Understanding God’s Will: What the Bible Actually Teaches
Understanding God’s will is an important part of our walk with Him, but it is also an area where confusion often creeps in. Many believers struggle to discern God’s direction because they are taught to rely on feelings, signs, or circumstances rather than Scripture.
The Bible speaks clearly about God’s will, and when we let Scripture interpret Scripture, we begin to see that God’s will is not mysterious or hidden. It is revealed in different ways, all of which work together under His sovereign authority.
This post will explore three biblical categories of God’s will and then offer practical, scriptural guidance for discernment.
God’s Decretive Will: What God Has Sovereignly Ordained
God’s decretive will refers to His sovereign plan and purposes that cannot be altered, resisted, or undone. This includes everything God has determined will come to pass, whether we understand it or not.
Isaiah 46:10 (GNT) says:
“From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.”
God’s decretive will operates beyond human decision-making. It governs history, salvation, judgment, and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan. Human actions, both good and evil, do not thwart God’s purposes. They unfold within His sovereign rule.
This means we do not “discern” God’s decretive will ahead of time. We recognize it after the fact, trusting that God is always working according to His perfect wisdom, even when circumstances are difficult or unclear.
God’s Preceptive Will: What God Has Clearly Revealed
God’s preceptive will is His revealed will. This is what God commands, desires, and instructs through Scripture. It reflects His holy character and shows us how we are called to live as His people.
Romans 12:2 (GNT) explains this clearly:
“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God, what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.”
God’s preceptive will includes commands such as loving God and others, walking in obedience, fleeing sin, pursuing holiness, and trusting Christ. This is the area of God’s will where believers are most often confused, even though it is the most clearly revealed.
We do not discover God’s will by looking inward, but by allowing our minds to be renewed by His Word. As Scripture shapes our thinking, our desires begin to align with what pleases God.
God’s Permissive Will: What God Allows Without Approving
God’s permissive will refers to what God allows within the framework of human responsibility and choice. While God is fully sovereign, He permits people to make decisions that do not reflect His revealed will.
Acts 14:16 (GNT) says:
“In the past he allowed all people to go their own way.”
God’s permission does not equal His approval. Scripture consistently shows that God allows actions that grieve Him, yet He remains in control and uses even human rebellion to accomplish His purposes.
This is an important distinction. Just because something is possible, allowed, or even successful does not mean it is God’s will for our lives in the sense of His approval. Scripture must always be the measuring stick.
How to Discern God’s Will Biblically
Discerning God’s will does not require mystical insight or extraordinary experiences. The Bible gives us clear guidance.
1. Start with Scripture
God will never lead you in a way that contradicts His Word. Psalm 119:105 (GNT) says, “Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”
2. Examine Your Obedience
God’s will is often revealed through faithfulness in what He has already commanded. Luke 16:10 reminds us that faithfulness in small things matters to God.
3. Renew Your Mind
A transformed mind produces discernment. As Romans 12:2 teaches, spiritual clarity flows from a mind shaped by truth, not culture or emotion.
4. Pray with Submission
Prayer is not about persuading God to bless our plans. It is about surrendering our desires to His will. Jesus modeled this in Matthew 26:39 when He prayed, “Not what I want, but what you want.”
5. Trust God with the Outcome
Sometimes God’s will is not revealed in advance. In those moments, faith means obeying what we know and trusting God with what we do not.
Encouragement to Live a Holy Life
Living a holy life means aligning ourselves with what God has clearly revealed and choosing obedience each day. Holiness is not about perfection, but about being set apart for God, shaped by His truth, and responsive to His correction. It requires humility, submission, and a desire to please God rather than ourselves.
Hebrews 12:14 (GNT) reminds us:
“Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.”
As we grow in our understanding of God’s will, we learn to hold together His sovereign purposes, His revealed commands, and what He allows within His authority. Scripture anchors us, prayer aligns our hearts, and obedience keeps us walking in step with the Spirit.
God does not call His people to confusion, but to faithfulness. When our desire is holiness rather than control, we can walk forward with confidence, trusting that the same God who directs history also shepherds His children with wisdom, patience, and love.
Final Encouragement
God’s will is not a puzzle meant to frustrate believers. He has clearly revealed His heart, His commands, and His purposes in Scripture. When we anchor ourselves in His Word, we learn to walk in obedience rather than anxiety.
True discernment flows from trust, submission, and a life shaped by God’s truth, not from chasing signs or relying on feelings.
