At the heart of many counseling issues is a decision to be made.
Decision-making can be easy and passive or difficult and painstaking. The will of God in our decisions is the same way: we know that itโs not Godโs will for us to lie or steal, but discerning the will of God can be trickier when it comes to getting engaged, switching careers, or moving. Fortunately, Godโs sufficient Word can help the believer discern Godโs will for their lives.
Godโs will is expressed in three ways: His directive will, His discerned will, and His permissive will.
Godโs Directive and Discerned Will
Godโs directive will may be the easiest to discern and can be defined as His unchanging, absolute, specific, and unconditional will (Clinton & Hawkins, 2009). Godโs directive will can generally be easily discerned from Scripture, and some examples include:
- Repenting and believing the Gospel (Mark 1:15, English Standard Version).
- Putting the deeds of the flesh to death (Colossians 3:5, ESV).
- Examining yourself to see if youโre truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV).
- Meditating on the Scriptures (Psalm 1:2, ESV).
- Assembling with other believers in worship (Hebrews 10:25, ESV).
If youโre counseling a Christian client whoโs seeking Godโs will for their life, pray with them and then begin walking them through Godโs directive will. If His will is not clear, further discernment is needed.
Say someone youโre helping is contemplating a cross-country move to take a new job. Though the Bible wonโt overtly tell your client to move or not to move, itโs still possible to discern the Lordโs will. Remember, though: itโs not your job to tell the client Godโs will for their moveโitโs to help them find it. Two key questions weโve found helpful are these:
- Which of the options do you think will bring the most glory to God? Why?
- Do you currently follow what you already know is the revealed will of God, as described in the Bible? If so, howโand if not, what specifically arenโt you following?
Oftentimes, Godโs will is slowly revealed as weโre faithfully obedient to what Heโs already given us to do. These questions can help your client identify areas where they are and are not being faithful to the Lordโs directive will. As your client submits to the Lordship of Christ more and more, thereโs a good chance His will is going to become clearer.
While discernment can feel complicated, God desires for His children to seek Him with an open heart and trust that He will guide them. Godโs discerned will requires patience and the willingness to wait for His timing.
And remember: Godโs will isnโt always easy to accept or follow. Not all outcomes in our lives will make perfect sense, which leads to the final expression of Godโs will: His permissive will.
Godโs Permissive Will
Godโs permissive will refers to what God allows to happen, which is ultimately everything we see (Clinton & Hawkins, 2009). Even if the event is displeasing to Him, God exercises His permissive will for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28, ESV). While this can be a challenging aspect of Godโs will, we must trust Himโeven when we encounter pain, suffering, and unforeseen consequences.
God allows suffering to achieve His purposes, show His glory, and refine His people. While suffering is a result of the fall, God uses our brokenness and pain redemptively. Trials sanctify us, conform us to Christโs image (James 1:2-4, ESV), and magnify Godโs strength, which is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV). Godโs reasons for allowing suffering can be mysterious, but ultimately, itโs part of His eternal plan for His glory and our good.
Chances are that your Christian clients are wrestling with Godโs permissive will and wondering why God has allowed their trial to come to pass. Though this exercise may not be appropriate for every situation, you may be able to help your client identify specific ways God is maturing them by reading Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV). Usually, one can identify at least one fruit of the Spiritโone area of Christlikenessโthatโs being developed and refined by the trial.
Conclusion
In counseling, helping clients understand God’s will involves guiding them toward a deeper trust in His sovereignty and a willingness to seek Him in every decision and trial. Whether through His directive, discerned, or permissive will, God is always at work for His glory and the good of His people.
As counselors, we have the privilege of walking alongside clients and pointing them back to Godโs promises as they navigate the complexities of life. By encouraging clients to remain steadfast in prayer, rooted in Scripture, and dependent on the Holy Spirit, we can help them discover the peace that comes from surrendering to Godโs perfect planโand we can help them find and obey Godโs will for their lives.
References
Clinton, T., & Hawkins, R. (2009).
The quick-reference guide to biblical counseling: Personal and emotional issues. Baker Books.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway.
