Episode 94: Discerning the Crossroads

SUMMARY
Struggling with decision fatigue and spiritual paralysis? In this episode, we explore the foundations for discernment that can help overcome the information overload many of us experience.

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INTRODUCTION
Feeling overwhelmed by decisions and longing for guidance? This episode of the Resilient Lineage Podcast explores the foundations of biblical discernment. Olivia and Milo share practical steps for overcoming information overload and spiritual paralysis, by helping you trust God’s direction, make wise choices, and step forward in faith, even without certainty.

MODERN Spiritual Paralysis

Christians today face an overwhelming array of choices amid constant digital noise and cultural pressures. Many believers find themselves paralyzed, waiting for a clear, unmistakable sign from God before making any decision. Yet this “waiting game” often leads to frustration, missed opportunities, and spiritual stagnation. The biblical alternative is not passivity but faithful action grounded in God’s Word, wise counsel, and trust in His sovereign care.

How do we overcome Discernment and Spiritual Paralysis?

Part 1: Foundations for Discernment

1. Anchor Yourself in Scripture
God’s primary means of guidance is His revealed Word, not subjective feelings or mystical signs. The Bible provides the moral framework and wisdom principles for every decision we face. Rather than searching for a secret, individual blueprint, immerse yourself in Scripture to develop the mind of Christ.

2. Quiet Your Heart to ListenCultivate stillness and attentiveness to God through prayer and Scripture meditation. God often speaks through the “still, small voice” rather than dramatic signs. Learning to hear Him requires practice, patience, and sometimes the help of mature believers who can guide us in discernment.

3. Test Every Impression
Never assume that a thought or feeling is automatically from God. Test all impressions against Scripture, seek wise counsel from spiritually mature Christians, and look for the peace of the Holy Spirit. J.I. Packer reminds us that “the fundamental mode whereby our rational Creator guides his rational creatures is by rational understanding and application of his written Word”. God will never prompt you to do anything that contradicts His revealed Word.

4. Develop a Heart Aligned with God
Rather than asking God to reveal His special will, ask Him to develop His character in your life—then you will know how He thinks and what is important to Him.

Part 2: When Both Options Are Good—Walking by Faith, Not Sight

The Freedom to Choose
After prayerfully considering Scripture, seeking wise counsel, and examining your motives, you may still face two equally valid options. Here’s the liberating truth: God often gives us freedom to choose within His moral will. Garry Friesen’s influential work Decision Making and the Will of God argues that where the Bible gives no command, God gives us both freedom and responsibility to decide using wisdom. Any decision made within God’s moral boundaries and with godly wisdom is acceptable to God.

The Wisdom Tradition
Kevin DeYoung challenges the notion that God has a hidden “dot” we must discover for every decision. Our responsibility is to discern His revealed will in Scripture and obey it, trusting that He will work all things together for good.

Faith Is Not Certainty
Faith means taking the next step in the midst of uncertainty, believing that God will care for us whatever lies ahead. As one author writes, “Faith is not certainty. Neither is it paralysis. Faith is taking the next step in the midst of uncertainty”.

Trust God’s Sovereignty
The peace we have in decision-making comes not from knowing the future but from knowing the One who holds the future. Sinclair Ferguson beautifully illustrates this with what he calls “Flavel’s Law”: “The providence of God is like Hebrew words—it can only be read backwards”. We often cannot understand God’s purposes in the moment, but looking back, we see His faithful hand guiding and shaping us for His glory and the good of others. Joseph’s story powerfully demonstrates this—what others meant for evil, God meant for good.

Part 3: Practical Steps Forward

1. Commit Your Way to the Lord Unconditionally
As Proverbs 16:3 teaches, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” This doesn’t mean God will bless every whim, but that when we surrender our plans to Him in humility and trust, He shapes us into people of wisdom. Tim Keller emphasizes that seeking God’s guidance requires total abandonment: “I trust you, give me or withhold from me, whatever you choose”.

2. Make a Decision and Step Forward
Once you’ve ensured both options are biblically sound, prayed, sought counsel, and examined your heart, make a choice and move forward in faith. Don’t wait for perfect peace. Trust that God is sovereign over your decision and will work through it for His purposes.

3. Walk Closely with God Daily
Discernment is not a technique but a relationship. The more time you spend with God—in His Word, in prayer, in worship, in obedience—the more you’ll recognize His voice and know His heart.

4. Learn from Every Decision
God uses both our successes and our mistakes to shape us into the image of Christ. Even when we make poor choices, God’s sovereignty ensures He can redeem them for good. Don’t be paralyzed by fear of making the wrong choice—God is bigger than your mistakes.

5. Embrace the Mystery of Providence
We live in the tension between human responsibility and divine sovereignty. Your choices matter and have real consequences, yet God is ultimately in control and can smooth over your many poor choices so that in the end you will be okay. This paradox is not intellectually tidy, but it’s utterly practical—it prevents both paralysis (from thinking your choices determine everything) and passivity (from thinking your choices don’t matter).

CONCLUSION
Discerning God’s voice is less about decoding secret messages and more about walking in intimate relationship with a faithful Father. He invites us to know Him, trust Him, obey His Word, seek wisdom, and step forward in faith—even when the path ahead is unclear. As we do, we discover that God is faithful not only to guide us but to walk with us every step of the way.

CONTACT US at hello@thisresilientsoul.com. We are always looking for ways to deepen the quality and expand the impact of this podcast. So if you have some ideas on how we can do that we welcome your input.

Theme Music by Caleb Prasad

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