3 Paths to God's Will
SHOW NOTES
The Real Answer to “What is God’s Will for My Life?”
Welcome back to Catholic Piety on Purpose! I’m your host, Rich, and today we’re tackling one of the biggest questions intentional Catholics ask: “God, what is your will for my life?”.
Usually, when we ask this, we’re agonizing over specific choices. We wonder if God wants us to take a new job in another state, marry a certain person, or even wear blue socks instead of green. While these decisions have real ramifications on our families, our finances, and our well-being, we are actually asking the wrong question.
Knowing God’s will isn’t about solving a puzzle to find the one perfect choice. God’s will is a state of life. Rather than focusing purely on the specifics, here are the three paths to truly knowing and living God’s will.
1. Be Holy
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, St. Paul gives us a direct answer: “This is the will of God, your sanctification”. Step number one is simply to focus on becoming holy.
As Catholics, we don’t conflate our justification with our sanctification. We have been justified by Christ, and now we must purposefully live this life out. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that holiness is the perfection of charity—meaning loving God and your neighbor extraordinarily well right where you are.
St. Francis de Sales reminds us that the call to holiness is universal, but it looks different for everyone. The holiness of a mother of three looks different from a cloistered nun, which looks entirely different from a corporate lawyer. You are called to be intentionally holy in your specific vocation and daily duties.
2. Preach the Gospel
The second path is making your life a living testament to the resurrection of Jesus Christ through joy, charity, and a willingness to explain your hope.
In Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope St. Paul VI noted that “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers”. You must be a witness first. Like St. Dominic, who met people where they were with deep empathy, we must let God’s immense love impact us so deeply that it naturally overflows to our neighbors.
However, 1 Peter 3:15 also tells us to always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in us. Catholicism is an intellectual faith; we must study and know what we believe so we are ready to share the Gospel when the time comes.
3. Be at Peace
God is a God of peace, not of confusion or frantic anxiety. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you... Let not your hearts be troubled”.
St. Ignatius of Loyola explains that when we move toward God, the good spirit brings courage, strength, and quiet. The evil spirit, however, brings gnawing anxiety, false sadness, and a lack of peace. If a decision is causing you deep consternation, fear, or desolation, it is likely not the right choice. We must use wisdom to evaluate our options and protect our peace.
The Takeaway: Just Pick a Door
If you are actively pursuing holiness, evangelizing through your life, and maintaining your peace in Christ, the pressure is off.
As St. Augustine famously said, “Love God and do what you will”. If your will is totally united to God through these three paths, your desires become His desires. As long as your choice doesn’t involve sin or disturb those three paths, you can simply pick a door. God is sovereign, and you are not going to surprise Him.
God’s will is much bigger than your job or your house; it’s about who you are in Christ, your sanctification, and your eternal soul. Be holy, spread the Word, and be at peace.