The Importance of Living Faith In Discernment (& What You Need to Discern)
One thing that makes living faith difficult is that we often struggle to know God’s will for our lives. Of course, the paradox is that we don’t take the time to discern God’s will – or if we do we don’t really understand what to listen for. Sometimes God will speak directly to our hearts in unmistakable ways. But most often, he guides our lives gently, respecting our free will but definitely having a plan for us. If we want to live the adventure of faith by living out our office, our vocation, and our mission, we need discernment.
What do we need to discern, and how do we go about it?
1. Our charisms
There are two powerful ways that God equips us with through his grace that help us to carry out our office, vocation and mission. He gives us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and He gives us the charisms. Typically each of us has 2-3 dominant Gifts and 2-3 charisms that are strongest in us. Discerning what gifts God has given us is an important step in discerning how he wants us to live them.
2. Our vocation
We often think of vocational discernment as something only young people need to do. But vocational discernment actually has two dimensions. The “macro” or “big picture” discernment is what general vocation and state of life we’re being called to – priesthood, religious or consecrated life, or marriage and family life. But once that decision is made, there is another more specific, “micro” discernment that needs to be ongoing. That is the discernment of how to best live out our vocation each and every day.
3. Our mission
Even if we have discerned our general vocation, we still have to figure out just how God has called us to participate in Jesus’ 3-fold mission as Priest, Prophet and King. The discernment of our mission is a bit less specific than the discernment of our general vocation. God may or may not give you a specific job to do. I am pretty convinced that He has called me to the teaching and discipling work I am doing with From the Abbey. That’s pretty specific. But I think he called my mom to show his love to others through her sense of hospitality. No great apostolate came out that call. She just makes people feel welcome whenever the opportunity presents itself. But that’s every bit a mission.
4. Our need for conversion
As disciples of Christ with a living faith we are called to love God and love our neighbor. To love doesn’t mean to be “nice.” It means ultimately to give ourselves to God and to each other like Jesus did – in perfect self-sacrifice. But God doesn’t call us to perfection right away. He calls us to the process of conversion. There are things in us that we need to change in order to love more completely. Our failure to love is called “sin.” We need to root out our sins and our sinful inclinations. This happens gradually over time, and we need to discern how God is calling us to change.
Your Living Faith Challenge
The biggest question remaining is HOW do we discern God’s will in these areas? There is no single formula for discernment. But here are a few steps to start with.
1. Ask how God has equipped you – both your natural talents and your supernatural gifts (Gifts of the Holy Spirit and charisms).
2. Pay attention to what other people say you’re good at. Sometimes other people see the good in ourselves before we do.
3. Take this all to prayer and ask God to guide us – praying “thy will be done.” Sometimes God will answer you very clearly and strongly in your prayer. But don’t be disappointed if he chooses to whisper to you through your life instead.
4. Try it out! For our general vocation, this would be the engagement period of marriage and the seminary period for the priesthood. There is no clear-cut trial period for our mission. We just have to take it upon ourselves to make a choice and to start serving in the way it seems God equips us to. Then pay attention to how God will shape and direct your mission. He may do this by giving you new inspirations and new ideas, but igniting a passion in your heart, or by throwing unforeseen circumstances at you. Be flexible. Be open to His will. Always be serving in one or more of the three areas of Jesus’ mission. Discerning your mission is a lot like the micro-discernment of living your vocation every day. We need to ask ourselves each day, “How am I being called to a greater self-sacrificing love within my vocation today?” Today I discerned that the kitchen full of dirty dishes needed to be my responsibility. That’s how I was called to love my wife today. Trying out your charisms is also an important step in discerning which gifts you have. You may have a “sense” of how God has equipped you. But that sense could be mistaken, or it could be reflecting your natural abilities (which may or may not complement your charisms). Try out what you think your charisms are. Employ them in service of others. Then see if God does more through them than you could possibly do yourself. That’s a powerful sign that what you’re exercising is a charism.
Your Next Action Step
Would you like a bit more help discerning your gifts, office, vocation and mission? Here’s what you’re going to want to do next. The course “The Adventure of Faith” from the Keys to Spiritual Growth series offers you practical strategies for discerning and clarifying how God has equipped you and what he is equipping you for.
You can get started really easily with the free “Keys to Spiritual Growth” course. This course will introduce you to all five of the most important areas of spirituality that we need to nurture if we want to deepen our relationship with God. Click here to get free instant access to this course, then consider enrolling in the full course “The Adventure of Faith.” This course will help you more fully participate in a living faith.