify Him through a vocation that will use the unique giftings He has given you.

For more counsel on the topic of God’s Will for your life grab a copy of Just Do Something by Kevin Deyoung.

Conclusion

God has called us to a life of glorifying Him through sanctification. He wants us to examine our heart and motives through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, His word, and the rebuke of others. God revealed His will for our lives in the scriptures. His will includes but is not limited to: sanctification, a faithful response to suffering, following the great commission and making disciples, bearing fruit, patiently enduring, giving thanks, and submission the the new law in Christ. Before ever wondering what you are to achieve in life, ask yourself how you are doing in sanctification and what life decisions you can make to greater participate in the work of sanctification. Ultimately, sanctification is the work of Christ in our lives. He works all things for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes.

Also, remenber to reach out to others who know you will to help you discover the unique characteristics and gifts God has given you to enjoy! If you are enjoying these in a faithful way, you are glorifying Him.