How Do I know God's Will?

“How do I know God’s will for my life?” my friend sobs with tears streaming down her face. She has been trying to put her life back together after several devastating losses—both emotional and financial. I have seen how hard she works to pay her bills and to hold herself together physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

At that moment, I felt the weight of her question. How do I respond? Am I equipped to declare God’s will over my own life, much less over someone else’s? What encouragement can I offer when the pain is so raw?

I know this much: I have no easy answers. I have nothing to offer on my own. But I do trust that God has something to say about the matter—something worth hearing. 

When I reflect on my own journey of seeking God’s will, it has always begun with getting to know Him. By this, I mean intentionally drawing close to God and surrendering the illusion that I am in control. This requires honest conversation—admitting where I have missed the mark, where I am afraid, and where I am weary.

Getting to know God has meant cultivating a daily habit of talking with God about everything: the big questions, the small frustrations, and the quiet hopes I hardly dare to name. Over time, this kind of relationship reshapes not only my prayers, but my heart.

Part of getting to know God has also involved immersing myself in Scripture, where His truth and love are revealed. God’s will for our lives will never contradict what He has already spoken through His Word. As I study Scripture, I often find that my desires slowly begin to align with God’s desires for me.

Following God’s will does not always lead to immediate changes in circumstances, but it has often led me to a deep and steady peace—a peace that reassures me that I am not walking alone.

Just as important, I’ve had to learn to listen. Prayer is not meant to be a one‑sided conversation. Listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit requires stillness—letting go of distractions, resisting the urge to fixate on problems, and quieting the fears that clamor for attention.

As I pray and search the Scriptures, I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and to silence the voices of self‑doubt and imagined outcomes that threaten to overwhelm my thoughts. In that listening, I often become more aware of God’s peaceful presence right in the middle of my circumstances.

I have also found it helpful to seek out wise, trusted counsel—people who will pray with me and for me as I seek God’s will. Often, wise counsel serves to confirm what God is already stirring in my heart. Still, it is never a substitute for my own relationship with God. Because I walk with Him, I trust that wherever I go and whatever I face, God is with me.

I may not always know what God will do next, but I can know what God is like and I can draw near. As I stay rooted in scripture, practice stillness and seek wise counsel, God often gives what I need most in the moment: steadiness, clarity for the next step, and peace that I am not walking alone. His Spirit gives peace when I am fearful and grace when I stumble.

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT

Consider what the following Bible verses reveal about the character of God:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“Teach me to do your will, For you are my God; Your spirit is good. Lead me on level ground” (Psalms 143:10).

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

Can you think of situations in which you have asked God to reveal His will? Have you ever felt like you keep moving forward yet have nothing to show for your efforts? Or is your path filled with obstacles? Ever wondered if you have made too many mistakes for there to be light ahead?

I am continually reminded that God is faithful and will never leave me, no matter what circumstances I face. God is in control, and nothing is too hard for Him to handle.

I do not always get it right. Yet the more I lean into God and seek to understand His will, the more my desires are shaped by His. Discerning God’s will is not about finding quick answers; it is a lifelong journey of trust, obedience, and relationship. It requires daily seeking and a willingness to let our words and actions reflect His will rather than our own.

When I think back to my friend—her tears, her exhaustion, her longing to understand what God is doing—I realize that what she needed most in that moment was not a clear answer, but a reminder that she was not alone. God was already present with her in her grief, already at work even when the way forward felt hidden. I could not define God’s will for her life, but I could sit with her and point her again to a faithful God who holds her story with care. And sometimes, that gentle reminder is itself an expression of God’s will.

PRAYER

Gracious, loving and all powerful God, I thank you that you are close and in control even when I feel that you are distant. Your word and Spirit remind me that You actively pursue me and will complete the work that You have started in me. I do not have to be sure of what tomorrow will bring, but I can count on You holding me and providing just what I need to face whatever situation comes my way. In you I can find true peace and hope–thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT MARLA WALDRON

Marla Waldron is a devoted daughter of the Heavenly Father, and she embraces her roles as a sister, wife, mother, teacher, and friend with grace and dedication. For 35 years, she has served as a public school educator, mentoring countless beginning teachers and currently working as an Intervention Specialist with Kindergarten students. In her local church and community, Marla faithfully contributes by volunteering at food and clothing banks, participating in fundraising events, and actively engaging in, as well as leading, small group Bible studies for The Dented Fender Ministry. A mother of three grown children, Marla has also taken on the responsibility of caring for her 50-year-old brother with multiple handicaps since their father's passing. Despite facing dark tunnels of grief and self-doubt, Marla has learned to lean on God’s grace, holding tightly to His truths and trusting in His guidance one step at a time. She and her husband live in Ohio, embracing the unpredictable ride of life with faith and resilience.

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