The idea sounds much simpler than it seems to be in practice: The closer we are to Christ and God, the easier it becomes to discern God’s will, or purpose, for our lives.
But that formula points to something with which devotees of St. Jude are already intimately familiar: an active prayer life.
Our calls to St. Jude for intercession may at times be similar to how Jesus came to God in the Garden of Gethsemane: on His knees in prayer for profound needs and desires. What Jesus taught us there is what we too believe in our prayer: Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42).
Ultimately, what God wants for us—His will—is to know Him in a personal way, and to live for Him. And the most personal we can possibly be with God is to talk with Him, talk that is also known as... prayer. We bring God into our everyday and big moments alike through prayer and meditation; even our simplest prayers and stillest meditations invoke our love of God and the hope that is the foundation of our prayer. The practice of St. Jude devotion, which is always infused with gratitude and prayer, provides a path for a deeper and even more personal relationship with God.
In turn, we can experience the peace of knowing God is near, as His purpose for our lives becomes not such a mystery.