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As his epistles make clear, Paul cared not only about right thinking but also about right doing. In Ephesians 5:10, he commands the believers to “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” That three-letter word “try” in the ESV is both a comfort and a conviction to any Christian who is serious about growing in spiritual maturity.
The word is, first, a comfort because it reminds us that not everything in life is black and white. While Scripture does give many straightforward commands, it does not tell us exactly what to do in every specific circumstance. You won’t find a verse telling you whom to marry, how to spend your retirement fund, or whether to let your kids read Harry Potter. Yes, this can frustrate us at times. If only God would write “yes” or “no” in the sky once in a while. But we should be comforted to remember that just as we patiently forbear with a one-year-old learning to walk, our heavenly Father knows that sanctification is a “more and more” and “one degree of glory to another” process (Phil. 1:9; 2 Cor. 3:18). There will be times that we miss the mark and fail to discern rightly. When this happens, our Father is ready to pick us back up, forgive us, and continue His miraculous work of transformation in us.
The word “try” is, second, a conviction because it demands action. Paul reiterates in Ephesians 5:15, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” Our “trying” to discern is no halfhearted, erratic endeavor but rather continual paying attention to how we are living. To the sincere Christian, it should matter whether his manner of life is “filled with the fruit of righteousness” (Phil. 1:11) and preparing him for eternity. This is a lifelong, holy ambition that cannot take place apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. The command to “try,” however, reminds us that we are not passive in this process.
Consider three ways that we can actively try to please the Lord and walk in wisdom:
Ask for it. James 1:5 could not be clearer. If we lack wisdom, asking God for it is a good place to start, because when we ask in faith, He gives it generously.
Search for it. God’s Word is “able to make you wise for salvation” and profitable for “training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:15–16). The more we grow in sound understanding of Scripture, the better we’ll get at prayerfully applying its truths to real-life circumstances. We should diligently study the Bible, using trusted resources, and plant ourselves under biblical, expository preaching.
Imitate it. Paul writes in Philippians 3:17, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Sometimes “trying to discern” means seeking out a godly older believer to ask questions and receive counsel or reading the biography of a saint whose walk with God, though imperfect, proved faithful and fruitful.
May our trying as children of God be used by Him to bring about the fruit of steady transforming.