“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
One of the questions I think many of us ask is, “How do I know what God’s will is for my life?”
Sometimes we wish God would just give us a clear answer. We want Him to tell us exactly what decision to make, which direction to go, or what our next step should be. But really, knowing God’s will begins with prayer and surrender.
When I don’t know what to do, I can pray, “God, if this is Your will for me, open the door. If it isn’t, close it. Don’t let me force something You don’t have for me.”
Then comes the hard part…trusting His answer.
Sometimes we want something so badly that we keep pushing on a door God may be closing. But following God means being willing to let go when He redirects us.
A closed door doesn’t mean God is punishing us. Sometimes it is His protection or His way of leading us in a different direction. Other times, it may simply mean, “Not yet.” We may not understand His answer, but we can still trust Him.
God’s will always lines up with His Word. When we aren’t sure which direction to go, we can pray and ask God to guide us. We can ask Him to open the doors that are part of His plan for us and close the ones that aren’t. Then we have to trust Him enough to follow where He leads.
And when a door closes, instead of immediately becoming discouraged, we can pray, “God, I trust that You see something I don’t.”
If God opens the door, walk through it with Him.
If He closes it, trust Him.
And if He tells you to wait, stay close to Him while you wait.
God sees the entire road ahead. We only see the step in front of us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me trust You when I don’t know what comes next. Give me wisdom to recognize Your will and the courage to follow where You lead. Close the doors that aren’t meant for me and guide me toward the ones You want me to walk through. Most of all, help me want Your will more than my own.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.