Editorial: Tough call discerning God’s will

Is it just me, or is knowing and doing the will of God a lot harder than folks let on?

This year, I’ve been reading one of the world’s most famous books of daily devotionals, My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. It’s been in print almost 80 years, and it has shaped millions of Christians all over the world.

Editor Marv KnoxChambers’ masterpiece lands in my devotional reading about every three years. Most days, I think I understand what he means, and he encourages me enormously. But some days, my dominant feeling is simple: “Huh?”

That’s when Chambers matter-of-factly talks about doing God’s will. He often implies God’s will is obvious. This has not been my experience.

Trust myself? Not so much

My problem is trust. God I trust. But trust myself? Not so much. The human inclination toward self-will is just too strong. It’s far too easy to rationalize what I want to do and say it’s “God’s will.” Blessed are the times when God’s will and my will coalesce. But if what God wants and what I want don’t align, never underestimate my ability to bend reasoning to suit my purposes.

And I don’t think I’m alone in this predicament.

Whenever someone says, “God told me …,” my first impulse is to laugh. My second impulse is to duck. I wish I knew the percentage of times what God “told” somebody to do happened to be clearly in that person’s self-interest. I’d bet it’s in the high 90s.

A friend once told about a young pastor who moved into his community. The pastor regularly and emphatically pronounced God’s will on practically every subject. After several months, an elderly clergyman in the community told my friend: “I wish I were as certain about anything as that young man is about everything.”

I’m with the old guy. Hindsight is much clearer than foresight.

No ‘God’s Will-O-Meter’

But that doesn’t alleviate the responsibility of discerning God’s will. Too bad we don’t own a God’swillometer. Ask a question, and the needle moves to “God’s Will” or “Not God’s Will.” Short of that divine discernment breakthrough, five filters help me make decisions. Prayer is the sixth, but it permeates all of them. Here you go …

• Scripture. This is dicey, of course, because Christians are excellent at proof-texting—using the Bible to support whatever they want to do. But the Bible guides both positively and negatively. The first basic question is this: Does the Bible tend to support this action or idea? Of course, the Bible doesn’t speak to millions of specific issues or circumstances, but it addresses the broader range. So, we can ask: Will this glorify God? Will this strengthen the cause of Christ? Will this bless others? The Bible points us toward answers.

The second basic question: Does the Bible oppose this action or idea? This question functions on the same principle as the previous question, but it operates from the other direction.

• Wise counsel. When I face major questions or challenges, I want to know what people I respect think. The most tangible way to test ideas and inclinations is to share them with wise people who will tell you the truth.

Baptists ought to be good with this, because we respect the priesthood of all believers. Yes, that doctrine suggests we each possess the privilege and responsibility to seek God and ask for divine will. But it also acknowledges we are not Lone Rangers; we do not live alone. And so we invite the community—or part of the community—to enter into the discernment process with us.

• Self-interest. A great test of personal inclination is to check it against personal interest vs. the greater good. If it only betters you or your lot in life, then be wary. If it improves the circumstances of others, take it more seriously.

• Time. Sometimes, we get in too big of a rush. Society moves rapidly, and we’re tempted to treat decisions like leftovers—pop them in the microwave and get on with it.

Often, however, we need to slow down and allow God’s guidance to seep into our souls. This is counter-cultural, but it’s vital.

My wife, Joanna, and I recently made one of the most significant decisions of our marriage. We took at least three years, maybe longer, to reach a conclusion. Joanna perceived what we now believe to be the Lord’s leadership much earlier than I. But even if I had climbed on board months ago, I’m not sure that would have been best. Time did its work—on both of us—so we could enter a new phase of our lives with joy and anticipation.

• Peace. Through the years, I’ve learned if I’m not at peace with a decision, I’m not finished deciding. Likewise—and maybe even more importantly—I’ve sometimes been surprised by peace. I’ve wrestled with the issue and maybe even wrestled with God, and suddenly a still, small voice says: “Let go. It’s over. You know what to do.”

Many mornings when I’ve found Oswald Chambers confusing, I’ve felt this is what he was getting at. The Holy Spirit makes God’s direction known through gentle, stillness. Through peace.

It’s not emphatic. It’s usually not certain. I’d still never say, “God told me ….” But it’s steady. You can lean on it. You can rest in it.