discernment
[Noun]
What is the definition of discernment?
The ability to perceive and distinguish. Spiritual discernment teaches us to pause and reflect on how God is moving in our lives and who God is inviting us to be. It’s how we turn our lives in the direction of God’s call.
What does discernment look like in daily life?
We live with immense pressure to have everything figured out: the right career, a defined purpose, the perfect plan. And, when that doesn’t happen, or you’re not sure what choice to make, it can feel like something is wrong with you.
Coupled with that is the age-old question: How will I know if this is the right next step? And, is this next step what God wants for my life?
All that restlessness is part of the discernment process. It’s how we learn to recognize the voice of God speaking to us and begin to understand and trust where God’s love is leading us.
Discernment is never easy. It takes time and patience. What we seek rarely arrives at once or comes wrapped in certainty. More often than not, our next step reveals itself amid our doubts, mistakes, and restarts. They’re all part of the process, too.
Discernment begins the moment we dare to walk with God—and uncover the answers together.
Prayer for Today
Dear God,
My spirit is restless, I need Your wisdom to understand what path to follow. There are so many voices and so many choices trying to guide me but none of them feel right. Walk with me, so I can discover with You the path You have called me to walk in this life, so that I honor Your calling and bring purpose, peace and healing to my life. Amen.
What is God calling you to discern today?
“Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in me.”
— St. Ignatius of Loyola
Where God Is aims to find holiness all around us. Read more.
