How to Discern How God is Leading You

If we trust that God is always present and at work (one of our axioms around here), then we can trust that God is seeking to lead us in our everyday lives.

Sometimes we are looking to discern God’s leading in big decisions, like choosing a college or leaving behind a job. Other times, the situations are smaller, like choosing to listen a bit longer, or beginning a practice of daily prayer.

But how do we learn to discern how God is leading us? Whatever the situation, the invitation from God is usually the same: “Will you step away from what you know and trust me with what you don’t know?”

Which direction to go

In the back of my parents’ Jeep Cherokee I wrestled with what to do with my life. I had a new relationship with Jesus, and thus a brand new lens through which to think about these kinds of decisions. It was no longer about just what I wanted in the moment. There was a bigger invitation unfolding, a broader story to be part of.

The tangible questions I was wrestling with at the time were:

• Do I go to Murray State and play college soccer like I had always planned, or stay close to the people who would help me foster this new relationship with Jesus?
• Do I chase my long-standing soccer dream, or do I follow this new Jesus thing? Or maybe I can do them both?
• What happens if I choose wrong? How do I know what God is leading me to do?

There were so many scenarios rolling through my mind. With each passing mile marker, I asked God over and over again, “What do you want me to do?” I wished the clouds would part and an audible, obvious voice would break the silence. Sometimes it’s easier to just be told what to do rather than be trusted to decide yourself (especially as a young adult).

Deep down I knew I wanted to walk this new path with Jesus, and I knew I needed to put some distance between myself and my old life, full of poor choices. I needed to let go of what I had always known and discover what I was coming to know. Inside, I felt pulled toward this unexpected new option.

But was I being foolish? How do you change future plans at the drop of a hat? Because you met Jesus? No way anyone was going to understand. How could I explain walking away from this opportunity?

I wanted God to tell me all the details of what would happen as a result of each choice, and then I would take the first step. Instead, God was inviting me to take a step first: “Kristan, take a step and I will show you what will happen.”

One decision involved trusting in what I know (soccer), the other trusting in who I know now (Jesus). Trust isn’t just a feeling, it’s revealed in action, in taking a step, saying “yes” and moving in a direction. So I knew I needed to take a step, but how to discern how God is leading?

Here are 4 ways to help you discern how God is leading you in the decisions of your life.

1. Consider the Spirit’s prompting

In Acts 20:22, Paul announces his new missionary plans by saying, “and now, compelled by the Spirit…” He says to the elders of the church of Ephesus that God is pulling him elsewhere. Even though Paul loved the fruitful ministry in Ephesus, he had a feeling of being pulled somewhere new through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.

The Greek words translated as “compelled by the Spirit” are the words deo ho pneuma. Deo (deh‘-o) means to bind, tie, fasten. to wrap. It’s like a cord wrapping it’s way around you, held by the hands of another. Pneuma (pnyoo‘-mah) is wind, breath, or spirit. Putting them together creates a lovely picture: the Spirit wrapping around you like a cord, gently pulling you in a certain direction.

This was the feeling I had as I considered my decision to stay close to home and focus on my relationship with Jesus. I asked myself questions like:

• Why was I suddenly feeling pulled toward an option I didn’t even have on the table before?
• Does this invitation make sense?
• Would this be something God would invite me into?
• What has shifted to make this invitation so much louder in this season of my life?

It’s important to pay attention to these “gut feelings.” The Spirit often speaks through our intuition, inviting us into something new.

2. Consider Scripture

The Spirit would never invite you to do something that goes against the revealed will of God in Scripture. Of course Scripture must be interpreted, and there is a lot unclear in the Scriptures. But what is clear is that God is love, and that love fulfills the Law, so if the choice you are considering doesn’t lead you further into love for God and neighbor, it’s probably not God leading you.

The lie that kept creeping up for me in my decision about college was that I can’t change. The poor choices I had already made were my identity, and there was nothing anyone could do about that. This led me to believe that I had to make the choice that everyone expected me to make.

The good news I was hearing from God through Scripture, though, was that God was inviting me into something new. He had begun a new work in my life. I wasn’t who I had always been and I didn’t have to pretend I was. It was exciting to change directions and go off script with Jesus.

This verse came to mind: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the way” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

3. Consider wise people in your life

Think of the people in your life who are following Jesus and filled with the fruit of the Spirit, and ask them what they think about your choices.

It’s unwise to make life-altering decisions without consulting trusted friends. We need to talk with people before taking big steps of trust, not because God is not trustworthy, but because we are all growing in our ability to discern God’s leading, and it’s possible to get it wrong! It is wise to invite others into that journey.

This can help you not rush big decisions, too. Sit with people, talk through details, pray all over decisions. I’ve learned God is usually not in as big of a hurry as we are.

4. Consider the goodness of God

Finally, because our trust is in a person who is always with us and not in our perfect decision-making, we can take experimental steps without fear.

Twenty years later I look back at my choice and see more clearly the process of trust. My heart’s desire was to follow what would help me grow in my faith. God is the director of our path and if we come to him with pure hearts postured in the way of love, he will lead us.

Trusting in God’s goodness sets us free from the tyranny of expected outcomes. It’s normal to care about how the details roll out, but sometimes it keeps us paralyzed and unable to move forward. The good news is that it’s not about making perfect choices every time, it’s about Jesus, who promises to be with us and to work out salvation in us, no matter what.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.”