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What do you do when you're standing in front of a decision and you're not sure if it's God opening a door — or if you're forcing one open yourself? In this episode, Pastor Jess and Pastor Gabe unpack a framework for discerning God's will that has shaped Westside's biggest current decision as a church, and works just as well for parenting, marriage, career, and the everyday moments where you're asking, "Is this from the Lord, or is this just me?"

Discover:

• The "painted doorway on a brick wall" picture and what it reveals about forcing God's hand
• The 5-filter framework for discernment: Word, Spirit, Counsel, Circumstances, Spiritual Unity
• Why God's will never contradicts God's Word — and why that has to be filter number one
• How to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit's confirmation and His conviction
• The "rudder vs. rowing against the current" picture for Spirit-led living
• Why every believer needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in their corner
• The "squeeze the lime" principle — stewarding what you already have before asking for more
• Why favorable circumstances alone aren't enough to confirm an open door
• How spiritual unity protects big decisions in marriage, family, and the church
• Real examples from parenting school choices, waiting on a spouse, and Westside's current building decision

Most of us have tried to muscle our way through a wall we painted to look like a door. It hurts, it doesn't work, and it leaves us exhausted. The good news is that God isn't hiding His will from you. He's already given you His Word, His Spirit, godly people, real-life circumstances, and a community to walk with. When you slow down enough to let those five things speak together, what felt foggy starts to feel clear — and when an actual door opens, you'll recognize it because you won't have to break it down.

Key Takeaways:

• God's will never contradicts God's Word — if it fails filter one, you don't pass go
• The Holy Spirit is your rudder; peace and dissonance both have something to teach you
• Counsel that never challenges you isn't counsel — it's an echo chamber
• Don't mistake favorable circumstances for confirmation; run them through the other filters first
• Steward what's already in your hand before you ask God for more
• When the wind is in the sail, you know it — stop trying to blow into your own sails

Question for you to think about: What's a decision in front of you right now where you've been forcing a door — and what would change if you ran it through all five filters this week?

Calls to Action:

• Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode
• Drop a comment with the decision you're discerning right now — we'll pray for you
• Share this with someone in a season of big decisions
• Connect with us at Westside Community Church

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