Does God really want you to have clarity?
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, “Kelsey, how do I know what God wants me to do with my life?” – well, let’s just say I’d have a very full savings account.
When I was trying to figure out my own career path, I spent so much time praying, journaling, seeking wisdom, and honestly – just waiting. Waiting for clarity. Waiting for that magical moment when God would hand me a neon sign that said, “THIS is the job I have for you.”
But here’s what I’ve learned: clarity isn’t always God’s will.
That might sound strange coming from me, considering I literally help people find clarity in their careers for a living. But the kind of clarity we chase – where we know every step of the plan before we move – isn’t something God always promises. And that’s exactly what I want to talk about in this post.
The Difference Between God’s Revealed Will and His Hidden Will
To understand why God sometimes withholds clarity, we need to understand the 2 aspects of His will: the revealed will and the hidden will.
God’s Revealed Will: What He Has Already Made Clear
Scripture provides us with clear, undeniable instructions about what God wants for us. This is what we call His revealed will – the commands and principles He has already given us in the Bible.
For example, John 6:40 states, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.” This means that at the core of God’s will is the desire for us to trust in Jesus and receive salvation.
Similarly, 1 Peter 1:16 emphasizes the call to holiness, “Be holy, because I am holy.” This isn’t a vague directive, it’s a clear expectation. God’s will is for us to pursue righteousness, reflect His character, and grow in faith.
Another powerful example is found in Matthew 22:37, where Jesus sums up the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
There is no ambiguity here. If you’re wondering what God’s will is, start with these foundational truths: believe in Jesus, pursue holiness, and love God and others.
God’s Hidden Will: What He Chooses Not to Reveal
But then there are the things that God doesn’t tell us in advance.
Should I move to a new city? Should I take this job offer? Will this relationship work out?
These are the kinds of questions that fall under God’s hidden will – the things He chooses not to reveal until the right time (or sometimes, not at all).
Deuteronomy 29:29 explains this distinction perfectly, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”
When I first read that, I had to pause.
The secret things belong to the Lord. That means I don’t always get to know the full picture. And honestly? That kind of drives me crazy. I like to plan. I like to have a roadmap. But God doesn’t always hand out blueprints – He calls us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Why Doesn’t God Always Give You Clarity?
So if God is good and loves you, why does He sometimes choose not to reveal the plan?
1. To Trust Him
Think about Abraham. God told him to leave his home and go to a land He would show him – but not before he started walking.
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” – Genesis 12:1
Abraham had to move first, then God revealed the next step. If God always handed you the full plan upfront, where would faith come in? Faith means taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.
2. To Keep Us Dependent on Him
There’s another reason God doesn’t always spell out every detail of the plan: because if you had all the answers, you might start trusting your own wisdom instead of His.
Matthew 6:34 reminds us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
In other words, stop demanding certainty before taking action. Faith is about trusting God, even when you don’t have all the details figured out.
3. Because It’s Not Time To Know Yet
Another reason God withholds understanding? Because it’s not time for you to know.
In Deuteronomy 29:4, Moses tells the Israelites, “To this day, the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.”
Even after witnessing miracles, they still didn’t grasp what God was doing. Sound familiar? Sometimes, you won’t get an answer because God is doing something behind the scenes that you can’t yet comprehend.
What To Do When God Doesn’t Give You Clarity
If clarity isn’t always guaranteed, how should you respond when you feel stuck?
1. Move Forward, Even If You’re Not 100% Sure
A huge mistake I see people make (and have made myself) is waiting too long for a perfect answer before taking action.
But Ecclesiastes 11:4 warns against overanalyzing, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” If you wait for absolute certainty, you’ll never move. Sometimes, you just need to take a step, even if you don’t feel totally ready.
2. Pray for Guidance, But Don’t Expect a Step-by-Step Blueprint
Yes, pray for wisdom. But understand that God often guides you as you go, not before.
Isaiah 30:21 offers this reassurance, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
God doesn’t always tell you the full plan before you move. Often, He directs you in the process.
3. Remember That God’s Will Is More About Who You Are Becoming Than What You Are Doing
At the end of the day, God’s will isn’t just about where you work or what decision you make—it’s about who you are becoming.
Tim Keller put it best: “God’s will is more of something He does than something He gives.”
Instead of obsessing over one perfect decision, focus on becoming the kind of person who trusts God no matter what.
What If God’s Will Isn’t a Clear Answer, But a Daily Trust?
If you’re waiting for clarity in your career or your next big decision, I get it. It’s hard to step forward when you don’t feel certain.
But maybe, instead of asking “God, show me exactly what to do,” you should start praying:
“God, make me the kind of person who follows You, even when I don’t see the full picture.”
Because at the end of the day, that’s what faith is all about.
You don’t need clarity to obey God.
You don’t need certainty to move forward.
You just need faith.
And you need to take action.
Listen to the full episode here for more.
