The Way Forward - Discovering God’s Will For Your Life
Discovering God's Will for Your Life: 7 Steps to Move Forward in Faith
Have you ever felt frozen at the edge of a major life decision, unsure whether to take the leap or climb back to safety? Many of us struggle with discerning God's will, especially when facing uncertain circumstances or major life transitions.
Why Discovering God's Will Feels So Difficult
While the Bible is crystal clear on many things—good versus evil, salvation through Jesus Christ, kindness versus cruelty—it doesn't give us specific answers to personal questions like who to marry, what career to pursue, or which job offer to accept. Sometimes we treat God's will like a secret code to crack or wait for mystical signs written in the clouds.
But here's the crucial shift we need to make: discovering God's will is less about information and more about transformation.
God is more concerned with who you're becoming as you walk with Him than whether you choose option A or B in any given situation.
What Does the Bible Say About God's Will?
1 Thessalonians 4:3 “This is God’s will, your sanctification…”
First Thessalonians makes this beautifully clear: "This is God's will—your sanctification." God's ultimate will for your life is that you become more like Jesus, learning to walk in love, courage, freedom, and peace while stepping into who He designed you to be.
Every decision becomes an opportunity to exercise trust, grow in maturity, and become more whole in your pursuit of Christ. Sometimes we want GPS-like directions, but God wants a relationship where He walks with us through each decision.
God guides FORMED HEARTS more than INFORMED MINDS.
7 Steps to Discern God's Will for Your Life
1. Saturate Your Mind and Heart with God's Word
Big Idea: God is more interested in your obedience today than your options tomorrow.
The Bible isn't just a history book—it's the living, active Word of God that changes you from the inside out. God's Word doesn't just inform us; it forms us. As Romans 12:2 promises, when we renew our minds through Scripture, we'll be able to discern God's good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Make daily deposits of God's Word into your life. When Scripture saturates your mind at the deepest level, you'll find yourself naturally looking at life differently and making different choices.
John 10:14-16
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep… My sheep will listen to my voice…
2. Value the Formation Happening in the Waiting
Big Idea: Waiting is never wasted with God. Holding patterns in life are often where God does His greatest work.
Seasons of waiting are inevitable when discerning God's will, and they're often the most difficult part of the journey. But James 1:4 teaches us that patient endurance finishes its work in us, making us mature and complete.
James 1:4 says: "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Isaiah 40:31 promises: "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength."
God often delays answers not because He's withholding good, but because He's producing maturity that couldn't be developed any other way. In waiting rooms—whether literal hospital waiting rooms or metaphorical seasons of uncertainty—God does some of His best work in our hearts.
Romans 5:3 - we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:5 - And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
A season of waiting is never a wasted season with God.
3. Surrender Your Preferred Outcome
It's nearly impossible to hear God's voice when you've already decided what you want Him to say. Often we're looking for God to rubber stamp what we already want instead of actually listening to His will.
Pray this prayer: "Lord, I want Your will more than my comfort, my timing, or my desires. I surrender my will to Yours. Not my will, but Yours be done." Remember Jesus in Gethsemane—even He surrendered His preferred outcome to the Father's will.
Jesus modeled this in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)
Surrender isn't giving up; it's moving into the hands of the One who sees the topography you can't see.
Surrender is the posture that opens your hands to receive what God wants to give.
4. Let Peace Be Your Guide
One of the greatest indicators of God's will is His peace in your life. Jesus promised in John 14: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." As His sheep, we can hear His voice, and it often comes through a deep sense of peace.
Colossians 3:15 says: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
This doesn't mean you won't feel afraid or that the decision will look perfect on paper. But there's often a path that requires more faith yet brings deeper peace—that's usually the narrow path that leads to life.
John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
5. Seek Godly Wisdom, Not Just Inner Feelings
Big Idea: Inner peace confirmed and informed by godly wisdom = good decision-making.
Inner peace from the Holy Spirit should be confirmed and informed by godly wisdom from mentors and friends who know you well. Proverbs teaches us that "in an abundance of counselors there is safety" and victory.
Feelings make good servants but terrible masters.
If you want to know the way forward, you need a "Council of the Wise" in your life who know your tendencies, weaknesses, gifts, and dreams. When facing difficult decisions, these trusted advisors can provide both encouragement and accountability. Not every open door is from God, and not every closed door is God's denial. We need friends and mentors who can help us discern which is which.
Proverbs 11:14: "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety”.
Proverbs 24:6: "For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
Wisdom asks: "Does this path make me more like Christ?" not just "Does this path excite me or make me successful?"
6. Move Forward by Faith, One Decision at a Time
Big Idea: You don't need to know the whole picture, just take the next right step. Make the next right choice.
God’s will is often revealed as we move forward by faith, not before. It’s revealed as we step forward, not before we move.
Psalm 119:105 says God's word is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Like ancient oil lamps, it shows you the next step or two, not the entire journey.
Be faithful with where you are right now.
The job he’s given you
The people he’s surrounded you with.
The tasks of today.
Our job is faithfulness and obedience today. With what we have and who we’re in relationship with now. It’s not wrong to dream and lay our plans before the Lord, but we can not lose focus of the things he’s made clear to us today. We must be laser-focused on what is ours to do right here, right now, and trust him with our tomorrows.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
7. Trust God's Character More Than Your Certainty or Circumstances
Big Idea: Trust is connected to the consistency of a person's character.
One of Satan's strategies is to perform character assassination on God, whispering that He doesn't care or has abandoned you.
What is God's character?
• God is good.
• God came to give life and life abundant.
• God is for us, not against us.
• He will never leave you or forsake you.
• He works out all things for your good and His glory.
• He is sovereign and powerful.
If we trust in God's character, if we are assured of it, then we will look back over our lives and dust for the fingerprints of God's faithfulness so we can move forward knowing that His goodness has gotten us this far and will continue to carry us forward. God's love has never failed you. He has brought you this far and hasn't abandoned you yet. Anchor yourself in this truth: "Lord, You are good and all You do is good" (Psalm 119:68).
John 14:25-27 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Isaiah 41:9-10 says:
"I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Remember: God's Will Isn't Easy to Miss
You are not fragile. You've made it this far because God has been holding you. When your heart is surrendered, when you are anchored in God's Word, and when you are surrounded by godly counsel—move forward.
Even your missteps and wrong turns are not wasted. You will be stumbling your way forward, but God will redirect you and get you where He wants you to be. You either succeed or you learn. You either get it right or you grow. Failure is not final because our lives are covered by grace.
The way forward isn't a map or GPS system—it's a person named Jesus who wants to walk with you day by day.
Psalm 138:8 declares, "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me."
Acts 2:23 says, "This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge."
Conclusion: The 7-Step Framework for Discovering God's Will
Let me give you the framework one more time:
1. Saturate your mind and heart with the Word of God.
2. Value the formation happening in the waiting.
3. Surrender your preferred outcome to Him.
4. Follow the peace of Christ as your guide.
5. Seek godly wisdom, not just inner feelings.
6. Move forward in faith, one decision at a time.
7. Trust God's character more than your certainty
This is not passive spirituality. This is mature, courageous faith.
God's will isn't a destination you arrive at; it's a walk you take with a Savior who promises to never leave you or forsake you.
As you look back at the "topography" of your life, you can see the fingerprints of God. You can see that even when you didn't know the way, the Way was knowing you.
Life Application
This week, identify one decision you're currently facing and apply the seven principles from the sermon. Spend time in God's Word daily, pray for His peace to guide you, and reach out to at least one trusted person for godly counsel. Practice surrendering your preferred outcome to God and take one small step of faith toward what you sense He may be leading you to do.
Ask yourself these questions:
Jonathan mentioned that God is more concerned with who you're becoming than what you're doing. How does this perspective change the way you approach decision-making?
Share about a time when you felt 'frozen' on the edge of a decision. What helped you move forward, or what held you back?
How has God's Word practically shaped your thinking and decision-making in the past? Can you give a specific example?
Describe a season of waiting in your life. Looking back, what did God teach you or work out in your heart during that time?
What does it look like practically to 'surrender your preferred outcome' to God? Why is this so difficult for us?
How do you distinguish between God's peace and just feeling comfortable about a decision? What's the difference?
Who are the people in your life that you trust to give you godly counsel? How do you cultivate those relationships?
Jonathan said, “Trust God's character more than your certainty or circumstances.” When have you had to do this, and what was the result?
Setlist
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
1. Glorious Day - Passion
2. Holy Forever - Chris Tomlin
3. Because Christ - The Belonging Co.
4. In Christ Alone - Passion
WFC Speedway
1. Love So Great - The Worship Initiative
2. O Praise The Name (Anastasis) - Hillsong Worship
3. Jesus You Along - Highland Worship
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