Discerning God’s will

[The_Cavalier]

Hello, all. I am experiencing a very troubling time right now. I am caught up in a very serious moral dilemma, which I would rather not go into detail about. My questions concerns discerning God’s will.

I have a huge decision on my hands, and once while praying about it, I received a strong inspiration about what course of action I should take. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to question this inspiration. Questioning it feels like I’m trying to skirt the will of God. But is it possible for inspirations we get during prayer to be wrong? Could what I currently feel God is asking me to do, in actuality, be the wrong decision?

Anyone who could offer advice would be of immense help. Please pray for me.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

There is no guarantee that ideas that pop into our minds, even while praying, are from God. Discernment is required to determine if this is what God wants.

 

[pianistclare]

Agreed. This is an issue for you and your priest or Spiritual Director to tackle.
May God grant you wisdom in the face of trying times.

 

[AKDee]

I pray for discernment for you.

 

[mh2007]

The ideas in your mind may just be your ego. Signs from God will come on his timetable, not necessarily during prayer.

 

[tawny]

Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength, fortitude & wisdom in your discernment.

 

[dmftx]

I fear that my answer will seem uncaring and I promise that is not my intent. I can tell that you are in pain and struggling. In my life experiences I have found that I know the answer when I get it. If it is not the one that I want then I naturally resist and question it but there is just something in me that tells me that the answer is there and faith is all I need. Over time I have become more comfortable with these “feelings” and have come to learn to trust.

Sadly, the right answer isn’t what we always want… Sadly, sometimes the result is not what I would have wanted or hoped for but, in reflection, I realize it was the right one.

I am praying that our God gives you the gift of discernment.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Years ago when I was going through discernment for the Diaconate, the Vocation director recommended the book, “Weeds Among the Wheat” by Thomas H. Green.

I read the book at that time and what I remember him saying was, if it’s God’s will, you find peace in the decision and the doors will open in that decision.

If it’s not, you’ll struggle with it and have no peace. Doors will close and although you can force yourself through them, you’ll have more anxiety than peace over the decision.

Also, make sure your decision is always in line with Church teaching. This will help you stay on the course the Lord wants you on.

Prayer of course is the key to it all.

Jim

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

For my big decisions nowadays, I use “Spiritual Triangulation”. I learned it from mrstreasures.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/7-practical-principles-for-knowing-gods-will/. It has not failed me yet, so I hope it helps you.

The principle of “spiritual triangulation” states that you need to align three factors to know that you have discerned rightly:

1. 
   *]The present circumstances: weighing pros and cons, looking at our responsibilities, getting advice from other people
   *]Moral law and the teachings of Mother Church: Magisterium, Scripture, Tradition
   *]Our conscience and inspirations, especially prayer and the accompanying joy and peace of God.
   
   Now if we follow only one of these, we will surely get into error.
   
   1. 
      *]To discern only through the present situation leads to relativism.
      *]To discern only through the Church and moral law leads to legalism.
      *]To discern only through conscience and inspirations leads to subjectivism.
      
      And yet if you look closely, following “spiritual triangulation” is actually following the Holy Trinity.
      
      1. 
         *]To align decisions based on the present circumstances is to follow God the Father, whose Divine Providence over the universe guides and sustains us all.
         *]To align decisions according to the moral law and the teachings of Church is to follow God the Son, the Word of God.
         *]To align decisions according to one’s conscience and inspirations is to follow God the Holy Spirit Who “blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” (John 3:8)
         

         Years ago when I was going through discernment for the Diaconate, the Vocation director recommended the book, “Weeds Among the Wheat” by Thomas H. Green.
         
         I read the book at that time and what I remember him saying was, if it’s God’s will, you find peace in the decision and the doors will open in that decision.
         
         If it’s not, you’ll struggle with it and have no peace. Doors will close and although you can force yourself through them, you’ll have more anxiety than peace over the decision.
         
         Also, make sure your decision is always in line with Church teaching. This will help you stay on the course the Lord wants you on.
         
         Prayer of course is the key to it all.
         
         Jim

         “Weeds Among The Wheat” is one of my favorite books on spiritual discernment with an Ignatian (Jesuit) flavor. Too bad it has been years since I last read it, and I cannot find my old copy.