Discernment: Trusting God's Guidance in Uncertainty

Devotional

Day 1: Practicing Discernment in Everyday Life

Discernment is the God-given ability to judge well the situations, influences, and choices we encounter, helping us to distinguish what is good and beneficial from what is not. In a world filled with countless voices, philosophies, and temptations—whether in a bookstore aisle or in the decisions we face each day—God calls us to slow down and thoughtfully consider our steps. Discernment is not reserved for the spiritually elite; it is a practical tool for all believers, young and old, to navigate life’s complexities. When we pause to ask, “Is this good for me? Is this what God desires?” we honor God’s wisdom and invite His guidance into our daily lives. [02:06]

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)
"But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: What is one area of your life today where you need to pause and ask God for discernment before making a decision or taking action?

Day 2: Knowing When to Wait on the Lord

There are seasons when the best and only thing we can do is wait on the Lord, trusting that He remembers us and is preparing to act on our behalf. Like Noah, who spent over a year on the ark without knowing when the floodwaters would recede, we too may find ourselves in times of uncertainty, chaos, or even crisis. In these moments, waiting is not passive; it is an act of faith, believing that God is at work even when we cannot see it. Our waiting is never in vain, for God is always present, always attentive, and always working for our good. [08:14]

Genesis 8:1 (ESV)
"But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided."

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel the urge to rush ahead, and how might God be inviting you to wait on Him and trust His timing today?

Day 3: Discerning When to Move Forward

Just as there are times to wait, there are also moments when God makes it clear that it is time to move forward. Noah discerned the right moment to leave the ark—not before God’s command, but in response to it. Moving forward requires recognizing God’s clear opportunities and mission, ensuring our actions align with His Word and build up His church. Sometimes, when the path is uncertain, simply doing the next right thing in faith leads us into God’s will. God’s direction is often revealed step by step as we trust and obey. [18:41]

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Reflection: What is one “next right thing” you sense God is calling you to do this week, and how can you take a step of faith in that direction?

Day 4: Responding to God’s Grace with Worship

When Noah finally left the ark, his first act was to build an altar and worship God, offering a sacrifice out of his scarcity rather than abundance. True worship is a response to God’s grace and mercy—recognizing His faithfulness, provision, and deliverance in our lives. Even when resources are limited or circumstances are uncertain, choosing to worship acknowledges God’s sovereignty and goodness. Our worship pleases God and invites His continued favor and presence. [24:51]

Genesis 8:20-21 (ESV)
"Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, 'I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.'"

Reflection: In what specific way can you pause to worship God today in response to His grace or mercy in your life, even if you feel you have little to offer?

Day 5: Trusting God’s Presence and Guidance in Uncertainty

No matter how chaotic or overwhelming life may feel, God is always present, leading and guiding His people through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not left to navigate life’s storms alone; God is with us, helping us discern, comforting us, and preparing us for what lies ahead. This assurance allows us to face uncertainty with hope, knowing that our lives are not accidents but are held securely in God’s hands. [29:21]

John 14:26 (ESV)
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed or uncertain, how can you intentionally invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, decisions, and actions today?

Sermon Summary

Walking through the aisles of Barnes & Noble, it’s easy to see how our world is filled with voices offering self-help, transformation, and even spiritual alternatives that promise meaning and direction. Yet, in the midst of all this noise, what we truly need is discernment—the ability to judge well, to know what is good and what is not, and to recognize God’s leading in our lives. Discernment isn’t just for the spiritually elite; it’s a practical necessity for every believer, young or old, especially when life throws us into seasons of uncertainty, chaos, or transition.

Looking at Noah’s story in Genesis 8, we see a powerful example of discernment at work. Noah had to know when to wait, when to move forward, and when to worship. After the floodwaters surged for 150 days, Noah waited on the ark for over a year, not knowing how long it would last or what would come next. Yet, he trusted that God remembered him and was preparing to act on his behalf. Sometimes, when life feels chaotic or uncertain, the most faithful thing we can do is wait on the Lord, trusting that our waiting is not in vain but is filled with purpose and hope.

But discernment also means recognizing when it’s time to move forward. Noah didn’t leave the ark until God gave a clear directive. He watched for signs, sent out birds, and waited for God’s word. When the time came, Noah stepped out in obedience, leaving behind the ark—the very thing that had saved him—because God promised he wouldn’t need it anymore. In our own lives, moving forward often requires courage to let go of what’s familiar and trust God’s new direction, making sure our steps align with his Word and build up his people.

Finally, discernment leads us to worship. When Noah left the ark, his first act was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to God, even out of scarcity. God was pleased with this worship, responding with mercy and a promise never to destroy the earth in the same way again. True discernment recognizes God’s grace and responds with gratitude and worship, not just on Sundays, but whenever we see his hand at work in our lives.

In all things, we are not left to figure it out alone. Through the Holy Spirit, God is with us, guiding, comforting, and helping us discern his will. Whether we are waiting, moving forward, or worshiping, we can trust that God is leading us for his glory and our good.

Key Takeaways

1. Discernment is Essential in a Noisy World With so many voices and influences vying for our attention, discernment is not optional—it’s vital. It enables us to judge well what we read, believe, and pursue, helping us avoid being swept along by the latest trends or pressures. Discernment is a spiritual discipline that grounds us in God’s truth and keeps us attentive to his leading in every season of life. [02:06]
2. Waiting on the Lord is an Act of Faith Noah’s long wait on the ark, with no clear timeline, mirrors our own seasons of uncertainty and chaos. Waiting is not passive resignation but active trust that God remembers us and is preparing to act on our behalf. In times when the next step is unclear, waiting on the Lord is a declaration that his timing and purposes are better than our own. [11:10]
3. Knowing When to Move Forward Requires Courage and Clarity Discernment isn’t just about waiting; it’s also about recognizing when God is calling us to step out in faith. Like Noah, we must look for clear opportunities and missions that align with God’s Word and build up his people. Moving forward often means letting go of what once protected us, trusting that God’s promises are enough for the new season ahead. [19:26]
4. Worship is the Right Response to God’s Grace Noah’s first act after leaving the ark was to worship, even when resources were scarce. True worship flows from recognizing God’s mercy and grace in our lives, responding with gratitude and sacrifice. Worship is not just a ritual but a way of acknowledging God’s faithfulness and inviting his continued presence and favor. [23:57]
5. The Holy Spirit Guides Us in Every Season We are not left to discern God’s will on our own; the Holy Spirit is our constant companion, guiding, comforting, and empowering us. Even when life feels chaotic or overwhelming, we can trust that God is with us, helping us to judge well, wait faithfully, move forward courageously, and worship wholeheartedly. Our journey is not random—God is leading us for his glory and our good. [29:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - The Need for Discernment in Everyday Life
[03:14] - Facing Life’s Uncertainties
[04:46] - Noah’s Example: Knowing When to Wait
[06:07] - God Remembers Noah
[07:02] - The Long Wait on the Ark
[09:11] - Waiting in Chaos and Uncertainty
[10:18] - Waiting on the Holy Spirit
[12:33] - Recognizing When to Move Forward
[14:17] - The Significance of the Birds
[16:22] - God’s Command to Leave the Ark
[18:41] - Leaving the Past Behind
[19:26] - Discerning God’s Mission
[23:14] - Doing the Next Right Thing
[23:57] - Worshiping Out of Scarcity
[26:09] - God’s Response to Worship
[29:21] - Trusting God’s Guidance in Every Season
[30:09] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 8:1-22 (ESV) — (Main text for the sermon)

> 1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.
> ...
> 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him.
> 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.
> 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
> 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
> 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Additional Passages Referenced: —
- Acts 1:4 (ESV)
> And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;”

- Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
> Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 8, what specific actions did Noah take while waiting for the floodwaters to recede?
What was the first thing Noah did after leaving the ark, and why is this significant?
In the sermon, what does the phrase “God remembered Noah” mean, and how does it shape the story?
What instructions did God give Noah and his family after they left the ark?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that discernment is not just for the “spiritually elite” but for everyone. Why might discernment be especially important during times of chaos or uncertainty?
Noah waited on the ark for over a year without knowing how long it would last. What does this teach about the nature of waiting on God, and how is this different from just being passive?
The pastor mentioned that moving forward sometimes means letting go of what once protected us (like Noah leaving the ark). What are some reasons it can be hard to let go of the “ark” in our own lives?
Why do you think Noah’s act of worship after the flood was so pleasing to God, even though his resources were scarce?

Application Questions

The sermon began with a story about walking through Barnes & Noble and seeing all kinds of self-help and spiritual alternatives. What are some “noisy voices” in your life right now that make it hard to hear God’s direction? How can you practice discernment with these influences?
Think about a time when your life felt chaotic or uncertain, like “everything is on fire.” Did you find it easy or hard to wait on God? What would it look like for you to actively trust God in a current season of waiting?
The sermon said that sometimes God calls us to move forward and let go of what’s familiar, even if it once protected us. Is there something in your life right now that God might be asking you to leave behind? What would it take for you to step out in faith?
The pastor talked about “doing the next right thing” when you’re not sure what to do. What is one “next right thing” you sense God is calling you to do this week?
Noah’s first act after leaving the ark was to worship, even when resources were scarce. When was the last time you worshiped or thanked God in a season of scarcity or difficulty? What might it look like to worship God this week, regardless of your circumstances?
The sermon reminded us that the Holy Spirit is with us, guiding and helping us discern God’s will. How do you personally sense the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Are there practices or habits that help you listen better?
The pastor said, “Our journey is not random—God is leading us for his glory and our good.” Do you believe this is true for your current situation? Why or why not? How might this belief change the way you approach your week?

Sermon Clips

So, when my life is on fire, and I don't know if you know what that feeling is, but I feel like I've felt it a couple times. I feel like, gosh, everything is just on fire. Everything is chaotic in my life. That's an indication of where I ought to be. I ought to be waiting on the Lord. That's what I should be doing. [00:08:23] (22 seconds) #WaitOnTheLordInChaos

For me in my life, there have been times where it's been pretty obvious, right? Things are chaotic. I feel the surge of the water in my life. I feel like I'm drowning. That is a time to wait on the Lord, right? To discern. That this is what's right for me. [00:09:16] (18 seconds) #DiscernAndWait

When we wait, we know our waiting's not in vain. As Jesus' disciples waited, they waited on the power of the Holy Spirit. That's a good thing. We remind ourselves that when we wait, we wait on something good. We wait on what the Lord is bringing about. [00:10:42] (19 seconds) #WaitingOnHolySpirit

In times of uncertainty, though, that's a good opportunity to wait on the Lord. Again, Noah did not know how long he was going to be on the ark. Based on what we read, we're given no indication that God told Noah, hey, Noah, you're going to be on the ark for about a year. We're not told that. And so it seems very much like Noah just waited for the water to recede. Maybe hoping it would recede. But Noah had to wait in this time of uncertainty. [00:11:29] (32 seconds) #FaithInUncertainty

Sometimes in life, it is clear. It's a time to move forward. It's a time to go and do. It's important to discern those things. It was important for me as an employee to discern. You know, I don't, as I was taught when I was younger, don't be caught with your hands in your pockets. Right? When you show up at work, it's time to work. It's time to do. [00:18:19] (23 seconds) #TimeToAct

So we view the Lord. We see what the Lord is doing. We respond with worship. It's often in the New Testament when people truly see Jesus. How do they respond to him? They worship. They fall to their knees. They recognize him as Lord. So when we see Jesus, when we recognize him, when we recognize his power in our life, when we recognize his action, we know, we discern. this is a time to worship. [00:27:29] (31 seconds) #RespondWithWorship

Whenever we recognize his grace or his mercy, whenever I recognize that I've received some favor from the Lord that I didn't deserve, I worship him. When I recognize that the Lord was merciful to me, that I didn't get what I did deserve, I worship him. I thank him. That seems to be the motivation of Noah's worship. [00:28:32] (28 seconds) #WorshipInGrace

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