How does God’s guidance work physically?
How does God’s guidance work in our day-to-day decisions? Last session we discovered guidance in the spiritual realm as God works through His Word, His Spirit, our Bible study and prayers to lead us. In this session we will see how God uses the physical elements of our lives—resources, experiences, talents, and so on—to guide our choices. Please note that we cannot pick and choose. If we want God’s guidance, we must pay attention to both the spiritual and the physical inputs.
Consider our personal bents.
Though we have common human characteristics, God made each of us to be one-of-a-kind. A rarely used term describes our differences—each of us has personal bents. What is a bent? A bent can be defined as “a natural talent, inclination, leaning, or bias toward a specific activity, behavior, or way of thinking.[1]”
God designed those bents into us, and our bents make a difference in our approach to challenges. For example, my wife, Shawn, loves the planning, dreaming, and idea stage of garden projects. She derives garden bed shapes and plant layouts, and in her analysis the colors and shapes of blooms are meshed with the foliage to create a stunning visual presentation. I’m oriented to grabbing the tools and digging holes. The plan does not have to be perfect as I know we can make adjustments later. Our divergent strategies, our individual bents, often raise friction in our garden time, but we know that both mindsets are valuable. Together we accomplish much. Now, please pay attention to these next thoughts.
Jesus shared the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. A man leaving for a journey divvied his resources among his servants so they might conduct business until he returned. The man understood the unique abilities of each servant as one was given ten talents, another five, and another one talent. Our Master knows us better than we know ourselves, and His plan for us considers the bents He has designed into us.
God calls different people to fulfill different roles. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the church as a body with many parts, and God shapes each person to fit the assigned role. Other Scriptures point to the distribution of the spiritual gifts God provides to edify the church body and enable the work. Every believer has one; some have more than one. Curious readers will find an easy-to-read resource on spiritual gifts here: Discovering My Spiritual Gifts.
But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB
What makes you tick?
Study the endeavors that make you tick. What brings a sense of fulfillment and peace? Where do you apply yourself and feel joy in the moment, joy at such a level that the expense and effort are pushed down in importance? As you describe yourself be careful not to leave God out of the discussion. You and I may have bents that we have not yet identified or considered.
Gideon threshed wheat in a winepress, afraid his actions would be discovered by the Midianite raiders who ravaged his country. We may see fear and timidity in that snapshot of Gideon, but God saw a man who improvised, adapted, and overcame. As a result, God developed Gideon into a mighty leader who led the battle to free Israel from those invaders. (Gideon’s story can be read in Judges 6-8).
Or think of Moses arguing with God about becoming spokesman for the nation of Israel (Exodus 3-4). Moses planted his bare feet in the dust, convinced that his uncontrollable tongue with its oft-present stutter denied him a career in public speaking. God saw an entirely different result— a mighty orator who addressed Pharaoh with confidence then led a fledging nation for forty years.
Be careful not to miss out on God’s purpose because of limited personal analysis. Not sure about your bents? Ask God for experiences that will reveal them to you, then step out with courage to see what develops.
Analyze our background.
Just as God created us with unique bents, He also planned a lifetime of experiences for each of us. Those experiences represent learning opportunities. Don’t dwell in the past, but do conduct a wrap-up analysis of memorable happenings. What worked? What did not work? Where did I miss the target? What portions of the experience seemed a breeze? Where did I struggle? Did I learn anything new?
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. Psalms 139:15-16 NASB
We can derive guidance for the future by analyzing past failures and successes. And God will expand our discernment as we investigate those events. He does promise wisdom for those who ask (James 1:5).
Pay attention to Bible examples.
Moses bugged out of Egypt with law enforcement hot on his trail. Though he took refuge in the wilderness, God’s plan remained intact. Moses found a wife and a full-time job caring for his father-in-law’s sheep. I wonder if Moses ever felt as though he had ruined his life and arrived at a dead end? God worked and the wilderness experience came into play in the next chapter when God called Moses to lead Israel to a new land. The escape route out of Egypt led through the desert, familiar territory for Moses. All those dusty, lonely days with the sheep suddenly took on new importance as Moses cared for his people.
Saul (later Paul) determined to become the most religious of the elite Pharisees. He was an “all in” kind of guy and, once he set a direction, he surged forward. Paul had completed a world-class education under Gamaliel, a respected Jewish teacher. Paul learned the Scriptures inside out, waxed zealous over his interpretation, and became a super spy rooting out those who did not agree with the Pharisees. Wasted experience? Not at all. God saved him and called him to take the Gospel to Gentiles (and Jews) across the known world. The knowledge from Paul’s education enabled his teaching, his debating, and certainly his writing. And his zeal burned brightly throughout his travels.
God does not waste our experiences or our education. He builds on them. Author Corrie Ten Boom wrote:
“I know the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.[2]”
What a remarkable God we serve! One who can turn a string of seemingly unrelated experiences into planned preparation for an assignment only He knows. I love this thought:
“…we have a wonderful God who exercises sovereign control. Even now He is weaving many “coincidences” into the fabric of our lives.[3]”
Inventory what God has provided.
God sets the direction for our lives based on His purposes, and He provides the resources we need. The provision may include talents such as speaking, drama, music, and art. We may be gifted to work with numbers or have the knack for deriving workable strategies out of seeming chaos. We should include our financial resources as well as our possessions in the inventory. God provided all of it for His glory. Take personal inventory and pray over the list. Revisit it often and keep it up-to-date. See how God might use what He has provided.
The Bible includes examples for our benefit such as Barnabas, also called Son of Encouragement (Acts 4). As folks turned to Christ, their Jewish families and employers ostracized them. Suddenly the church at Jerusalem had scores of hungry believers to feed. Barnabas sold property and donated the proceeds to the church’s relief efforts.
Consider Lydia (Acts 16), a well-to-do lady, who accepted Christ and opened her home to Paul and his traveling entourage. Lydia saw her resources as belonging to God and saw herself as a manager, so she applied those resources to help spread the Gospel. The mission team had a roof over their heads, meals to eat, and a base from which to conduct their outreach.
What about, Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18), a Jewish couple expelled from Rome by the emperor’s decree? They landed in Corinth and operated a tent-making business. Paul arrived to minister in that city, and Aquila and Priscilla made space for Paul to work within their business to earn his keep. After a couple of years, the couple left with Paul to travel to Ephesus where they were instrumental in helping plant that church. And finally, the couple returned to Rome (Romans 16:3) to host a church in their home. Their trade and business expedited their travels and their ministry.
As we uncover our talents, abilities and giftedness, as we consider our resources, we can include those assets in our planning.
Pay attention to the circumstances.
Certainly, we consider the circumstances in any decision we face, but bear in mind that God can and does overcome obstacles as we set out to serve Him. We may struggle with determining whether God is blocking our path or simply testing our faith to see if we will obey Him despite the rugged terrain ahead.
I find encouragement in Paul’s example. Called to be the preacher to the Gentiles, he traveled the known world sharing the Gospel and planting churches. Along the way he encountered deep hatred from many groups and eventually found himself a Roman prisoner. Had his ministry come to an end? Not at all. God used Rome to protect Paul from enemies who had sworn to end his life. Prison gave Paul time to write letters, and that’s how the New Testament books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon came to be. Through those books, across the centuries, Paul’s words continue to share good news and great teaching with people around the world. Nice move, God, and only You could make something like this happen!
What about age and health?
What happens when my years add up or some aspect of my health fails? Has God then finished the work He wants me to do? Does He bench me till my clock runs out? Or might He have some other plans for me? Perhaps an area of service I would not have considered had my health continued? My dear wife reminds me that as long as my heart beats God has purpose in my being here.
Does He have the right to reassign me? Wow! The answer to that question speaks to our faith and confidence in Him, does it not?
God does allow health concerns, and that downtime often engenders retrospection and analysis. Trust Him. Aging may indeed slow us down or even prevent us from serving in the capacity we used to fill. The life events we discount as disasters may open the very door God has prepared for us. Change is not always bad, folks, and there is no growth without change.
What about adversity?
The company where I served for more than twenty years began quarterly layoffs as the business picture evaporated, and the employee ranks shrank over several years from a peak of nearly a hundred thousand to just a few thousand. In the ninth year, in the last round of cutbacks before the company closed for good, I was offered a six-month transitional contract to expedite my portion of a project for the organization which had acquired the assets. My job would end afterwards.
Back in the job market at age fifty-three? What about my pension, retirement benefits, and plans? Where was God in all this? Had His plan for me been thwarted? God had purpose in these events, but not at all what I expected. As my six-month term ended a local company hired me at a substantial salary increase, and I jumped at the offer.
The new job included pure stress within a hostile working environment. Seems this company had been letting employees go also, and my presence as a new hire engendered much resentment among the survivors. The work load increased constantly along with the expectation that I be available 24x7x365. In my two-year stint management notified me multiple times that my job would end on a certain date only to have the company change its mind each time.
I hated going to work and plummeted into depression. Shawn and I reached the difficult decision that I should resign. The rough road was God’s way of bringing me to the point where I would make a change. Looking back and reviewing, His workings are obvious, but looking forward while treading water in the turmoil, my weak faith saw only uncertainty.
Make note of the friction.
We have to pay attention to friction and opposition as God does use those to steer us. He may have a new location where He needs us, or He may be building our character through the pain. I love the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Old Testament. Things went from bad to worse for them. We have the advantage of seeing the bigger picture and knowing that God planned each step to bring Ruth across Boaz’s path. God had big plans for those two!
Another Old Testament account has Esther snatched out of her hope of finding a husband and raising a family into a mandatory beauty contest. King Ahasuerus would examine the contestants and pick a new queen. Esther might win and become that queen, or she would, after one night with the king, become part of his harem, to serve as his playmate. I won’t spoil the story for those who have not read the book, but God was not surprised by these events. He worked His plan as He always does.
Pray for a level and straight path.
David, the psalmist, prayed that God would make his path level, straight, and well-lit. David had no desire to waste time on rabbit trails that led him away from God. Perhaps you and I should adopt his prayers as our own?
Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a level path Because of my foes. Psalms 27:11 NASB
O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. Psalms 5:8 NASB
For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness. Psalms 18:28 NASB
Yes, study the circumstances. Absolutely, compile lists of pros and cons. Of course, try the knob, and see if the door ahead will open. God does open and close doors to guide us. Remember through it all to trust His plan, His power, and His provision. God’s love for you and me remains constant no matter the circumstances around us.
Get a good night’s sleep.
We learn to walk with God by reading His Word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer, and listening to His Spirit. We do diligent analysis of the physical inputs God has provided. And then we rest and allow God to do His work. Don’t fret. Close your eyes and get a good night’s sleep, and know that God never sleeps. He’s already resolved the challenge facing us, and in His time, He will reveal the next step.
God has designed within us a powerful computer, our brain, and that jewel continues to process data while we sleep.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
Has it happened to you? You wake in the middle of the night and suddenly the choice you must make or the action you need to take is crystal clear. As though Someone were outlining the steps in an audible voice. We serve an amazing God. Ponder on these words from David:
I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. Psalms 16:7 NASB
In summary
Let’s wrap up this study of God as our Guide. In my spiritual walk I must:
- Admit that I need guidance.
- Become an intentional student of God’s Word.
- Listen for the Spirit’s quiet voice.
- Exercise my prayer muscles.
- Accept God’s parental guidance.
And as we evaluate the parameters in our physical lives we:
- Consider our personal bents.
- Analyze our background.
- Inventory what God has provided.
- Pay attention to the circumstances.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
Truly, God is our Guide!
[1] “Bent definition response.” Google AI, 27 Sep. 2026, Google.
[2] Ten Boom, Corrie. The Hiding Place. Grand Rapids: Chosen. 1971 and 1984. p 31.
[3] Richards, Sue Poorman and Lawrence O. Women of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2003. p 231.
