I’m the kind of guy who actually follows the instructions when I try to put something together. I know that might put me in the minority, but that’s OK. I’ll break the stereotype because I’ve seen what happens when I try doing things on my own.
It rarely ends well.
And what’s true for me in the everyday world is true for all of us when it comes to knowing God’s will for our lives. As men of faith, we need a plan based on God’s Word. After all, we are not smart enough to navigate life—much less discover God’s will—on our own.
A piece of the puzzle
I firmly believe that God has created each person for a purpose. In the early verses of Philippians, Paul told his readers two things about God (Philippians 1:6). First, he said that God had started a good work in each of them. Second, he said that God would continue nurturing that good work until they got to heaven—or He comes back, whichever comes first.
I see other examples where God has called people to fulfill His purposes in life. It might be Abram moving to Canaan or Samuel serving as a priest. David was anointed king, while Esther saved a nation as a queen. Jeremiah and Daniel were set aside as prophets in two very different contexts, and God equipped Nehemiah to rebuild a wall. Even Mary found out that God had a plan for her life—a purpose God designed just for her!
None of these folks was particularly special. In fact, they were pretty ordinary, except that they each found and followed God’s will for their lives. And what’s true for them is true for us!
Admittedly, my gifts and abilities probably don’t look like yours, and that’s OK. God has wired each of us differently. We’re like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We’re all “shaped” a little different, but, together, we bring the full picture to life. In God’s wisdom and sovereignty, He knows how to weave everyone’s unique purposes together to fulfill His bigger picture.
That’s why it’s important for Christian guys like us to identify and embrace God’s will for our lives.
Four places to look
Many years ago, a preacher in western Canada named Henry Blackaby rocked the Christian world with a Bible study called Experiencing God. The study’s tagline is, “Knowing and Doing the Will of God.” That assumes God isn’t out there playing some cosmic game of hide and seek. He has a plan for each of us, and He wants us to know and fulfill His will.
To that point, Blackaby suggested four areas where we could start identifying God’s will for our lives. That’s the “knowing.” The “doing,” of course, depends on our willingness to trust Him and His plan for us. And, to be honest, I’ve never found anything better to help me determine God’s will than these four areas of my life.
The Bible
It makes sense to start with God’s Word. After all, the Scriptures are His love letter to us. The Bible is our handbook for navigating life on God’s terms, including any hope we have of discovering and obeying His will for our lives. If you want to know what God is thinking—and how He is directing you—spend time studying His Word.
Prayer
While the Bible allows us to hear from God, prayer allows us to speak to God. We can’t take that for granted. The writer of Hebrews noted that, as God’s people, we have the right to approach His throne confidently, assured that He hears and He cares (Hebrews 4:14-16). But prayer also opens our hearts and minds to His voice. As we see Him answer our prayers, we become more sensitive to His leading, to His will for our lives.
Our circumstances
Think about Peter and Andrew, pulling into shore after a long shift on the Sea of Galilee. Suddenly, Jesus invited them to come fish for people (Matthew 4:19). I’m sure they weren’t expecting that to happen. But God opened a door for them. He arranged their circumstances to be at the right place and time to hear and follow the Messiah. God can do the same for us.
Maybe you’re feeling what I like to call “divine discontent,” that little nagging that says it might be time to try something new. Or maybe, like Andrew and Peter, you’re presented with an offer you can’t refuse. God uses our circumstances—both successes and failures—to make us more like Him. But He also uses them to give us clues about His will for our lives!
Other believers
Not long ago, I had lunch with a college student who’s working through a possible call to ministry. Though I’ve never served on a church staff a day in my life, he trusts me to speak truth and to give the best advice possible. About forty years ago, one of my mentors did the same thing for me, and it made all the difference in the world. Through Paul, God described the church as a body, a living organism where every part needs every other part (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). That means you need other Christians, and they need you. And God can (and does) speak through significant, trustworthy people as you’re seeking the will of God.
Look for the obvious
As you consider God’s will for your life, you’ll find some “no-brainers,” situations where He clearly identifies His plan for you. For example, we know that He wants everyone to accept His offer of salvation (2 Peter 3:9). After all, we really can’t know and do His will until we give our lives to Him.
He also wants us to avoid sin and embrace holy living (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4) and to rejoice in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Like salvation, these are basic elements of the Christian life that are spelled out in the Bible. We are told in no uncertain terms that they are part of God’s plan for our lives.
Other times, you’ll just have to walk in the light that He gives you. God rarely shares all the answers you want in one sitting. For example, a friend once told me that she was on a “need to know basis” with God. When she needed to know something, she trusted Him to tell her. And she was comfortable with that.
As a man seeking God’s will for your life, you’ve got to be comfortable with questions. He doesn’t want the uncertainty to bog you down. Keep doing what you know is right and grow where you’re planted. That’s how you mature as a believer, and that’s how you open your heart to God’s will for your life.
Your heavenly Father has started something great in you—and He always finishes what He starts. It might not make sense in the moment, but God has promised to work everything out for His glory and our good when we seek and follow His will (Romans 8:28).
