Listen to last week’s sermon covering how to receive guidance from God.

Have you ever found yourself spiritually stuck, caught between what feels like two immovable walls of circumstance? On a frigid winter morning, as snow blanketed our church parking lot with 15-19 centimeters of fresh powder, pastor Eric shares an incident that happened to him last week in our church parking lot. Arriving at church two hours early that Sunday morning, he faced an immediate dilemma at the entrance of the church parking lot. Two massive snowbanks formed where the city plow had cleared the sidewalk, creating what seemed like an impenetrable barrier. Two distinct voices competed in his mind: the voice of reason saying, “Go back home,” and the voice of impatience urging, “You got this.” That second voice – the voice of impatience – kept insisting, “You don’t have time for this. You’ve got so much to do today. You have to make it happen. You can’t afford to go back home.”

Looking back, he now recognizes this as the voice of his flesh, pushing him toward hasty decisions rather than being patient. Making what he thought was a calculated risk, he attempted a small U-turn and managed to clear the first snowbank. Success seemed within reach as he approached the second barrier. However, about one-third of the way through, reality struck hard – he was completely stuck. Snow had piled up underneath the car, and no amount of shoveling in front or behind would free him. The real problem lay underneath, in a place he couldn’t reach due to the car’s position. For the next two hours, he remained trapped between those snowbanks, with plenty of time to reflect on how he got there. The truth was simple but profound: he was stuck because he listened to the wrong voice. He allowed himself to be misguided by impatience rather than heeding the voice of wisdom that had initially counseled patience.

Perhaps you’re reading this and thinking about your own “snowbanks” – those seemingly immovable obstacles in your life where you feel trapped between impossible choices. Maybe you’re trying to push forward, but no matter what you do, you just can’t break through. The question echoes in your mind: “What do you do when you don’t know what to do?” You might find yourself in one of these common scenarios:

The Clarity Crisis

You genuinely don’t know what the right decision is, and you’re unsure which way to turn.

The Avoidance Pattern

Deep down, you know exactly what to do, but you’re searching for a way out, trying to avoid taking that necessary step.

The Guidance Confusion

Like pastor Eric that snowy morning, you feel misguided. You’ve been praying about something, and the answer seems clear—it’s a yes. You are meant to do this. But somehow, you’re being guided—whether by your own doubts, emotions, overthinking, calculations, or even by someone else’s words or external influences—to believe it’s a no.

To find answers to these universal struggles, let’s turn to the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2, where we discover powerful examples of people who could have been stuck—or worse—but instead were divinely guided and chose to follow that guidance.

In Matthew’s account, we discover ways through which God guides His people. Understanding these ways can help us recognize divine guidance in our own lives:

Dreams and Visions

Just as the Magi and Joseph received divine guidance through dreams, God still speaks through dreams today. However, we must exercise careful discernment. Not every dream is from God, and although the enemy is a created being and not omnipresent, the Bible warns, the enemy can also tempt, speak, deceive, influence or even attempt to plant deceptive thoughts during our vulnerable moments. (See Matthew 13:25)

Throughout Scripture, we find numerous examples of God speaking through dreams:

• Jacob received the vision of the ladder to heaven – Genesis 28:10-17
• Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams about the coming famine – Genesis 41:1-32
• Daniel received prophetic visions about future kingdoms – Daniel 7:1 (and chapters 7-12)
• Peter’s vision about clean and unclean foods – Acts 10:9-16

Key principles for discerning dreams:

-Test them against Scripture
-Seek confirmation through prayer
-Consult wise counsel for significant decisions
-Look for alignment with God’s character
-Consider the fruit and outcome

The Written Word

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Scripture provides both immediate guidance (the lamp) and long-term direction (the path). The Bible serves as our primary source of guidance, offering:

• Moral principles for decision-making
• Examples through biblical narratives
• Wisdom for daily living
• Prophetic insight
• Spiritual discernment

The Holy Spirit’s Leading

Romans 8:14 reminds us that

those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

The Holy Spirit guides believers through:

• Inner witness
• Gentle promptings
• Divine appointments
• Supernatural peace
• Conviction about right and wrong

The Body of Christ

Proverbs 11:14 teaches,

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

God often speaks through:

• Pastoral counsel
• Godly mentors
• Small group fellowship
• Corporate worship
• Community confirmation

Peace as Confirmation

Philippians 4:6-7 promises that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This supernatural peace serves as:

• A confirmation of right decisions
• A warning when something is off
• A compass for direction
• An anchor in uncertainty

Common Myths About Divine Guidance

Let’s address some common misconceptions about God’s guidance:

Myth #1: “If it’s God’s will, it will be easy”

Sometimes God’s path leads through challenges. Remember Jesus in Gethsemane – He prayed three times for the cup to be removed, yet proceeded in obedience.

Myth #2: “God’s guidance is always crystal clear”

While God’s guidance can be clear, it often unfolds gradually, requiring faith and patience.

Myth #3: “I need multiple confirmations”

While confirmation is good, endless seeking of signs can be a form of doubt or delay. Remember Gideon’s fleece – God was patient but wanted him to move forward in faith.

Watch sermon here: