How the Certainty of God’s Will Affects Decision-Making and Action

Seeking to understand God’s will is our duty. From an Old Testament perspective, God’s will and Law were matters of life and death; anyone who values life recognizes the gravity of this. However, in daily life, many major decisions do not come with clear instructions from above. In such times, different perspectives emerge. I would like to use my recent experience as an example.

The Dilemma

In July 2024, shortly after my wife and I got married, we rented a place in Xinying. The landlords, a Christian couple from our church, presented themselves as kindhearted people who had historically kept rents stable for long-term tenants. However, by April 2025, they informed us of a rent increase. We agreed. But in June, just as we were about to sign the new contract, the husband suddenly announced he was selling the property and demanded we move out within six months.

We were shocked and confused. Given our newborn baby and the fact that we had just installed a new air conditioner, we asked them to show mercy and grant us more time. We eventually secured a one-year lease renewal. We prayed for help, deciding to focus on our daughter and wait until January 2026—once things stabilized—to find a new place. Thank God, we found an excellent location, though it was much more expensive. When we asked the landlord about early termination, the wife suddenly claimed they had never intended to sell—that it was just “false information” spread by others—and urged us to stay.

We faced a major decision: Stay in the familiar comfort of the original place, or be brave and move? Moving is a massive undertaking involving significant change. If we stayed, nothing would seemingly change, and the landlords were now willing to keep us. We prayed, yet God’s will remained opaque. We fell into deep decision fatigue.

Perspective 1: Wait for Clear Confirmation Before Acting

We met with the new pastor at our current church to seek guidance. However, the response I received was purely “human.” He felt we were being too hasty and insisted we list the pros and cons—even proactively trying to dictate how we should view them. He argued that moving is troublesome and expensive, that life here is good, and even suggested my insomnia might not be related to the commute. Only after exhausting these secular arguments did he mention praying and waiting for a “clear sign.”

I felt uncomfortable. His words were indistinguishable from the advice of any secular elder on the street. Compared to the wisdom of our soon-to-retire senior pastor, I could sense no spiritual depth in this new minister.

A sister in Christ from our church also shared her experience of a “hasty” move that left her unable to cope with work and childcare due to financial shifts. Her conclusion was simple: pray earnestly and wait for undeniable evidence before taking any action. It was clear they wanted us to stay. Their logic had merit—impulsiveness can lead to wrong decisions—but it made me wonder: how much “certainty” do we actually need to act?

Perspective 2: Pray for Peace, Then Move Boldly

The pastor’s wife from Shanhua Church called us. She welcomed us to the area and shared her testimony of moving from Hsinchu, detailing the grace they experienced amidst rental hardships. She spoke of her children, her understanding of the Local Church (Assembly Hall), and her calling.

She had no doubt about God’s provision—God would take full responsibility. Moving in the Holy Spirit, she referenced Psalm 23. She saw herself simply as the sheep following the Shepherd most closely. We, as sheep, are so weak that we cannot even “turn ourselves over” when we fall; we desperately need the Shepherd to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death.

She wasn’t aggressive in her persuasion, but her security in God offered profound comfort. It showed me that when you truly entrust everything to God, He becomes responsible. Therefore, we can dare to act. God will guide us whether we fully comprehend the path or not.

Perspective 3: A Unified Decision Between Spouses is God’s Will

My parents suggested that whatever decision my wife and I made together is God’s will. I know this sounds extreme, and the Bible has counterexamples (like the couple in Acts who conspired to lie). However, Matthew 18:20 says where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there. Does Jesus stay silent and “lurk” in our midst, or does He exert actual influence?

Some theologians argue that God examines our intentions and that our “inspirations” may come from Him rather than just free will. If God intervenes in our conversations, then this perspective holds weight. Think of a Papal Conclave: it is clearly a vote by men, yet it is recognized as God’s choice. Or the casting of lots in the Old Testament: it appears random, yet it reveals God’s will. If we seek God together and reach a unified decision, God is in that choice.

Conclusion

My wife gave me the final authority, and I decided to move. I don’t believe continuing a relationship with the original landlords is wise. Even with the “sunk costs”—curtains and mats that won’t fit, AC installation fees, and duplicate appliances—the price is light compared to the cost of cooperating with the wrong people.

Did I have a “clear sign”? Perhaps not an obvious one. But practically, our furniture fit the new place perfectly, or was easily rehomed. However, the ultimate confirmation wasn’t these small graces, but the realization that I need to be shepherded by the right person. A pastor must truly believe in and love God—a trait easily discerned through conversation. God showed me that the new pastor at my current church failed this standard, while the pastor’s wife at the new church met it completely.

Some might call me superficial for using a critique of a pastor as a “sign” to leave. Let them think what they want. My situation is far from that accusation. I am not criticizing him as a person, nor do I think he needs to change. He is simply not the right shepherd for me. Every pastor has their sheep; I just happen not to be one of his.