lori-joiner-ministries

How to Know God’s Will When You Don’t Know What to Do

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:14:09 GMT

Part Three: Trusting God One Step at a Time

Editor’s note: How do you know God’s will when you don’t know what to do? Whether you’re deciding about a job, relationship, move, ministry opportunity or another major life decision, the Bible offers clear principles for seeking God’s direction. When you’ve prayed, searched Scripture and still aren’t sure which path to take, God’s Word shows how Christians can seek wisdom, recognize His guidance and trust Him one step at a time.

Over the past two months, we’ve discovered that knowing God’s will begins with knowing God Himself. Before asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” we must first ask, “Lord, who do You want me to become?” We’ve also seen that one of the primary ways God guides His children is through His Word. Much of God’s will has already been revealed in Scripture, and our responsibility is to faithfully obey what He has already made clear.

But what about those decisions that aren’t specifically answered in the Bible? How do we know whether to take a particular job, move to another city or step into a new ministry opportunity? What do we do when we’ve prayed, searched the Scriptures and still don’t know which direction to take?

This is where many Christians become anxious. We worry about making the wrong decision or somehow missing God’s perfect plan. Yet the Bible repeatedly shows us that God is fully capable of leading His children, and He often does so one step at a time.

One of my favorite examples is found in the life of Philip in Acts chapter 8. This chapter contains an account of Philip and an Ethiopian official who was traveling home from Jerusalem while reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip eventually explained the Scriptures to him, leading the man to faith in Christ and baptism. It is a wonderful story of God’s heart for those seeking Him.

What often captures my attention, however, is not simply the conversation between Philip and the Ethiopian. It is how God directed Philip to that divine appointment. The Lord first instructed Philip to go south to a desert road. That was all he knew. God didn’t explain why He was sending him there or who he would meet along the way. Philip simply obeyed.

After Philip arrived, the Holy Spirit gave him another instruction: “Go over and join that chariot.” Again, there were very few details. God didn’t reveal the entire plan before asking Philip to take the first step. Instead, He revealed His will one act of obedience at a time.

Because Philip obeyed each step as it came, he found himself sitting beside a man who was searching the Scriptures and ready to hear the gospel. That encounter would ultimately change the Ethiopian’s life forever.

I find that incredibly encouraging because this is often how God leads us as well. We would love for Him to hand us a detailed blueprint for the next five or 10 years. We want every answer before we take the first step. God’s pattern is often different. He gives enough direction for today’s obedience, then provides the next step when the time is right.

Abraham’s life illustrates this same principle. Genesis 12 records God’s call for Abram to leave his country, his relatives and everything familiar to him. God didn’t spread out a map and explain every stop along the journey. He simply said, “Go to the land I will show you.”

Notice those last few words. “I will show you.” Scripture tells us, “So Abram went.”

That simple statement has always challenged me. Abraham didn’t have all the answers. He didn’t know every detail of the future. He simply trusted the God who did. That kind of faith is not always easy. If you’re anything like me, you enjoy having a plan. I like lists, calendars and knowing what’s coming next. There is something comforting about feeling prepared. Yet following Christ often requires us to exchange certainty for trust.

We naturally want to know God’s entire plan before we obey. Often, He asks us to obey before He reveals the next part. That requires patience and faith.

Waiting has never been one of my strengths, but I’ve learned that waiting is rarely wasted in God’s economy. During seasons when the next step isn’t yet clear, God is often doing important work within us. He is strengthening our faith, teaching us dependence, and reminding us that our confidence rests in Him, not in our ability to predict the future.

Instead of becoming frustrated while we wait, Scripture gives us plenty to do. We can cultivate thankful hearts. First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Gratitude has a way of shifting our focus from what we don’t know to what we do know—that God is faithful.

We can continue serving. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared in advance for us to do. While we’re waiting for clarity about tomorrow, there are countless opportunities to serve Christ today.

There are neighbors to love, people to encourage, ministries to support and lives to invest in.

We can pursue holiness. First Thessalonians 4:3 tells us plainly, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” Even while we are uncertain about a future decision, we can be completely certain that God desires our spiritual growth today.

And we can continue praying. Jeremiah 33:3 invites us to call on the Lord, and James 1:5 promises that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.

Sometimes we become so consumed with trying to discover God’s future plan that we neglect the opportunities He has already placed right in front of us. Rather than sitting on the sidelines waiting for perfect clarity, God calls us to faithfully use the gifts, abilities and experiences He has already given us. As we serve Him where we are, He often opens doors we never could have anticipated.

I’ve also discovered that not every decision carries the same spiritual weight. Some choices are matters of wisdom and preference rather than right and wrong. As a high school senior, I had to choose between attending the University of Oklahoma or accepting a theater scholarship to Tyler Junior College. There wasn’t a Bible verse telling me which school to attend. Neither option was sinful, and God could have used either one in my life. I chose Tyler Junior College, and God used those years to help me grow spiritually. This was a decision between two permissible paths, not between obedience and sin.

And yes, there have certainly been times when I’ve made decisions that, looking back, I wish I had handled differently. The encouraging truth is that our God is all-powerful and fully capable of redirecting His children if needed. One principle that has often helped me is this: when you realize you’ve gotten off course, go back to the last thing you clearly believe God led you to do.

Instead of continuing down the wrong path, return to the place where you last knew you were walking in obedience. From there, trust Him to direct your next step. God delights in leading His children, and His grace is always greater than our mistakes.

Another gift God provides when we’re making important decisions is the wisdom of other believers. Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that we were never intended to navigate life alone. Proverbs repeatedly emphasizes the value of wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 tells us, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 15:22 adds, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Those verses have proven true in my own life. Several years ago, I faced one of the biggest ministry decisions I had ever made—leaving Campus Crusade for Christ, now known as Cru, after 23 years of ministry. This wasn’t a decision I wanted to make in isolation. Before moving forward, I sought the counsel of trusted Christian leaders who knew me well, loved me enough to tell me the truth and based their advice on Scripture rather than emotion.

Those conversations were invaluable. They didn’t make the decision for me, but they helped me see things I couldn’t see on my own. They asked good questions, challenged my thinking where needed, affirmed what God appeared to be doing, and prayed with me throughout the process.

If mature believers who know you well and know God’s Word express concern about a direction you’re considering, don’t become defensive. Slow down. Pray. Listen carefully. God may be using those trusted voices to protect you from a decision you would later regret.

As I think back to the foggy morning drive I shared at the beginning of this series, I’m reminded again how much I wanted to see farther down the road. I would have loved to know every curve, every hill, and every mile that lay ahead. But I didn’t need to. I simply needed enough light for the next few feet. That’s often how God leads His children.

His guidance is much like using a GPS. When you enter your destination, it doesn’t announce every turn all at once. Instead, it tells you exactly what you need to know at the right moment.

“Turn right in 500 feet.”

“Stay in the left lane.”

“Take the next exit.”

One instruction at a time.

God’s guidance reaches far beyond any GPS.

Through His Word, His Holy Spirit, prayer and wise counsel, He faithfully leads His children one step at a time. Even when we stumble or take a wrong turn, His grace is greater than our mistakes. He lovingly redirects us as we return to Him and continue walking by faith.

You can know God’s will because you belong to a perfect Shepherd who knows exactly how to lead His sheep, even when your own decisions are imperfect.

Reflect

Is there a decision you’ve been hesitating to make because you’re waiting for God to reveal the entire plan? Ask Him today to help you trust Him with the next faithful step. Then take that step in obedience, knowing that He promises to lead those who draw near to Him.

How Does God Guide Us? What the Bible Says About Finding God’s Direction

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:03:36 GMT

Last month, we discovered that knowing God’s will begins with knowing God Himself. Before asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” we first need to ask, “Lord, who do You want me to become?” God’s desire is to transform us into the image of Christ, and that transformation begins through a personal relationship with Him.

Once we belong to Christ, another question naturally follows: How does God guide His children?

While we often wish God would hand us a detailed roadmap for the future, He has already given us something far greater—His Word.

One of the primary ways God reveals His will is through Scripture. That may not sound as exciting as receiving a dramatic sign or hearing an audible voice, but throughout the Bible we see that God’s first priority is teaching us to know Him through what He has already revealed, rather than giving us every detail of His plan.

One of my favorite examples of this is Joshua.

Joshua had an enormous responsibility before him. Moses had died, and Joshua was now responsible for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. If anyone ever needed a detailed strategy, it was Joshua.

I have to smile when I read this account because I know how I would have responded if given a big task. I’m a planner. If I have a major project ahead of me, I want a checklist. I’ll check it twice. I like to have my ducks in a row before I begin. If I had been Joshua, I probably would have wanted maps, battle plans, timelines and a 10-step strategy for success.

God gave Joshua something different. He pointed him to His Word.

In Joshua 1:7–9 , the Lord told him, “Be careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. … This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. … For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

God did not tell Joshua how every battle would unfold, explain every obstacle he would face or reveal the complete journey before Joshua took the first step. He instructed Joshua to know His Word and obey it.

Joshua moved forward because he knew God’s truth, even though he did not know the future. That principle has not changed.

Many of us spend a great deal of time asking God to reveal the details of our future while giving very little attention to the Bible He has already placed in our hands. We long for new direction while neglecting the direction He has already given.

Psalm 119:105 beautifully describes God’s Word this way: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I love that imagery because it reminds me of the foggy drive I shared in last month’s article. A lamp doesn’t illuminate the next 20 miles. It provides enough light for your next step. That’s exactly how God often leads us. He gives us enough light to obey Him today, even when we cannot see the entire journey.

Scripture also tells us that God’s Word equips us for every good work. Second Timothy 3:16–17 reminds us that all Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, correcting and training us in righteousness so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 32:8 adds another wonderful promise from the Lord: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Those verses remind me that God has not left us to figure life out on our own. He watches over us while He teaches us.

When I encourage people to read God’s Word, I’m not talking about reading an occasional verse someone posts on social media or opening the Bible only when life becomes difficult. I’m talking about setting aside regular time to read the Scriptures consistently. One of the reasons I often recommend reading through the Bible each year, such as by using The One Year Bible, is that it allows us to see the whole counsel of God rather than isolated passages.

As we consistently read Scripture, something wonderful begins to happen. We begin to think differently. Our priorities change. We recognize God’s character more clearly, and our decisions increasingly reflect His heart.

Before asking God for every detail of your future, ask yourself a simpler question: Am I faithfully reading the very words God has already spoken?

Sometimes we search for answers while the Bible in front of us remains unopened.

One statement I often make when teaching on God’s will is this: About 90 percent of God’s will has already been revealed in the Bible. We tend to spend most of our time asking God about the remaining 10 percent.

We want to know where to live, what career to pursue, whether to take a new job, whom to marry or what ministry to become involved in. Those are important questions, and God certainly cares about each one. Before we become consumed with those decisions, however, it is worth asking whether we are faithfully obeying the many things God has already made unmistakably clear.

For example, do we really need to pray about whether we should forgive someone? Scripture has already answered that question. Jesus repeatedly commands us to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Do we need to pray about whether we should tell others about Christ? Jesus has already given every believer the Great Commission to go and make disciples .

Do we need to pray about whether we should love our neighbors, encourage one another, serve with humility, pursue holiness or give thanks in every circumstance? Again and again, Scripture has already spoken.

The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more our decisions become shaped by biblical truth rather than emotions or circumstances. We begin to recognize what pleases Him because we are becoming familiar with His character.

Think about any close relationship in your life. The longer you know someone, the better you understand what matters to that person. You don’t have to ask about every little decision because you have come to know that person’s heart.

The same is true in our relationship with God. As we spend time reading His Word, we begin to know His heart. Our desires become more aligned with His desires, and our choices increasingly reflect His priorities.

That doesn’t mean every decision suddenly becomes easy. There will always be situations in which the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically which house to buy, which college to attend or whether to accept one job offer over another. The principles we learn from Scripture become the framework through which we evaluate those decisions.

We ask questions like: Will this help me grow closer to Christ? Will this allow me to honor Him? Will it strengthen my family? Will it give me greater opportunities to serve others? Will it place me in a healthy church where I can continue to grow?

Those questions help us make wise decisions even when the Bible doesn’t address our exact circumstances.

When we are walking closely with the Lord, reading His Word, obeying what He has already revealed and sincerely desiring to honor Him, we can move forward with confidence. We don’t have to live in fear that God is hiding His will from us. He delights in leading those who belong to Him.

The Christian life is a faithful walk with the God who knows the future, even when we do not. We may not receive a detailed blueprint, but we can trust the guidance He has already placed before us.

Next month, we’ll conclude this series by looking at several additional ways God guides His children. We’ll explore the role of the Holy Spirit, the importance of wise counsel and what to do when two different choices both seem to honor the Lord. We may not always know what lies around the next corner, but we can always trust the One who does.

Reflect

As you seek God’s direction this week, spend less time asking, “What does God want me to do?” and more time asking, “Am I faithfully obeying what God has already said?” You may discover that your next step becomes much clearer as you walk in the light He has already given.

How to Know God’s Will for Your Life

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:56:34 GMT

Biblical Guidance for Making Godly Decisions (Part One)

Have you ever found yourself wishing God would simply tell you what to do?

Perhaps you're praying about a career change, wondering whether it's time to retire, or asking God if He is leading your family in a new direction. Maybe you're trying to discern whether to begin a new ministry, accept a leadership opportunity, or make a difficult family decision. Whatever the situation, most Christians have prayed some version of the same heartfelt request: "Lord, just show me Your will."

The desire itself is a good one. If we truly love the Lord, we want our lives to reflect His purposes. We want to make decisions that honor Him. Yet, in the middle of uncertainty, it's easy to become anxious. We begin to wonder if we're hearing God correctly or fear that one wrong decision could somehow cause us to miss His perfect plan for our lives.

A few months ago, the Lord used an ordinary drive to remind me of an important truth about His guidance.

I was driving to East Texas to visit my dad early one morning before the sun had fully risen. As I traveled down the highway, a thick blanket of fog settled over the road. At several points, I could barely see beyond the front of my car. I slowed down considerably, gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, and found myself wishing I could see the entire highway stretched out before me.

Of course, I couldn't. All I could see was enough of the road to safely take the next few feet.

Eventually, the sun rose, the fog lifted, and the rest of the drive was completely clear. As I reflected on that morning later, it occurred to me that although I would have preferred to see the entire journey, I never actually needed to. I simply needed enough light for the next stretch of road.

Isn't that often how God leads us?

We naturally want a detailed roadmap. We'd like to know where we'll be five years from now, how every decision will turn out, and whether every choice we make is exactly right. Yet God rarely unfolds the entire journey at once. Instead, He faithfully provides enough light for the next step and invites us to trust Him with the rest.

I've discovered that much of our anxiety about God's will comes from wanting answers before we've learned to trust the One who gives them. We often focus so intently on where God is leading that we forget to enjoy walking with the One who is doing the leading.

Perhaps you've felt that tension yourself. You pray. You seek wise advice. You wait. Still, the answer doesn't seem to come as quickly as you'd hoped. In those moments, it's easy to wonder if God is silent or if you've somehow missed His direction altogether. Thankfully, Scripture paints a very different picture of our Heavenly Father.

God is not trying to hide His will from His children.

Sometimes Christians unknowingly treat God's will as though it were a hidden treasure buried somewhere beneath life's circumstances. They imagine God quietly watching from heaven while they desperately search for the one "right" answer. They fear making a wrong turn, convinced they will permanently derail God's plan. The Bible never describes God that way.

King David prayed, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God" (Psalm 143:10). David prayed those words because he believed God delighted in teaching His children. Likewise, the apostle Paul continually prayed that believers would "be filled with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives" (Colossians 1:9). Those prayers would make little sense if God intended His will to remain hidden.

Instead, Scripture consistently reveals a loving Father who delights in leading those who belong to Him. That naturally raises an even more important question: Have you become one of God's children? Before we can talk about discovering God's will, we must first begin with a personal relationship with the One who reveals it.

The Bible teaches that God's guidance begins with a relationship with Him. John 1:12 tells us, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." We become God's children not by trying to be good enough or by attending church, but by recognizing that we are sinners in need of a Savior and placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven, reconciled to God, and welcomed into His family.

If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, that is the first and most important step in knowing God's will. Before asking, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" He lovingly invites you to know Him personally, because God's will always begins with a relationship before it leads to a direction.

Once we belong to Christ, something remarkable begins to happen. God doesn't simply tell us what to do; He begins transforming who we are. When people ask how to know God's will, they're usually thinking about decisions. Which job should I take? Should we move? Is this the person I should marry? While those questions certainly matter, the Bible begins somewhere much deeper. God's first concern is not simply our destination but our transformation. Before He directs our steps, He shapes our hearts.

One of my favorite illustrations of this is found in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Jesus had come to their home, and Martha immediately busied herself preparing everything for her guests. Meanwhile, Mary sat quietly at Jesus' feet, listening to His teaching. Frustrated that her sister wasn't helping with the work, Martha finally asked Jesus to intervene.

His response has always challenged me. Jesus didn't criticize Martha because serving others was wrong. Hospitality is a wonderful expression of love. Instead, He gently reminded her that Mary had chosen "what is better." Mary understood something that Martha momentarily overlooked. Before doing something for Jesus, she simply wanted to be with Jesus. I wonder how often we reverse those priorities.

We become consumed with finding God's direction, serving in ministry, caring for our families, or accomplishing worthwhile goals, yet we unintentionally neglect the relationship from which all genuine guidance flows. God's will has always begun with knowing God Himself.

That may sound simple, but it's profoundly important. The more time we spend in His presence through prayer, reading His Word, worship, and fellowship with other believers, the more our hearts begin to reflect His own. His priorities slowly become our priorities. His desires begin shaping our desires. Over time, we start thinking differently because we are becoming different.

The apostle Paul describes this process beautifully in Romans 12:1–2. He urges believers to offer themselves completely to God and to allow Him to transform them by renewing their minds. Then, Paul says, they will be able to discern God's good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Notice the order. Transformation comes before direction.

Looking back over my own walk with Christ, I can honestly say that God changed my heart long before He answered many of my questions. Before I became a Christian, my decisions were largely shaped by what the world valued. Success, approval, comfort, and personal ambition often determined my direction. But as I grew in my relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit began changing my perspective. My desires became different. My goals became different. Even the questions I asked became different.

That is one of God's greatest gifts. Rather than merely handing us a list of instructions, He changes us from the inside out. Perhaps that's why one of the most important questions we can ask isn't, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Perhaps the better question is, "Lord, who do You want me to become?"

That question shifts our focus away from circumstances and back toward Christ. It reminds us that God's ultimate purpose is not simply to help us make good decisions but to make us more like His Son. As we become more like Christ, recognizing His leading becomes increasingly natural because our hearts are learning to love what He loves.

If you're waiting for direction today, don't become discouraged simply because you cannot see the entire road ahead.

Remember the fog.

That morning in East Texas, I never needed to see the whole highway before continuing my journey. I simply needed enough light for the next few feet.

The same is true as we follow Christ.

God rarely reveals every detail of our future. Instead, He lovingly invites us to trust Him one step at a time. He asks us to spend time with Him before asking Him for answers. He reminds us that His greatest gift is not merely guidance but His presence.

As we walk closely with Him, the path gradually becomes clearer—not because we've figured everything out, but because we are learning to recognize the voice of the Shepherd who faithfully leads His sheep.

I've come to believe that knowing God's will isn't primarily about finding the right roadmap. It's about walking closely with the One who already knows the road.

Reflect

Is there a decision you've been asking God to answer? This week, instead of focusing only on finding His direction, spend intentional time deepening your relationship with Him. Open His Word, linger in prayer, and ask Him not only to guide your steps but also to shape your heart. You may discover that His greatest work is happening within you long before He reveals what comes next.

Next Month: In Part Two, we'll discover one of the primary ways God guides His children every day. If you've ever wondered why God sometimes seems silent—or how He speaks today—we'll explore where He has already spoken.

https://katychristianmagazine.com/2026/07/09/how-to-know-gods-will-for-your-life-biblical-guidance-for-making-godly-decisions-part-one/