I think it is safe to say that there have been times in all of our lives when we just don’t know what to do: the first time your child is sick and you are all alone with them, that gut-wrenching moment when the “check engine” light comes on in your car, or when the person that always makes good decisions in their life is no longer capable of doing so and you are the one that has to begin making the good decisions for them.
Whether you are one or 100, there are going to be moments in your life when you just don’t know what to do or how you are going to navigate a particular situation. It is for those moments in everyone’s lives that I offer up this article in hopes that you will be able to manage those situations in a way that is healthy and pleasing to God.
1. Pray – I cannot stress enough the importance of prayer, not only in your daily life but also in situations where you do not know what to do. The privilege we have in that avenue of prayer avails us to be able to bring everything before God through His Son, Jesus Christ. This God that created the universe and made us in His image not only allows us to call upon Him, He expects us to call upon Him. The author of the book of James was writing to a group of people who were having trouble knowing what to do in their lives; in that letter he stresses the need for prayer. Consider the words that James penned in that wonderful letter. James 5:16 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
2. Surround Yourself With Friends – As I write this article, I currently have 1,180 “friends” on Facebook. I use the term “friends” very loosely here because a great number of those people I have not seen in years and do not keep up with regularly. When you are facing a situation where you find yourself not knowing what to do, Facebook is not the place to turn to. It’s not to say that you might not have some close friends on Facebook; but when facing a difficult decision, it is best to turn to those friends that could be classified as “closer than a brother.” These are the friends that will point you in the right direction and help you see your way out of whatever situation you are facing. The book of Proverbs has a great deal to say when it comes to friends; please consider some words from that powerful book today. Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
3. Don’t Make Rash and Uninformed Decisions – Probably one of the biggest mistakes people make in situations where they don’t know what to do is to make rash and uninformed decisions when the fear of the unknown hits them. Let’s take a page out of Peter’s book and remember not to make bad decisions when faced with the unknown. John 18:10-11 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
I hope the next time you don’t know what to do, you will think of this article and that it will help you make a decision that pleases God.
Be Strong and Courageous,
Paul