Here’s a fun existential spiral: Am I wasting my life?
You’ve probably asked yourself that question at least once — maybe while scrolling LinkedIn, maybe during a particularly aimless Tuesday at your job, or maybe at 2 a.m. after praying yet again for God to just give you a sign already.
Most of us are wired to want purpose. We want our lives to matter. We want to do the right thing, be in the right place, marry the right person and never feel like we missed what God had for us. But for a generation obsessed with optimization and calling, we’ve gotten the idea that God’s will is like a spiritual GPS — we just have to tune in to the signal so we don’t take a wrong turn and end up in career or relationship hell.
But here’s the twist: Yes, God has a plan for your life. And no, it’s not primarily about your job, your ZIP code or whether you picked the right major.
God’s Will Isn’t a Mystery Box
Let’s start with some truth you can hold onto: God’s will for your life isn’t hiding from you. It’s not some top-secret cosmic mission that you’ll only discover after solving a Bible-themed escape room. In fact, God is pretty clear about what His plan is.
It’s this: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Translation? If you follow Jesus, your life has a mission — and it’s way bigger than whatever you do for a paycheck. Your purpose is to live out the transforming, mind-bending, soul-refreshing reality of your relationship with Christ. That’s it. That’s the plan.
So if you’re waiting for a divine job offer to fall from the sky or a burning bush to tell you who to date, maybe zoom out. God’s not ignoring you. You might just be looking in the wrong direction.
You Can Still Hear From God
That said, hearing from God isn’t just a theological concept — it’s a daily practice. And no, you don’t have to be a monk, a pastor or someone who wakes up at 4 a.m. to spend 90 minutes in the Psalms. (But if that’s your vibe, go for it.)
If you actually want to hear from God about your life — your next step, your relationships, your peace of mind — it starts with something wildly untrendy: consistency.
Pick a time. Pick a place. Build it, and He will come.
Set aside space in your actual calendar for time with God — yes, like a real appointment. If you can carve out time for team meetings and dentist cleanings, you can give God 15 minutes. Choose the time of day you’re most awake (God isn’t grading you on holiness points if you’re half-asleep and grumpy). Then find a spot where you can be fully present — not your office, not the crowded coffee shop with bad Wi-Fi. Somewhere that feels like peace.
Then be still. Not scroll-through-TikTok still. Actual, mental, soul-level stillness. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” That’s not just about sitting quietly. It’s about letting go of your internal frenzy long enough to remember who’s really in charge.
Worship helps with this. Whether you sing, journal, cry or just listen to a worship song on repeat, worship shifts your focus from your to-do list to God’s character. It reminds you that God is good, present and for you. Even when life feels like chaos.
Read, Pray, Listen, Repeat
Once your heart is quiet and your perspective is reset, open your Bible. This isn’t a homework assignment. It’s the space where God has already spoken — and will speak again. Read a few verses, a chapter, whatever you can manage. Pay attention to what jumps out. Then pray. Talk to God about it like you would a friend. Ask questions. Complain if you need to. Thank Him. Be real.
And then — and this is where most of us forget — stop talking. Just listen.
Try two-way journaling: Write a letter to God, then pause and write what you sense He might be saying back. Yes, it might feel awkward or like you’re making it up at first. That’s OK. Over time, you’ll learn to recognize His voice — still, small, steady and good. Like a whisper that cuts through the noise.
If you feel like God is leading you toward something — an idea, a decision, a next step — don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with people who know and love God. Let them help you discern if it lines up with Scripture, if it makes sense, if it feels right. Wisdom is communal.
And then, the most important (and most inconvenient) step: obey. Take the step. Make the call. Do the thing. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it doesn’t guarantee the outcome you want.
Don’t Miss the Forest for the Calling
Here’s where we zoom back out again: All of this daily connection with God is not just so you can find the “right” job or avoid the “wrong” person. It’s not about controlling your life — it’s about surrendering it.
Because what if God’s plan for you isn’t about optimizing your résumé or your five-year plan? What if it’s about becoming someone who carries His presence into every space — cubicle, classroom, break room or boring Wednesday?
Too many of us believe a knockoff version of God’s will that says He’s here to make our lives easy, happy and successful by our standards. But when life gets hard or the path looks different than we imagined, we spiral. We assume we missed the plan. Or worse, that God stopped caring.
But maybe God’s plan was never about our personal brand of success in the first place.
Maybe He’s more interested in who you’re becoming than what you’re doing. Maybe the drive-thru job matters. Maybe the dorm room matters. Maybe the waiting season isn’t wasted.
So yes, you can know God’s will. You can hear His voice. You can take faithful steps forward.
But don’t get so focused on unlocking “the plan” that you miss the point: God wants your whole life — messy, boring, confusing, thrilling and holy — and He’s already walking with you in it.
Now go live like it.
