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Catholicracer
Guest
How can you tell the difference if something is God’s will or just your will?
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SilentKnight
Guest
Racer,
That’s tough sometimes. (…Sometimes…) First and foremost, one should weigh the “desire” in question with divine revelation. If it fits, then one proceeds to the next step. If not…Stop there.
For example, if one suddenly experiences a deep desire to be married to four or five women (or men) and prays about it, wondering if it’s God’s will or just their own…They wouldn’t have to pray very long. Instantly they could know that the desire is either from themselves, the world, or the enemy. Certainly not God because it does not fit with the divine precept that we have only one “lawfully wedded spouse”.
Say our subject is single, though, and starts to take a liking to someone else (of the opposite sex, of course) and starts to wonder if it is God’s will that the two of them be married…How then to discern?
Some principles:
SK
That’s tough sometimes. (…Sometimes…) First and foremost, one should weigh the “desire” in question with divine revelation. If it fits, then one proceeds to the next step. If not…Stop there.
For example, if one suddenly experiences a deep desire to be married to four or five women (or men) and prays about it, wondering if it’s God’s will or just their own…They wouldn’t have to pray very long. Instantly they could know that the desire is either from themselves, the world, or the enemy. Certainly not God because it does not fit with the divine precept that we have only one “lawfully wedded spouse”.
Say our subject is single, though, and starts to take a liking to someone else (of the opposite sex, of course) and starts to wonder if it is God’s will that the two of them be married…How then to discern?
Some principles:
- Usually, that which God inspires abides and allows plenty of time to respond to. Excepting for things like last second warnings (senses that taking a certain course of action in the next few seconds is going to prove dangerous, for example), God, we might say, has “all the time in the world” and thus does not rush people. One way to determine if something is God’s direct will, or indirectly in accordance with it, is to give the subject of your discernment plenty of prayer and time.
- Keep in mind that there are some things that God intends directly and prompts and then other things which He endorses, but “allows” or sort of “watches happen”, rather than proximately causes. Sometimes we get caught up in wondering whether something “IS God’s will or ISN’T” and when we don’t feel or see some sort of active affirmation of what we think we are supposed to do, we get depressed or give up, thinking it must not be God’s will since He is not actively confirming that such and such is what He wants. “I think God wants me to be a carpentar, but I keep praying about it and He’s not really answering my prayer as far as clearly indicating which carpentry school I should go to, etc., so I guess not”, for example. In this hypothetical case, it isn’t that this person becoming a carpentar is “against” God’s will, it’s that it “doesn’t matter” to the Lord. Or, to put the situation in a more “positive” verbage, multiple professional options are equally good and acceptable.
- Look for signs and wait on the Lord. God does speak to His people in a variety of different external ways, but He will speak directly to your heart as well if you let Him. In order to hear Him, though, one must learn patience and learn to be ok with natural silence. Scripture is clear that God’s voice comes to us not as thunder or an earthquake but as a whisper. Whispers are hard to hear when the iPod is playing non-stop, along with the TV, etc.
SK
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SilentKnight
Guest
(Cont. from above…)
The idea of asking God whether or not something is in accordance with His will, then listening for an answer may seem circular (“How do I know for sure that it’s God’s voice that I am hearing as an answer?!?”), but, in time, as one takes care to apply oneself to waiting on the Lord and discerning His will, figuring that out tends to get significantly easier.
Again, look for outward signs as well. Having five or six people come to you and “randomly” ask you if you’ve ever considered priesthood or religious life, for example, tends to be a strong sign that there’s a reason for the inquiry. Though - note - outward signs are not “infallible”. IOW, just because 10 or 12 people have all expressed displeasure at your evangelizing in a given area, say, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is God’s will that you not. In fact, in a situation like this, it may mean the opposite - that you’re on exactly the right track and that it’s the enemy is not very happy with you.
Some food for thought.
Discernment is not always a simple task. Usually multiple guidelines must be weighed in any given circumstance, not just one. It is multifaceted and the reason why Paul, in scripture, tells us to TRY to know and do God’s will, rather than “know it and do it”. (As demanding as the gospel is, it’s comforting to me to hear Paul essentially say, “Hey, just do your best and let God have the rest, ok?” )
As Padre Pio would say, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry…”
SK
The idea of asking God whether or not something is in accordance with His will, then listening for an answer may seem circular (“How do I know for sure that it’s God’s voice that I am hearing as an answer?!?”
), but, in time, as one takes care to apply oneself to waiting on the Lord and discerning His will, figuring that out tends to get significantly easier.Again, look for outward signs as well. Having five or six people come to you and “randomly” ask you if you’ve ever considered priesthood or religious life, for example, tends to be a strong sign that there’s a reason for the inquiry. Though - note - outward signs are not “infallible”. IOW, just because 10 or 12 people have all expressed displeasure at your evangelizing in a given area, say, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is God’s will that you not. In fact, in a situation like this, it may mean the opposite - that you’re on exactly the right track and that it’s the enemy is not very happy with you.
- Does the decision bring you peace? Another non-infallible sign is whether or not the decision you are making brings you peace. Generally, if it does, this is a good sign. If it either brings agitation or restlessness or simply does not remove it when it was already there, often times (but not always), this is a sign that it is the wrong course of action.
Some food for thought.
Discernment is not always a simple task. Usually multiple guidelines must be weighed in any given circumstance, not just one. It is multifaceted and the reason why Paul, in scripture, tells us to TRY to know and do God’s will, rather than “know it and do it”. (As demanding as the gospel is, it’s comforting to me to hear Paul essentially say, “Hey, just do your best and let God have the rest, ok?” )
As Padre Pio would say, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry…”
SK
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wina
Guest
Hi SK,(Cont. from above…)
The idea of asking God whether or not something is in accordance with His will, then listening for an answer may seem circular (“How do I know for sure that it’s God’s voice that I am hearing as an answer?!?”
Again, look for outward signs as well. Having five or six people come to you and “randomly” ask you if you’ve ever considered priesthood or religious life, for example, tends to be a strong sign that there’s a reason for the inquiry. Though - note - outward signs are not “infallible”. IOW, just because 10 or 12 people have all expressed displeasure at your evangelizing in a given area, say, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is God’s will that you not. In fact, in a situation like this, it may mean the opposite - that you’re on exactly the right track and that it’s the enemy is not very happy with you.
Please note that there are two different kinds of peace: external and internal. In other words, peace is the absence of conflict (external), and the presence of God (internal). The peace I am suggesting you should have from your decision is internal. External peace is more or less irrelevant.
- Does the decision bring you peace? Another non-infallible sign is whether or not the decision you are making brings you peace. Generally, if it does, this is a good sign. If it either brings agitation or restlessness or simply does not remove it when it was already there, often times (but not always), this is a sign that it is the wrong course of action.
Some food for thought.
Discernment is not always a simple task. Usually multiple guidelines must be weighed in any given circumstance, not just one. It is multifaceted and the reason why Paul, in scripture, tells us to TRY to know and do God’s will, rather than “know it and do it”. (As demanding as the gospel is, it’s comforting to me to hear Paul essentially say, “Hey, just do your best and let God have the rest, ok?” )
As Padre Pio would say, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry…”
SK
It’s a very good explanation about God’s will. Yes, I agree that we should find peace and to be honest, it’s very difficult with the situation now. and sometime I think that God gives some problems in life to call us to be close to Him.Actually lately I try to know and do God’s will and bring it in prayers
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agangbern
Guest
God’s will is sure to happen. So, when we have truly submitted our will to Him, what happens next is surely God’s will. Before they happen, we can only hope that what we ask for is in accordance with His will.
Jesus prayed in Gethsemani, saying, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; yet not as I will, but as thou willest.”
How did we know what the Father’s will in that case? We knew it when His will was fulfilled.
Jesus prayed in Gethsemani, saying, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; yet not as I will, but as thou willest.”
How did we know what the Father’s will in that case? We knew it when His will was fulfilled.
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Norseman82
Guest
First of all, do you believe in a micromanaging God or a God that allows free will? Second, do you sometimes find that you have a hard time making decisions?
We need to realize that the first rule of “what is God’s will” is to not break the commandments. As long as you don’t have to confess it, don’t become a nervous wreck over it, otherwise the men in white coats will be coming for you. Then, you look at your motivations. James 4:2-3 has a good quote about not getting what we pray for if we want it for selfish reasons.
Once the above sinks in, you will realize that sometimes there is more than one correct path in God’s eyes, and that you will be more able to naturally react in a Catholic Christian way in everyday situations, or avoid occasions of sin completely.
We need to realize that the first rule of “what is God’s will” is to not break the commandments. As long as you don’t have to confess it, don’t become a nervous wreck over it, otherwise the men in white coats will be coming for you. Then, you look at your motivations. James 4:2-3 has a good quote about not getting what we pray for if we want it for selfish reasons.
Once the above sinks in, you will realize that sometimes there is more than one correct path in God’s eyes, and that you will be more able to naturally react in a Catholic Christian way in everyday situations, or avoid occasions of sin completely.
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Catholicracer
Guest
Thanks for all the helpful advice!
the reason I asked is because I have decided to move back to my home town and go to the tech school there to take a small business course and Automotive then start a concrete staining business (the automotive is for a hobby and a back up plan if I ever need it). And I have prayed about it for awhile and feel peaceful about it. And my parents are fine with it (in fact they are thinking about moving back there also) And most of my friends seem fine with it. But my best friend seems to act like I am making a bad choice and keeps trying to talk to me about me “needing to go to a big university because tech schools are not looked at as good” and stuff and I cant figure out why he is doing that. But I still feel real peaceful(and excited) about it so I feel like I am doing the right thing. I think he is just scared of what I am doing because he was raised to believe that you “have got to go to a big university to survive” so that’s probably only reason he is doing that.
the reason I asked is because I have decided to move back to my home town and go to the tech school there to take a small business course and Automotive then start a concrete staining business (the automotive is for a hobby and a back up plan if I ever need it). And I have prayed about it for awhile and feel peaceful about it. And my parents are fine with it (in fact they are thinking about moving back there also) And most of my friends seem fine with it. But my best friend seems to act like I am making a bad choice and keeps trying to talk to me about me “needing to go to a big university because tech schools are not looked at as good” and stuff and I cant figure out why he is doing that. But I still feel real peaceful(and excited) about it so I feel like I am doing the right thing. I think he is just scared of what I am doing because he was raised to believe that you “have got to go to a big university to survive” so that’s probably only reason he is doing that.
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Norseman82
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Tell your friend that at least you can’t outsource concrete staining or automotive repair overseas!!
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SilentKnight
Guest
Sounds like it, yeah.
I don’t know about where you live, but there was an article on the front page of my local paper the other day about how the trades are really suffering these days from lack of interest (even though they pay really well and are great for job security, etc.), due in large part to the current mentality that says, as your friend does, that you “have” to have a degree to make it in life or to be anybody.
(Further confirmation for you.
)God bless you in your endeavours, Racer. Sounds like you’ve got things figured out. That’s cool.
SK
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