How Can I Know God's Will? #discernment
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Father March from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal discusses discerning God's will in life. He emphasizes the importance of responding to personal inspirations from prayer, obeying rightful authority, and acknowledging reality. He shares insights on how to navigate uncertainties when inspirations don't materialize, suggesting that God guides us through closed doors and that obedience to God's voice, authority, and reality can help confirm His will. The video offers a Catholic perspective on trusting in God's plan, even when it's not clear or leads to disappointments.
Takeaways
- đ Knowing God's will involves a combination of personal inspiration, communal discernment, and obedience to authority and reality.
- đ Personal inspiration can be strong, but it is not the sole determinant of God's will; it must align with communal discernment and authority.
- đ€ Discernment is a process that includes prayer, communal input, and the consideration of one's feelings and callings.
- đïž Obedience to rightful authority is crucial; this includes the Church's confirmation for certain vocations like priesthood or religious life.
- đȘ Reality plays a significant role in discernment; if a calling does not materialize (e.g., not getting a job or not being accepted into a religious order), it is essential to trust that God is guiding the process.
- đ There is a three-fold obedience involved in discerning God's will: obedience to personal inspiration, obedience to authority, and obedience to reality.
- đ€ The communal dimension is vital; one's calling often involves others, such as a spouse in marriage or a religious order confirming a vocation.
- đ It's possible to feel a deep calling that does not come to fruition, leading to confusion and a need for trust in God's plan.
- đ Mother Teresa's example illustrates the importance of responding to inspiration and waiting for confirmation from rightful authority.
- đ The process of discernment can be frustrating and unclear, but it is a part of the journey of trust and surrender to God's will.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the discussion in the transcript?
-The main topic of the discussion is discerning and understanding God's will in one's life, particularly in the context of Catholicism and the process of obedience to God's calling.
Why might someone feel called to a particular path, such as priesthood or marriage, and then find that it doesn't happen?
-Someone might feel called to a path because of a profound inspiration or conviction, but it may not happen due to various reasons, including lack of acceptance by the Church or other parties involved, or simply because it was not part of God's plan for them.
What is the role of 'discernment' in the Catholic worldview as discussed in the transcript?
-Discernment in the Catholic worldview is a process that involves not just personal feelings but also a communal dimension, obedience to God's personal calling in prayer, obedience to rightful authority, and obedience to reality.
How does the concept of 'obedience' relate to following God's will as described in the transcript?
-Obedience to God's will involves responding to the inspiration felt in prayer, respecting rightful authority, and acknowledging the reality of the situation. It is a three-fold obedience that requires trust in God's guidance even when faced with closed doors or rejections.
What does the speaker mean by 'holding things with a slightly loose grip' when following a calling?
-The speaker suggests that while one should pursue a calling with conviction, they should also be open to the possibility that the calling might not come to fruition, and thus not be too rigidly attached to the outcome.
How does the Church or a religious order confirm a calling to priesthood or religious life?
-The Church or a religious order confirms a calling through a process that involves acceptance into seminary or religious life, and ultimately, through ordination or acceptance into the religious order.
What is the significance of 'closed doors' in the context of discerning God's will?
-In the context of discerning God's will, 'closed doors' often represent God's guidance and direction. They are seen as a way in which God leads individuals, sometimes more clearly than through open opportunities.
Why is it important to have a 'trust and surrender' attitude when following God's will?
-Having a trust and surrender attitude is important because it acknowledges that God is at work in the details of life, and it allows individuals to be open to God's plan, even when it differs from their own expectations.
What does the speaker suggest about the experience of facing a 'no' or rejection in the pursuit of a calling?
-The speaker suggests that facing a 'no' or rejection can be painful, but it is also an opportunity to trust in God's plan and to recognize that there is still richness and fullness in God's will for one's life.
How does the speaker relate the concept of being a 'pilgrim' to the journey of discerning God's will?
-The speaker relates being a 'pilgrim' to the journey of discerning God's will by emphasizing the gradual and often challenging nature of the process, where one must take small steps and trust in God's guidance along the way.
Outlines
đ Understanding God's Will in Your Life
In this segment, Father March Mary introduces the topic of discerning God's will in oneâs life. He emphasizes that while it may be true that individuals can deeply feel a calling, there is no guarantee that these feelings will lead to actual outcomes. He discusses the confusion that arises when such strong convictions do not materialize and suggests that discernment, from a Catholic perspective, is not just personal or subjective. It requires a communal aspect, including obedience to Godâs guidance in prayer, rightful authority, and the reality of the situation. Trusting God even when things donât go as planned is essential in this process.
đ€ïž Obedience in Following Godâs Calling
This section elaborates on the threefold obedience in the Catholic worldview: obedience to personal prayer, rightful authority, and reality. Father Mary explains that when people feel God is calling them to a specific path, they should respond but also maintain flexibility. He provides examples, such as those called to religious life, where acceptance by the church or the religious order is necessary to confirm the calling. Similarly, those called to marriage or a specific job must receive affirmation through reciprocal commitment or job acceptance. Ultimately, God uses closed doors to guide individuals, and it's important to trust Him even when things donât unfold as expected.
đŻ Aligning Convictions with Reality
Father Mary stresses the importance of aligning personal convictions with reality. While someone may feel called to become a Catholic musician or an NBA player, there are limitations based on oneâs talents and circumstances. Obedience to reality means acknowledging what is possible in light of oneâs current abilities and life situation. This approach requires trust in Godâs guidance and the belief that God is working through all details, even closed doors or unfulfilled dreams. By surrendering control and remaining open to Godâs plan, individuals can experience peace and clarity in their spiritual journey.
đ Trust and Surrender in God's Plan
In the final part, Father Mary speaks about the ultimate necessity of trusting God and surrendering to His plan, even when things are frustrating or unclear. He reflects on the journey of Mother Teresa, who felt called to start a religious order but waited for proper authority before acting. Similarly, Catholics are encouraged to trust Godâs process and the outcomes of rightful authority and reality. While discerning Godâs will may be frustrating or unclear, when the desired result comes to pass, such as marriage or career success, it confirms the authenticity of the calling. Until then, one must remain patient and trusting, knowing that God works through all details, including closed doors.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄDiscernment
đĄInspiration
đĄObedience
đĄVocation
đĄAuthentic Human Obedience
đĄConfirmation
đĄReality
đĄTrust
đĄSurrender
đĄPilgrims
Highlights
Understanding God's will involves discernment and obedience.
Discernment is not purely subjective; it includes communal and authoritative dimensions.
Obedience to God's personal calling in prayer is essential.
Rightful authority plays a role in confirming one's calling.
Obedience to reality is necessary, even when it involves closed doors.
God's will is confirmed when one's actions align with reality and authority.
Trust in God's guidance is crucial, even when outcomes are not as expected.
The experience of 'no' or closed doors can still lead to God's intended direction.
Mother Teresa's example of waiting for rightful authority's confirmation.
The importance of having a loose grip on one's plans while trusting in God's will.
The journey of discernment is often marked by frustration but also truth.
Even in the face of 'no,' there is still richness and fullness in God's plan.
The process of discernment involves a balance of personal conviction and external confirmation.
The role of communal discernment in the Catholic worldview.
The concept of three-fold obedience: to prayer, authority, and reality.
The practical steps one might take in response to a felt calling.
The necessity of a disposition of trust and surrender to God's unfolding plan.
The reassurance that God is at work in the details, even when they are not clear.
Transcripts
we're going to talk about really knowing
God's will in your life and I think the
answer is going to be both
true but maybe really
annoying father March Mary with the
Franciscan friers of the renewal and
this is Ascension present how do you
know at the end of the day how do you
have fullprof total
confirmation that the inspiration you're
feeling is God's will the answer is
because it actually happens you might
feel so profoundly like called
to become a priest or to become a
religious or you might be called to a
certain type of business or company or
nonprofit or you might feel so called to
maybe move somewhere or to marry a
particular person or to be married and I
and I come across people who feel this
so deeply this is the number one thing
that they are sure of in their life and
then it doesn't
happen and then the experience is one of
like really profound confusion I I this
was what God was saying like did it and
it didn't happen like where how did was
he fooling me was he tricking me did I
not hear him can I not hear God at all
and it can just really be disorienting
in a Catholic worldview and perspective
um discernment is never purely
subjective especially the big type of
stuff like there's there's love discern
which is not just subjective it's not
just what I feel in I am convinced of
there's a communal Dimension to that and
this is again this is a Catholic
worldview with this inspiration we're
going to be in called to a three-fold
obedience okay there's an obedience to
what God is personally asking us in
prayer like if we feel God is calling us
to something there's an obedience to
that there's an obedience to rightful
Authority and then
thirdly God's going to speak to us and
therefore there's going to be obedience
simply to reality so the first one is
this like yeah if you feel God calling
you to something we're called to respond
to it if you feel like there's an
inspiration in prayer to acts of Charity
to a greater conversion to leaving
things behind to reaching out to
somebody to to a deeper prayer life to
particular maybe sharing a word of
encouragement to somebody you you you
meet if you're feeling called to
marriage if you're feeling called to a
particular Mission or min
if you're feeling called to a particular
vocation like we want to respond to it
we can through sin or through
Disobedience just like say no to God
God's going to adjust he's going to
respond to it but but there is a real
Dimension to that but if God's calling
us to it like yeah we want to respond
but we also respond and we hold these
things with a slightly loose grip
there's a sense like I I kind of would
have this like I feel strongly like that
God is calling me to this and so I'm
going to make the right action steps but
at times these invitation or these
action steps are going to involve other
parties you might feel called to
Seminary and by that you feel a certain
desire to it or to religious life and so
you're going to make the
steps that call we hold lightly like I'm
following this I think this is it like
and we can't really go much deeper than
that until like the church confirms it
there's a part for those who are going
to be ordained where like church calls
in they receive the call and like we you
are chosen you will be ordained
similarly the call to like a religious
Institute is confirmed when that
religious order says yes so there is
this this rightful Authority part to it
also you might be called feel called to
marry a particular man or
woman they have to say yes you know you
know you know that this is God's call in
your life when you exchange marriage
vows and you get married you might feel
called to a particular job or something
like that but again
like you have to get hired
and so the thing is like if we don't get
accepted the Seminary or we don't get
ordained or we don't marry the person we
want to or we don't get get the job we
want like we actually have to trust that
God is working in those details we have
confidence that we can hear God's voice
but there is a part as well where it's
like I'm pretty confident this is what
God is saying so we follow as best we
can but then we also have to trust that
God's going to Shepherd us through the
details and often he Shepherds us like
most directly through closed doors
that's my experience at least is often
like it's through the closed doors that
God is most concretely and clearly
taking us to a particular direction and
so we have to trust God with those
details and this this last level of
obedience is just to reality I could
potentially feel a deep conviction that
I'm called to be you know the next
brother Isaiah the next Matt marah the
next big Catholic
musician I can't sing I might feel
called to be in the NBA but like that's
just not going to happen at this point
in my life there's a part there isn't
this obedience to reality in all of this
like obedience is ultimately possible
when we have the confidence that God
speaks that God is at work and also God
is trustworthy that God is trustworthy
in these details and I I echoed it and
you can go back to it again uh with that
that uh the quote from Mother Teresa
like Mother Teresa felt so deeply called
to start religious order and so she
responded she was obedient to if you
will the um the inspiration then as well
like she was obedient and she waited for
rightful authority to say yes and then
she went forward so friends again this
might feel um a little bit frustrating
or annoying but also maybe sometimes the
fullness of the truth is frustrating and
annoying and I get because it's not
maybe as clear cut cut or black and
white as you might want it to be but
this is really this is really ultimately
how we know what God wants in our life
um because when we follow through it it
actually happens and so as God speaks to
us and he inspires us we want to be
obedient we want to say yes but then
also there's the The Obedience this
Catholic authentic human obedience to
rightful Authority and to reality and so
when rightful Authority and reality both
also say yes and the thing actually
happens you get you get the you enter
into the vocation you have the the the
wedding you get the job Etc um then we
can have confidence then we know that
this was ultimately God's will we TR
confidence in him but with a loose grip
and sort of a a disposition of trust and
surrender to the Lord as the details
unfold hopefully this is helpful and can
help make sense of some things that
you're experien or have experienced and
um yeah it's not to be dismissive of the
pain of of the no but also to have this
authentic Catholic trust and confidence
that God is at work and the details and
that in the closed door in the no
there's still fullness and richness for
what God wants to do in your life it's
just not maybe where you thought all
right thanks so much for watching and uh
we'll see you again next week remember
we are pilgrims on the Serv so p po po
little by little B say you are we're
going to make it
bye I want that phone to not be ringing
but it is ringing so it's God's will for
me to be in here with it ringing
sh go
away good
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