Have you ever been confused about what to do?

I definitely have.  I’ve had opportunities that I didn’t know what to do with.  I’ve faced life changes that I had to learn to deal with.  I’ve had others hurt me and not known what to do.  I (like you) have had my share of confusing times.

When you are confused, it’s easy to wonder whether God isn’t answering you or you missed His direction.

When you aren’t sure about what to do, it’s important to remember that God isn’t absent.  He is right there.  And though you may want a quick answer and quick direction, God may have another plan.

So, what do you do when you aren’t sure what to do?

First – Look at what God has already said

The Bible is God’s Word.  He gave it to show us Himself and His ways.  Therefore, we must realize that He is not going to contradict Himself.  He is not going to lead you to do something that is the opposite of what He says in the Bible.

There are some things that the Bible will not specifically show us – like where to move, what specific person to marry, what job to take, and so forth.  But it does clearly show us the character we should have and display and many things that we should and should not do.  Direction from Him will not contradict what He has already shown us.

Basically, think through the direction you may be thinking about and compare it with how we are supposed to live.  You may find specific direction from the Bible about your choice, and you definitely will find character things and overarching traits that speak into the decision before you.

Second – Humbly as God for wisdom

When we are confused, we need wisdom.  We need God’s wisdom, so ask for it.  After all, James 1:5 says, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him.”

The wisdom that God gives may or may not lead you to a crystal-clear answer to your confusion, but it WILL give you the ability to make decisions that honor God.

Stay faithful to Him.  He will give you the wisdom you need to do what you should do.

Third – Compare what you are thinking with God

This connects with looking at what the Bible states but in a different form.

Paul told the Thessalonians to test everything and hold tight to what is good.  We test it by comparing it to God’s Word, but we also compare it to who God is.  Consider His wisdom, love, truth, and holiness.  Since we are supposed to be growing more and more like Jesus, we can be sure that His direction is not going to conflict with what He would do.

Fourth – Seek help from Godly Christians

Too often we cannot see the forest because all we can see are the trees.  We find ourselves so caught up in our doubts and confusion that we cannot see a bigger picture.

And that’s why we need to seek help from other Christians who are godly and growing.  Please note that I did NOT say to check in with your Facebook friends or others who are not growing in their faith; that will only lead to more trouble.

Your choices are your choices, but you can make better decisions when you seek help from those you trust.  And God gives us the blessing of being part of a family that should be helping each other.

Fifth – Trust God one step at a time

God rarely gives us an exact map of all that we should do in life.  Usually, He gives us direction one step at a time.  And then He expects us to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Be faithful.  Do what you know you should do as a follower of Jesus.  Take each step as He shows you where to go.  And remember that Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.”

What we must remember in this process is that hearing from Good is not about uncovering a secret message.  Hearing from God is about growing in your relationship with Him.  It’s about trusting Him and following Him – no matter what.

If you want to go deeper in this subject, checck out Dallas Willard’s book – Hearing God – by clicking the picture below…