Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will

by Kevin DeYoung

Publisher:

Moody

, 2009

Overview

Why won’t God reveal his special will for my life already?

Because he doesn’t intend to... So says Kevin DeYoung in this punchy book about making decisions the godly way.

Many of us are listening for the still small voice to tell us what’s next instead of listening to the clear voice in Scripture telling us what's now. God does have a will for your life, but it is the same as everyone else’s: Seek first the kingdom of God. And quit floundering.

With pastoral wisdom and tasteful wit, DeYoung debunks unbiblical ways of understanding God’s will and constructs a simple but biblical alternative: live like Christ. He exposes the frustrations of our waiting games and unfolds the freedom of finding God’s will in Scripture and then simply doing it.

This book is a call to put down our Magic 8-Balls and pick up God’s Word. It’s a call to get wisdom, follow Christ, be holy, and live freely. To just do something.

Key Features

• Exposes the frustrations of our waiting games and unfolds the freedom of finding God’s will in Scripture and then simply doing it
• Constructs a simple but biblical alternative: live like Christ
• Debunks unbiblical ways of understanding God’s will

Contents

• Foreword
• The Long Road to Nowhere
• The Will of God in Christianese
• Directionally Challenged
• Our Magic 8-Ball God
• A Better Way
• Ordinary Guidance and Supernatural Surprises
• Tools of the Trade
• The Way of Wisdom
• Work, Wedlock, and God’s Will
• The End of the Matter

Top Highlights

“The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we’re going.” (source)

“So here’s the real heart of the matter: Does God have a secret will of direction that He expects us to figure out before we do anything? And the answer is no. Yes, God has a specific plan for our lives. And yes, we can be assured that He works things for our good in Christ Jesus. And yes, looking back we will often be able to trace God’s hand in bringing us to where we are. But while we are free to ask God for wisdom, He does not burden us with the task of divining His will of direction for our lives ahead of time.” (source)

“My point is that we should spend more time trying to figure out how to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (as instructed in Micah 6:8) as a doctor or lawyer and less time worrying about whether God wants us to be a doctor or lawyer.” (source)

“I’d like us to consider that maybe we have difficulty discovering God’s wonderful plan for our lives because, if the truth be told, He doesn’t really intend to tell us what it is. And maybe we’re wrong to expect Him to.” (source)

“This is the first reason we seek to know God’s specific will of direction for us: We want to please Him.” (source)

Praise for the Print Edition

God told me that He wants you to read this book. Actually, that is one of the many mistaken notions about God’s will that Kevin DeYoung wants to correct.

—Collin Hansen, Editorial Director, The Gospel Coalition

One of the best books on guidance I’ve read.

—Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church

False understandings of God’s will infect so much of popular Christianity. The church desperately needs a rescue from this confusion. Thankfully, Kevin DeYoung offers that much needed rescue in Just Do Something. Live the title to God’s glory, but read this excellent book first.

—Albert Mohler, President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will
• Author: Kevin DeYoung
• Publisher: Moody
• Print Publication Date: 2009
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 143
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Young adults › Religious life; God (Christianity) › Will; Discernment (Christian theology); Christian life › Reformed authors
• ISBNs: 9780802411594, 9780802490346, 0802490344, 0802411592
• Resource ID: LLS:9780802490346
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-03T21:00:26Z

About Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung is an American Christian Reformed Evangelical theologian and author. DeYoung is senior pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan and a member of and blogger for The Gospel Coalition. DeYoung is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen books including the 2009 and 2010 Christianity Today Book Award winners Why We’re Not Emergent, and Why We Love the Church. His most recent work, Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem, is the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association 2014 Christian Book of the Year.

Sample Pages from Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will