Answer:
Often times at points of struggle or discouragement this thought floods into our hearts and mind: "Am I really in the will of God?" First, we must understand that opposition does not mean we are outside the will of God; in fact, just the opposite is often the case. In Acts 16 we read of Paul and Silas following the call of God only to find them chained up in a prison cell. They could have hung their heads and concluded they missed the will of God, but instead they worshipped God and allowed His plans for them to unfold. As a result, the jailer and his household learned about God and were saved.
Secondly, we must believe God wants to guide our lives. Psalms 37:23 says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives.” Know that He cares about the details of your life, and wants to lead you. Pray about everything, don’t mistakenly think He has bigger things to worry about and isn’t concerned about the details of your life.
Thirdly, one of the primary ways God directs us is through His word. Psalms 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” That is, it guides me today, right where I am (lamp to my feet) and leads me into the future (a light to my path). We must be careful then to ensure we are obeying His word in every detail of our lives.
Finally, a fourth principle of knowing God’s will comes from Colossians 3:15 which says “to let the peace of God rule in our hearts” We may not hold all the “pieces” concerning our future in our hands, but when we have “His peace” we can confidently move forward knowing He is leading. When difficulties arise, don’t panic; continue to allow His word and His peace be your compass.