What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do

1. Begin Your Journey with God: Trust in His Guidance

Your faith is the vital step you take to connect with God, the way-maker.

Trust in God's plan. When facing life's challenges, it's crucial to remember that God has a purpose for you. He is not just a distant deity, but an active participant in your life, ready to guide you through even the most difficult times.

Acknowledge your dependence. Recognize that you were designed to rely on God, not to be self-sufficient. This dependence is not a weakness, but a strength that allows you to tap into God's infinite wisdom and power.

• Pray for guidance in times of uncertainty
• Study scripture to understand God's character and promises
• Look for signs of God's presence in your daily life
• Surrender your plans and trust in God's timing

2. Choose Your Traveling Companions Wisely: Surround Yourself with Support

Your journey with God will be richer, more fulfilling, and more successful if you surround yourself with people who are committed to support you.

Build a supportive network. The people you surround yourself with have a significant impact on your spiritual journey. Seek out individuals who will encourage, challenge, and pray for you as you navigate life's challenges.

Look for key qualities in companions. Ideal traveling companions should possess:

• Support: People who offer practical and emotional assistance
• Love: Those who accept you unconditionally
• Courage: Individuals who inspire bravery in difficult times
• Feedback: People willing to offer honest, constructive criticism
• Wisdom: Those with experience and insight to share
• Accountability: Companions who help keep you on track

3. Place High Value on Wisdom: Seek Knowledge and Understanding

Hopelessness is replaced by hope, and we get back on track again.

Actively pursue wisdom. When facing challenges, seek out the missing pieces of knowledge that can help put your life back together. This pursuit of wisdom is not just an intellectual exercise, but a spiritual one that can transform your perspective and renew your hope.

Explore multiple sources of wisdom:

• Prayer: Ask God directly for wisdom and guidance
• Scripture: Study the Bible for timeless truths and principles
• Mentors: Seek advice from those with more life experience
• Professional help: Consult experts in relevant fields
• Books and resources: Educate yourself on your specific challenges
• Support groups: Learn from others facing similar situations

4. Leave Your Baggage Behind: Embrace Forgiveness and Healing

Examine your ways of dealing with people and problems which may be trapping you in the past.

Identify emotional baggage. Unresolved hurts, fears, and conflicts from the past can weigh you down and hinder your progress. Take time to reflect on what emotional baggage you might be carrying and how it affects your present life.

Practice forgiveness and healing:

• Acknowledge past hurts and traumas
• Seek forgiveness from God and others you've wronged
• Forgive those who have hurt you, even if they don't deserve it
• Allow yourself to grieve losses and process emotions
• Seek professional help if needed to work through deep-seated issues
• Embrace a new self-image based on God's love and acceptance

5. Own Your Faults and Weaknesses: Take Responsibility for Growth

God is there with you, empowering you to do what achieves his ends.

Embrace personal responsibility. Recognize that while God is always there to support you, you must take an active role in your own growth and transformation. This means acknowledging your faults and weaknesses without shame, and committing to work on them.

Steps for taking ownership:

• Admit areas where you lack control or struggle
• Stop blaming others for your circumstances
• Identify specific issues you need to address
• Seek God's strength to overcome weaknesses
• Develop a plan for personal growth and improvement
• Be accountable to others for your progress
• Celebrate small victories along the way

6. Embrace Problems as Gifts: Find Opportunities in Challenges

Welcome your problems as gifts from God to help you become a better person.

Shift your perspective on challenges. Instead of viewing problems as obstacles to be avoided, see them as opportunities for growth and transformation. God often uses difficulties to shape our character and deepen our faith.

Finding value in problems:

• Look for lessons to be learned from each challenge
• Ask how the problem might be developing your character
• Consider how overcoming this issue could help others in the future
• Use difficulties as a catalyst for spiritual growth and dependence on God
• Practice gratitude for the ways challenges push you out of your comfort zone
• Seek God's perspective on the situation through prayer and reflection

7. Take Life as It Comes: Practice Patience and Acceptance

Time allows God's healing ingredients to be applied to our situation.

Cultivate patience. Recognize that God's timing often differs from our own. Learning to wait on His perfect timing is an essential part of spiritual growth and maturity. This doesn't mean passive inaction, but active trust and obedience while waiting.

Strategies for patience and acceptance:

• Focus on what you can control in the present moment
• Practice mindfulness and staying grounded in the now
• Recognize different seasons of life and adjust expectations accordingly
• Use waiting periods as opportunities for preparation and personal growth
• Trust that God is working behind the scenes, even when you can't see progress
• Find purpose and meaning in the journey, not just the destination

8. Love God with All You Are: Cultivate a Deep, Passionate Faith

Getting to know God and loving Him with everything you are is a lifelong journey.

Develop a holistic faith. Loving God isn't just about religious rituals or intellectual beliefs. It involves engaging your entire being—heart, soul, mind, and strength—in a passionate relationship with your Creator.

Ways to deepen your love for God:

• Spend regular time in prayer and worship
• Study scripture to know God's character better
• Practice gratitude for God's blessings in your life
• Serve others as an expression of God's love
• Share your faith journey with others
• Surrender all areas of your life to God's lordship
• Seek to align your values, passions, and actions with God's will
• Allow God's love to heal and transform your emotional wounds
• Cultivate a sense of awe and wonder at God's creation and work in your life

Last updated: October 28, 2024