What is God’s will for my life?

This is a question that has plagued the mind of many a Believer. We’ve all been there. Praying, hoping, yearning for some little white dove to drop a message from heaven into our hands. A direct message from God.

It doesn’t seem to happen like that does it?

This question seems to be especially huge for young adults. I remember what it was like. Stress and excitement, all mixed into one anxious emotion.

I desperately wanted a direct answer to the question of God’s will for my life. With pure intentions, I wanted to follow God’s leading. I wanted to do what was right. I wanted to make a difference. As all people do when they’re starting their adult lives.

As you can imagine, there was a lot of praying and Scripture reading in that moment. All of which was more based on trying to convince God than asking Him.

Then I got some advice from a mentor.

In Matthew 22, Jesus said, “”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (22:37-40)

He said that finding God’s will for our lives comes when we focus on these two commandments. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbour as yourself. Then do whatever the heck you want to do.“

Yeah, it threw me for a loop too!

Obviously, it’s not just about that single passage of Scripture. He was using it to point to a bigger problem in my heart.

I desperately wanted an answer as to what I should do next or where I should go. Yet, I wasn’t asking from a place of close connectedness with God. I had actually kept God at quite a distance.

This is the case for many of us.

We’re typically way too busy with other things and haven’t focused any serious time into our relationship with Christ. Now we’re in a panic and want answers. We start throwing up prayers in desperation.

Furthermore, we haven’t focused any serious time on serving our brothers and sisters, nor our world as a whole. The focus has been on us. We’ve just been doing our own thing.

Now, we need a moment of clarity and direction. It’s not that our Heavenly Father doesn’t wish to give it to us. He loves us, but He also knows what’s best for us.

Like any good father-child relationship, there’s more than just asking Daddy for something and immediately getting it. Our Father has something much greater in store for us, but it takes trust and patience.

So, what is the secret to finding God’s will?

I assure you, the dove isn’t going to be showing up anytime soon.

Instead, perhaps stop focusing on God’s will and focus more just on Him. Set aside a day or two to retreat. Get alone with God, maybe in creation now that Spring’s arrived.

Pour over Scripture, not for answers but to fall in love with your Father again. Pray without an agenda. Simply close your eyes and ask, “Lord, what would you like to talk about today?“

Join the Conversation, Share Your Thoughts:

When was the last time you asked, “What is God’s will for my life?” What answers did you receive? Where did they come from? How did it pan out in the end?