The Apprenticeship Way with Marc Alan Schelske

Low-Stress Knowing God’s Will (TAW028)

Mar 5, 2020

Dive into a stress-free approach to discerning God's will, shedding the fears of missing the mark. Learn six essential principles that emphasize community support and personal growth over certainty. Discover why settledness is more valuable than absolute clarity, and how your desire to escape tough decisions may not be divine guidance. Focus on character and relationships while navigating life's choices, and embrace a journey of faith filled with growth and understanding.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Stress About God's Will

Marc Alan Schelske grew up in a church where missing God's will was terrifying and heavily emphasized.
This upbringing caused significant stress over figuring out God's will for life decisions.

ADVICE

Don't Sweat The Obvious

Don't stress about obvious moral commands repeated in scripture, such as not lying or murdering.
Assume these align with God's will and focus energy elsewhere.

ADVICE

Seek Counsel From Trusted Friends

Seek counsel from spiritually mature, trusted friends who know you well.
Multiple perspectives help clarify God's will and prevent self-deception.

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Episode 028 – Low-Stress Knowing God’s Will

I grew up in a church community where finding out God’s will was a big deal. Imagine the horror of living your whole life and then discovering you had missed God’s will? So, we spent a lot of time and energy trying to get clear on God’s will for us.

I don’t think our urgency was warranted. Today I want to share with you my stress-free guide for finding God’s will.

Show Notes

Six principles for knowing God’s will without feeling stress about it:

Don’t sweat the obvious stuff. If something is repeatedly covered in scripture and in alignment with Jesus’ way—like not Lying or Murdering—best assume that’s God’s will.
Get counsel from people you trust spiritually. More heads are better than one, especially if those people are spiritually mature and have practiced listening for the Spirit’s lead. Consider trajectory rather than circumstances.
Consider trajectory rather than circumstances. Pay attention to how you got where you are, and what God seems to have been doing in your life lately.
Look for settledness rather than certainty. Certainty is often a trap, especially if we need it to find peace.
Be suspicious of your desire to run away. Stop and consider why you feel this. If you’re trying to avoid a hard decision, or difficult relationship, or something that will stretch you, your desire to run may not be from God.
Focus on character and relationships. Consider that what you’re praying about might not be a high priority to God.

Scriptures & References in this episode

New Links

Pick up Try Softer by Aundi Kolber. — This is an amazing book and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is the best, most helpful, most accessible treatment of mental health from a faith perspective. If you have been wondering about starting therapy, struggling with undermining thoughts, dealing with depression, or love someone who is–get this book.

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