No matter which vocation we are called to, a life in search for the truth and love of God and self will always have its wandering through the desert. To live alive, alert, trusting, and responding to God's movements and power is the song of our response. This is enough.

Prayer as discernment

I strongly believe that God is personally involved and concerned about each person on earth. Because God cares “if the sparrow falls to the ground" (Matt. 10:29) and “if a single strand of our hair turns white" (Matt. 5:36), I believe God is interested in the decisions that you and I make. Scripture assures us we are “valued even more than sparrows" (Luke 12:7). God has preferences regarding the choices we make and wants to reveal those preferences to us. However, God will not force them on us. God wills that we freely choose them. Thus, making wise and loving choices requires discernment.

Prayer is at the heart of discernment. Cultivating a life of prayer—not just in times of crisis, but on a regular basis—takes time. It takes time to learn to listen, really listen, to God in prayer and not merely ask God to listen to you. This spending time together requires both honesty and patience as you wait to hear what God might be saying to you. Make a daily appointment with God. God may not always speak in the quiet of your solitude. Oftentimes, God will answer through a friend, a coworker, a family member, the events of daily life, or even your vocation director. Without daily prayerful recollection, you might not be aware or open to the presence of God in your everyday life.

Becoming sensitive to God’s presence in your midst demands an interior attentiveness, an element of stillness, which is nurtured in the silence of your heart. Prayer and reflection can help in exploring motivations and recognizing interiorly felt movements. Meeting with a spiritual director on a regular basis can be helpful. It is crucial to pay attention to your feelings and articulate them to a trusted friend or confidante. Likewise, it’s important to know the desires of your heart as you contemplate what God wants of you.

Trust

Trust is another attitude necessary for discernment. Trust yourself and your own personal wisdom; trust others who assist you in the process: a vocation director, a spiritual director, or others; trust the Spirit at work in your life; trust that God loves you more than you can ever imagine; and, equally important, trust that God wants the absolute best for you. Given this final premise, remember God is the one in charge. Be open to this mystery and surrender to it.