Knowing God’s Plan for This Church, This City, This Season

One of the quiet assumptions people make about pastors is that we have a direct line to God - like clarity just shows up in our inbox when we need it most.

If only.

Most church leaders I know aren’t struggling with a lack of passion or faithfulness. They’re struggling with discernment.

Questions like:

• What should we focus on right now?

• What matters in this season—and what doesn’t anymore?

• How do we know when something is from God and not just a good idea we picked up somewhere else?

The pressure is real, because direction doesn’t just affect programs. It affects people.

Here’s a conviction that has guided me for years:

God has a plan for this church, in this city, at this time.

Not the church down the road. Not the church that went viral last year.

This one.

Right where you are.

Right now.

Similar Callings, Very Different Contexts

My family loves visiting national parks. What fascinates me isn’t just the beauty, it’s the contrast. Sand dunes in Indiana are nothing like the white gypsum dunes in New Mexico. Both are sand, but they behave differently. Mountains in Washington don’t feel like mountains in Tennessee. One might think they woudl be similar, but they tell very different stories.

Churches are the same.

We love borrowing ideas (and sometimes we should), but imitation without discernment can quietly derail us. What worked beautifully somewhere else may be completely wrong for your people, your leadership culture, and your community.

That’s not failure.

That’s context.

Discernment Starts Closer Than We Think

When leaders talk about “seeking God’s will,” they often jump straight to prayer—and prayer matters deeply—but discernment usually begins with attention.

Start with your church.

Do you really know its story? Its wounds? Its patterns?

Every church carries history -past successes, past conflicts, past failures. And while the enemy isn’t very creative, he is persistent. Churches tend to be tested in familiar ways. Knowing that history doesn’t make you cynical; it makes you wise.

It also helps you understand people. Why certain ideas trigger resistance. Why some ministries are protected at all costs. Why comparisons to former leaders keep surfacing.

None of that means you’re trapped by the past, but you can’t lead well if you pretend it isn’t there.

Then look at the present.

What reputation does your church have in the community right now? What do people say when its name comes up? What needs are already being met and which ones aren’t?

Discernment isn’t developed in isolation. It grows when leaders listen -to longtime attenders, to community voices, to people outside the church walls. Sometimes the clearest insight comes from conversations that aren’t on your calendar.

Timing Is a Spiritual Discipline

One of the hardest parts of leadership isn’t knowing what to do, it’s knowing when.

Ministry has seasons. Sometimes you’re planting. Sometimes you’re watering. Sometimes you’re harvesting something you didn’t start. And sometimes you’re preparing soil that won’t bear fruit for years.

The danger comes when leaders panic and start ripping things up too soon -changing direction repeatedly, chasing momentum, or reacting to pressure instead of calling.

Scripture reminds us that wisdom is available, but divided loyalty makes us unstable. Discernment requires both prayer and resolve. Not just asking God for direction, but trusting Him enough to stay the course once it’s clear.

You Don’t Have to See the Whole Future

Here’s a freeing truth: God doesn’t always reveal a 20-year plan. He often reveals the next faithful step.

The plan for your church today may not be the plan it had 20 years ago. And it may not be the plan it will have 20 years from now. Your role isn’t to control the whole story, it’s to be faithful in the chapter you’re in.

That means paying attention. Listening carefully. Praying honestly. And then leading with courage once direction becomes clear.

Because the only thing more difficult than ministry without clarity is ministry with clarity that we’re afraid to follow.

If you’re feeling the weight of discernment right now, you’re not behind. You’re doing the real work of leadership.

And that work begins right here: This church. This city. This season.

Pastor Tony Kensinger serves churches as a pastor, coach, and discipleship strategist through Fresh Ministries. He has spent decades helping churches clarify spiritual formation, build healthy leadership cultures, and move from activity to intentional discipleship. If this stirred something in you, take a moment to pray -and if a conversation would help, that door is always open.