How can one discern the will of God when facing life situations where it is unclear what to do? (For example, choosing a husband, profession, place of residence, etc.)

How can one discern the will of God when facing life situations where it is unclear what to do? (For example, choosing a husband, profession, place of residence, etc.) #

The Lord has granted us free will and freedom of choice, so we should not shift the responsibility for all life decisions onto God.

When choosing a spouse, one should not be guided by carnal passion but should seek a sincerely faithful person who lives a Christian life. Pray to the Lord to send you such a person. Remember how the holy hieromartyr Avvakum sought a wife. He prayed to God and asked:

“Lord, grant me a wife—a helper for salvation!”

And the Lord heard his prayer and sent Anastasia Markovna, who shared all the hardships of his arduous life, supporting her husband in his difficult struggle to preserve the faith. If the Lord sends you such a person, you will recognize and understand it yourself.

As for choosing a profession, select one where work will not be a burden but a joy to you. Undoubtedly, this work should not involve any sin, for the Lord commands us:

“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.”
(Ephesians 5:11)

A true Old Believer is a person deeply in love with church services, so they choose a place of residence where they can regularly attend God’s temple. Voluntarily depriving oneself of church services is simply unthinkable for a Christian. If you are deciding where to live, look for a city or village where there is an Orthodox Old Believer church.

In all matters, you should seek God’s blessing and assistance. Under no circumstances should you turn to fortune-tellers or soothsayers to “discern God’s will,” as some foolishly do.

Do not believe in dreams, as they are most often meaningless and signify nothing. There are dreams from the devil, who may tempt someone who believes in dreams, leading them not only into sin but even into apostasy from Christ, as church history shows.

I also advise against casting lots to resolve questions, as this can turn into a form of divination, which would be a sin.

Archpriest Vadim Korovin.