If we do not know what we are doing all we have to do is pray to God and ask for His help. How often in our days do we stop to consider what we are doing? Are we on autopilot? Or are we just plodding along taking our cues from the world around us? God is who we should seek to find directions for all the questions we have. It is only when we begin to ask Him about every little thing in our lives that we are uncertain about that we begin to learn how to receive His counsel. Could it be that we do not seek Him out, when we do not know what to do, because we do not know how to receive answers from Him? Paul addresses this in the verses that follow verse 5. We must ask boldly, believingly, and without second thought. We can either worry or trust in God. We cannot do both. He will give us direction. We simply need to be confident in that reality. Let us not lose out on the eternal because we have settled for the tangible.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 NIV
Trusting in God is how we know how to hear from Him. When we make trusting Him the guiding principle of our lives we become attuned to the gentle nudges of the Spirit. This is how we exercise our spiritual muscles, by trusting. We seek to not lean on our own understanding, but rather we seek to trust in what we do not understand. In this way, the Spirit will come alongside us and provide comfort and peace in our uncertainty. When we learn to welcome uncertainty into our lives, because ultimately we trust God will make a path for us, is when we know we have turned away from the world’s ways. The world tells us that we need to know what is next. God tells us we need to seek Him in all things and He will make the way.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- What do you do when you do not know what to do? Write down all the places you seek counsel first.
- How do you exercise your spiritual muscles each day? Write down the ways you trust in God.
A Story of Not Knowing:
Since I was a child I always felt that my life was destined for big things. I believe the Spirit spoke to me and told me that I would do something that would impact the world. I thought this meant that I would be a part of a world organization. It would not be enough to work in a town or city where I only interacted with that one community.
When I joined the Air Force I thought this prophecy was realized. I was a part of a worldly organization that impacts the entire globe. I was also a part of many communities, not just one. When my military career came to an unexpected end I felt lost and lied to. How could God’s prophecy come to pass now?
This is where my faith has been stretched. I began to run in all the directions of my passions and the things I naturally excelled at. Nothing was sustainable. It was defeating. I finally chose to surrender my expectations and started to seek God each day. I decided I did not have to have a plan, but that I needed to trust God to guide my path. I feel everyday that I am on the path He has for me. I have confidence, because I seek Him above all else. I delight in the uncertainty, because I know He is and will provide for me.
- Anonymous
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
