In my last article, I explored how God uses his Word and counsel from others to lead us toward our vocational callings. Now, I will share two other ways he guides us in this important area.

God Gives Us Wisdom to Make Decisions

Biblical wisdom is the ability to make good personal decisions about right and wrong, good and bad, better and best. God has not left us alone to figure it out ourselves. He uses the Holy Spirit, his Word, our experiences, plus our renewed hearts and minds to discern which path to take.

The wisdom God provides enables us to make good choices, even if the way is unclear. Regarding choosing the right job, Lee Hardy, in his book The Fabric of This World, recommends that if there are several “equally valid and interesting” options, we should just make a choice instead of being “paralyzed by the lack of a deciding factor.” Hardy makes a good point regarding options that would be along the lines of jobs that a Christian could do in good conscience. If the job allows you to love your neighbor and bring shalom, then there are no wrong answers. Just choose one and go for it.

As I reflect on my own major decision to join the U.S. Army in February 1986, I know that my wife and I went through this process of looking very carefully at the way God had designed me, inside and out. I was seeking God earnestly, asking him for wisdom. I examined my talents, desires, aptitudes, experiences, concerns, and skills. When it was time to enlist, I stepped out in faith and then continued to listen to his guidance every time I came to a fork in the road.

God Leaves Us Visible Clues

I can’t help but overemphasize the biblical principle that God sovereignly works out his divine plans for us. He does have good plans and purposes for us, as he is a loving God. These plans began long before we were conceived. He is involved in every single detail of our entire lives.

Hardy, in his book, wisely advises, “We ought to take seriously the doctrine of divine providence: God himself gives us whatever legitimate abilities, concerns, and interests we in fact possess. These are his gifts, and for that very reason, they can serve as indicators of his will for our lives.” In Deuteronomy 8:17-18, we are reminded that it is the Lord God who gives us marketable skills to earn money. God designed each of us with talents that we can use to expand his creation, meet the needs of the people that he made in his image, and glorify him.

Hardy mentions the God-given concerns we have, which, along with our abilities and interests, can be clues to what we are called to do. Sherman calls this a “holy discontent,” which is a “passion that ‘wrecks’ a person—that issue that ‘keeps you up at night; something in the world you want to fix.’”  I have sensed such concerns myself. It is the reason that I wrote my book.

It may take us a while to figure out, but I think it is not too difficult a task for a child or young adult to begin to identify some of the abilities and interests that God has built into their DNA. (I invite you to read an article I wrote several years ago, regarding “Seeking a New Job or Career.”)

Closing Thoughts

While God once spoke to individuals audibly, through angels and in visions, he no longer does so. Now, he tells us what he wants us to do through his Word, through others, by providing wisdom, and giving us some visible clues. Even with all this, sometimes I just get a sense of God’s direction. Let me share a story about how God led one of his children in their job search.

My wife reminded me of how she got the job where she worked for many years. She had been seeking the Lord, and one morning she woke up feeling specifically led to go to the Presbyterian preschool to ask about a job. She spoke with the director, who was befuddled. There was indeed an opening for the next school year, but they had not yet announced the position. She said that she would have to arrange an interview for her with the board right away. She got the job.

I encourage you to continuously seek God’s face if you are needing him to lead you to make a major decision about finding a job, choosing a college, stepping out in a new career, finding a mate, starting a family, buying a home, or something else that is important to you personally. I challenge you to ask others what they think, mull it over in your sanctified imagination, lay out the pros and cons with the wisdom God has already provided, and look for any visible clues. I know that God leads his people in a variety of ways. Test him and see what he does for you.

Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from the author’s personal blog. Republished with permission.