Choosing God's will does not guarantee a smooth path, as trials and challenges are inevitable.
Discernment should focus on humility and recognizing that God's plans may lead us in unexpected directions.
Deep dives
The Freedom to Choose Within God's Will
God gives us the freedom to choose within his commandments and teachings, allowing us to make decisions aligned with his will. While God makes some things clear, such as the commandments, many choices are left to our discretion. The idea that choosing God's will guarantees a smooth path is a misconception, as trials and challenges are inevitable, as stated in Sir Act chapter 2, verse 1 and by Jesus himself. Following God's will does not exempt us from pain or failure.
The Fallibility of Discernment and Unpredictable Paths
Our discernment can be incorrect, as evidenced by historical instances of heresies and the Reformation. It is important to remember that just because our plans do not align with the outcome we desired, it does not mean it is not part of God's will. Jesus himself perfectly followed the Father's will, yet his path included rejection, betrayal, and death. Rather than determining God's will based on success or failure, discernment should focus on humility, recognizing that God's plans may lead us in unexpected directions for reasons beyond our understanding.
Each day of our lives we make countless decisions. Many of them have small consequences, good or bad. But what about the BIG decisions we make, like what career to be in, who to marry, or what vocation to follow?
Today Fr. Mike delves into the four principles surrounding our vocational discernment and what to do if we feel like we've made the "wrong decision" in that area of our lives.