How do I find God's will?

“How do I find God’s will?” This is an age-old question, usually prompted by a desire to honor God and, put plainly, not make a dumb decision: “Should I marry this person?” “Should I go to this school?” “Should I take this job?” “What should I do? I don’t want to miss God’s will for my life!”

When facing such decisions, it’s tempting to think of “finding God’s will” as a game of hide-and-seek. So, we look for a sign, a dream, a voice from heaven, a subjective sense, a favorable fortune cookie, or some other revelatory circumstance.

An often neglected question

But, rarely do we ask, “Is God’s will something to be found?”

The short answer is: Yes, but not how we usually think of it. God’s will is not found in a crystal ball, Ouija board, horoscope, or fleece test, but through a mind renewed by God's word.

Defining God’s will biblically helps to demystify it. The Bible speaks of two aspects of God’s will. We see both in Deuteronomy 29:29,

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

On the one hand, there are “secret things” that belong to God. This is known as his secret will, his sovereign will, or his “will of decree.”

On the other hand, there are “things that are revealed” that “belong to us.” This is known as his revealed will, or “will of command.”

What only God knows

The "secret things" that belong to God are things only He knows. This is why it’s “secret.” We don't know what He has decreed to take place until it occurs.

This aspect of God’s will always happens, without fail. No one, and nothing, can stop it. His secret will is the ultimate reason everything happens. As the Apostle Paul tells the Ephesians,

“In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

Paul refers to God’s secret, sovereign will, which extends over all things, from massive black holes to the smallest details of a maple leaf, from Yahtzee dice to the hidden plans of the human heart, from angelic armies to political machinations of nations.

Yet, again, we don’t know what this secret aspect of His will is until it happens.

What we can know

On the other hand, there are “things that are revealed” that “belong to us.” What are these? This is what we have in the Bible, namely, the objective revelation of God’s will. What God wants us to know is revealed in His Word.

While God’s secret will cannot fail, God’s revealed will can. For example, Apostle Paul tells the Thessalonians,

“This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

God’s revealed will is that we abstain from sexual immorality. But many do not, so this aspect of God’s will does not always happen.

“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

God’s revealed will is that we give thanks in all circumstances. But, many do not, so this aspect of God’s will does not always happen.

Similarly, Jesus prayed to the Father,

”Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10

This is not a prayer for God’s secret, sovereign will to take place, because it is already taking place in heaven and earth. Instead, this is a prayer for God’s revealed will to be done on earth, just as it is perfectly done in heaven.

A freeing distinction

In sum, the Bible speaks of the will of God in two predominant ways. Both are true. His secret will, which cannot be broken, always happens. His revealed will, which can be broken, does not always happen.

Understanding this distinction is very freeing. Why? We can’t know the secret will of God in advance, so the pressure is off to figure it out. The secret things belong to God alone, not us.

However, we can know God’s revealed will, as we have it in the Bible.

The middle of God’s will?

Some will say, “I just want to be in the middle of God’s will.” Usually, this means we want to be where God wants us. This is a good and beautiful sentiment.

But, in terms of God's secret will, we're always in the middle of that.

However, in terms of God’s revealed will, we may be all over the place depending on our obedience to His Word. For example, if we excuse our anger, keep Jesus on the margins, or remain disconnected from His church, then we’re not in the “middle of his will” but outside it.

The truth is, we’re often more concerned about making the right decisions than being the right kind of people that make the right decisions.

How does this help decision-making?

If we can’t know God’s secret will, does his revealed will help us in discerning our calling? Yes and No.

“No” in the sense that the Bible does not give detailed instructions for every situation or question we face.

But, “yes”, the Bible has a lot to say about what to prize and prioritize as we make those decisions. God has a lot to say about that. For example,

We should prize Him above all (Mt. 6:33).
We should cultivate a heart-level relationship with Him (Eph. 6:6).
We should seek to be transformed by His Word (Rom. 12:2).
We should, by grace, walk in His good ways (1 Pet. 4:2).
We should avoid intentional foolishness (Titus 3:9).
We should not trust in on our understanding alone (Pr. 3:5).
We should recognize that we may desire wrongly (Pr. 14:12).
We should seek wise counsel (Pr. 20:18).
We should prayerfully ask God for wisdom (1 Thess. 5:1; Jas. 1:5).
We should exercise patience in waiting for Him (Ps. 27:14).
We should be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18).
We should follow Him as part of a Jesus-loving local church (see NT).

These are God’s will for us. God is after making us a certain kind of people.

As our minds, lives, and affections are progressively renewed in His ways, we begin to think as God thinks, value what He values, and see what He sees, which, then, affects the choices we make.

Of course, we won’t do these perfectly. That’s not the point. The point is that we’re being shaped in a Godward direction, in relationship with Him, alongside His people, and as we do, then make the best decisions we can.

God cares about our lives and the choices we make. He is good. He is not hiding from us. He is not a cosmic killjoy. He loves His people. He wants our lives to count, to be fruitful, and to do good. Our choices matter and have real consequences, so we should care about getting His will right—while knowing that, even when we don’t, He can redeem that too (Gen. 50:20).

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