When there are many paths in life, and all those are good, it can be challenging to know for sure if I’m on the right path. I’m currently faced with making major life decisions, and there are many options in front of me, and all of them are good from a Biblical standpoint. I want to be sure that the path I’m taking is what God wants me to take. One of the ways that I’m trying to discern God’s direction in my life is by spending more time praying and reading His word. I think it is like any relationship the more time we spend with that person, the more we know what that person likes or wants. Similarly, the more time I spend with God, I will know exactly what He wants me to do with all the available life options. I have not mastered it yet, but I’m still learning to seek God without allowing my thoughts to hinder me from hearing His voice. Even when we pray, it can be hard to tell if I’m hearing from God or if it is based on my thinking. When we know it is from God, we can confidently pursue that path even when there are oppositions. That’s why it is important to hear directly from God and not what others say or what we think is the right path.
I believe God wants to give us wisdom and direction. According to James 1:5-6, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (New American Standard Bible). When I pray for wisdom about life decisions, I usually don’t hear a loud voice that says, “This is the way; walk in it.” Most of the time, it might be a gentle voice or a whisper, or He might bring a thought about what to do next, so it is our job to pause and spend time with God to hear from Him. I got reminded of the story of Elijah, where God was not in the fire, wind, or earthquake, but when He spoke, it was a gentle whisper. According to I Kings 19:11-12, “Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper” (Message).
It has always taken a lot of effort for me to hear from God, not because He does not want to speak, but because I often get distracted by social media, Netflix, etc., that I miss hearing from God. One of the things that have helped me is fasting and praying once a week because hunger forces me to get strength from God to get through the day, which motivates me to spend more time with God. This can look very different for each of us, for some, it might be good to take a drive to the beach or go for a hike to hear from God, so it’s best to do whichever method will help us to focus on God without any distractions. Sometimes it might be wise to get Godly counsel from a friend or family member we trust. According to Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory” (New American Standard Bible). But, it will be best to go back and test it with His word and make sure God also wants us to take that direction. Based on my experience, I have found that it’s best to rely on the Bible for wisdom. It is also easy for us to get frustrated when He doesn’t answer when we want Him to and are tempted to come up with our plan, which can be very destructive long term. It is important to always ask for His guidance and wait for His response. During this season of making important life decisions, I’m believing and asking God daily for His wisdom, and I’m also learning to wait for God to respond in His time because He knows what’s best for me.
