A little help to discern His divine guidance…
Are you feeling restless? Like something is stirring inside of you, but you’re not quite sure what it is? You may feel like God is prompting you to take a new path, but you’re not sure what that looks like or where it will lead, and you don’t want to make a move without God’s clear leading.
One of the clearest signs that God is moving you is if He starts to speak to you directly through His Word or other people. If you feel like God is consistently speaking to you about a particular thing, it’s likely that He is trying to guide you in that direction. That's great, but what about when there hasn’t been a direct word, yet you still have a sense that you are about to enter a new season? When you’re sensing a change but you don’t know what it is?
Thankfully God is faithful to give us guidance if we ask and seek Him diligently, and there are some key things to look out for that can help you discern if God is moving you in a new direction.
Let’s take a look at a few of them now...
You're Feeling God's Prompting
Maybe something is stirring inside of you, and you can’t shake the feeling that God is up to something. You may feel like He is asking you to take a step of faith, but you’re not quite sure where it's leading. As the famous saying goes: "You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step". The reality is that God often chooses to illuminate only the next step and not the whole path ahead. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, He knows we would probably be overwhelmed if we saw the entire journey laid out in front of us. Secondly, it requires us to trust Him and to walk by faith.
If you sense God’s prompting to take a step of faith, then ask Him to give you the courage to take that first step. Then trust that He will reveal each new step as you continue to follow Him in obedience.
You’re Facing a Difficult Situation
Sometimes God uses difficult circumstances to move us in a new direction. It may be that you’ve been going through a tough season, and you can’t see a way out. Or maybe you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall in your current situation.
While it’s not always easy to see at the time, God will often use these difficult seasons to realign our hearts with His and to shift our trajectory.
If you find yourself in a particularly tough situation, ask God to show you what He is trying to teach you through it. Seek wise counsel from people you trust and who will speak God’s truth into your situation. Pray that God would give you His supernatural peace and wisdom to know how to handle the situation, and that you would be sensitive to His leading.
You’re Feeling Restless & Unsettled
It’s not unusual to feel discontentment from time to time. We may look around at our circumstances and compare them to others. Or we may start to feel like we’re stuck in a rut, doing the same thing day in and day out with no end in sight. But an unexpected feeling of discontentment or restlessness can also be a sign that God is moving you in a new direction.
You may feel like you’re in a season of waiting, and you’re ready for something to happen. You’re sensing that God is about to do something new, but you don’t know what it is or when it will happen.
If you’re feeling that unusual sense of restlessness rising up inside of you, take it as a cue to spend some time seeking God. Ask Him to show you what He is doing and give you His peace as you wait.
The Doors are Closing in Your Current Situation
This is a more obvious sign that God is moving you into a new season. If the door seems to be closing on your current situation, it’s likely that God is leading you somewhere else.
This may be something that you’ve been praying about for a while, and you’ve seen God slowly but surely closing the door on your current circumstances. Or it may be a more sudden and unexpected change, such as a job loss or the end of a relationship. Whatever the situation, ask God for confirmation that it's Him closing the door, then trust that He has something better in store for you.
You’re Being Stretched Beyond Your Comfort Zone
If you feel like you’re being stretched in your current season, it may be a sign that God is preparing you for something new. It can be easy to become comfortable in our routines and the way things are, but God often uses seasons of change and transition to stretch us and grow us. This usually looks like increased opportunities for growth and learning.
It may be something as simple as speaking to someone about your faith or sharing a testimony of what God has done in your life. Or it could be something bigger, like moving to a new city or starting a new business. Sure, it can feel scary, but it’s also an exciting adventure!
Whatever it is, God will give you the courage and strength you need to take that step of faith. Just trust Him to lead you and follow His promptings.
A Fresh Longing to Do Something Different
If you find yourself longing to do something different with your life, then it could be that God is planting a new dream or vision inside of you. It may be something you’ve never even considered before, but suddenly it feels like something you were born to do.
God often uses our dreams and passions to lead us in the direction He wants us to pursue. So if you have a new dream or passion that you can’t shake, pray about it and ask God to confirm His leading.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many ways that God can use to lead us in a new direction. It can often feel like following a breadcrumb trail. But you can be sure that as you seek Him, He will make His will known to you. The key is to be sensitive to His promptings and His leading, trusting that He has something good in store for you. And don’t be afraid to take that first step of faith!
"You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step"
How About You?
Have you ever felt like God was leading you in a new direction?
What are some of the signs that God has used to guide you?
Share your story with me in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time, stay blessed!
Vicky xx
