Few questions haunt the Christian imagination more persistently than this one: What is God’s will? We ask it at the crossroads of decision, in seasons of uncertainty, and often with an undercurrent of anxiety—as if the will of God were a narrow tightrope we might easily fall from if we take one wrong step.
But Scripture invites us to approach this question not with fear, but with formation.
God’s Will Is About Formation, Not Forecasting
The apostle Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Notice what Paul does not say. He does not begin with circumstances, outcomes, or individualized blueprints for our future.
He begins with transformation.
God’s will is not first a secret to be discovered; it is a life to be shaped.
In much of modern Christianity, we have reduced God’s will to a decision-making technique. We want clarity about careers, relationships, locations, and timelines. Those things matter—but biblically, they are downstream questions.
The primary concern of Scripture is not whether you chose the exact right option, but whether you are becoming the right kind of person.
The Heart of God’s Will
The word Paul uses for “will” is the Greek word thelema. It refers to what is agreeable, what is desired, what is intended, what is chosen, or what is commanded. The word primarily expresses emotion instead of volition.
Thus God’s will is not so much God’s intention, as it is His heart’s desire. It is His will not as a demand but as an inclination of pleasure towards that which pleases and creates joy. To do the will of God, then, is to yield ourselves to the accomplishment of His designs for us by obeying Him in all that He has revealed to.
God’s will is not a hidden labyrinth that only the super-spiritual can figure out. It’s not God playing games, hiding his purpose from us. It’s available to those who seek him with humility.
Again and again, the Bible speaks of God’s will in unmistakably clear terms:
“This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
“He has told you, O man, what is good… to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
God’s will is not primarily about where you go, but who you are becoming. It is not first about your success, but your holiness. Not your comfort, but your conformity to Christ.
This reframes everything.
The more our minds are renewed, the more our desires are reordered, and the more clearly we perceive what pleases God. Over time, wisdom replaces anxiety. Faithfulness replaces fear.
Jesus and the Cost of Obedience
Jesus Himself embodied this posture. In Gethsemane, facing the cross, He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). God’s will did not lead Him away from suffering, but through it—for the sake of redemption.
This tells us something crucial: obedience to God’s will does not guarantee ease, but it does guarantee meaning.
We must also resist the temptation to outsource responsibility to God. Many of us ask for guidance while avoiding formation. We want direction without discipleship.
But Scripture consistently ties discernment to obedience. Light is given to those who walk in the light they already have.
Living Within God’s Will
So how do we live within God’s will?
We attend to the means of grace: Scripture, prayer, fasting, community, worship. We submit our lives to the moral will of God already revealed in His Word. We learn to say yes in small acts of obedience. And we trust that a Father who did not spare His own Son will not be careless with our lives.
God’s will is not fragile. You are not one misstep away from ruin. As you offer your body as a living sacrifice, God is at work—forming Christ in you, guiding you by wisdom, and leading you into what is good, pleasing, and ultimately, His glory.
If this question What is God’s will? is stirring your heart, I want to invite you to go further with us in our flagship series, Foundations of Faith. We just launched Part 2 of this collection, What is God’s Will?—a 4-part series that explores this theme biblically, theologically, and pastorally.
