What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do

Have you ever reached a point where you do not know what to do next? Have you tried your best and now don’t know what to do? Maybe it’s failing relations, mounting finances, or closing doors of opportunities that make you feel like the odds are not in your favor. It may be a sin you can’t overcome, anxiety overtaking your heart, or dreams and hopes that continue to go unfulfilled. Maybe you are just looking at the state of your country or the world. Jehoshaphat’s story in 2 Chronicles 20 is one like that. As it’s written, three kings came against Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and combined had a vast army, as the bible notes it. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat turned to God and proclaimed a fast in his kingdom, where they all sought the Lord in prayer. In his public prayer, Jehoshaphat ended with a heart-wrenching cry of dependence on the Lord, “for we have no power to face this vast army attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” If there has ever been a time in our world when it is difficult to know what to do, the time is now. It is encouraging to know that the bible offers significant help to us no matter where we stand. Turning to God in prayer is the first strategy.

For we have no power to face this vast army attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 2 Chronicles 20:12

Here are some pointers that help us when we feel stuck, feeling small, and powerless.

Station, Stand, and See

To station means to set a position, while stand denotes an act of persisting or abiding behind. In days of overwhelming darkness and despair, we must intentionally stand behind God’s word and promises. In times when we do not know what to do, we tend to look at others and lose sight of God. To move forward from a place of despair, we need God and hold on to his promises. Write the ones that pertain to your situation and declare them day-to-day. Finally, we see the results of stationing and standing with God. Habakkuk 2:3 encourages us that in His appointed time will see things come together, and we should be sure of this he who stated the good work in us can carry it to completion.

Remember, it’s not your battle.

It is a call for us to remember that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. It requires us to trust God and let go and let him take charge. We need to rest in him who can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. He can handle things for us. All we have to do is be still and know he is God. Resting in him to steer things for us is usually the hardest because we feel that we should be doing something like planning and finding the solutions and making things happen however, we need to embrace God’s plans for us and stop and let him take over the battle for us. We should put worry aside and let the creator and the king of kings make things perfect for us.

Make your battle cry a song.

In moments of uncertainty, I can always turn to songs to uplift and strengthen me. I usually have a playlist of songs for different seasons because the right track can take away the feeling of not knowing what to do. Song of praise to God always gets his attention. In Jehoshaphat’s Story, they praised and offered thanksgiving to God as they advanced in battle. Tracks help us lift God. When we lift him, his glory comes down to fill our hearts. When you do not know what to do, praising him in songs is always a good idea.

Jehoshaphat’s story ends with God hearing and answering his prayer. God encouraged Jehoshaphat by asking him not to fear and let him fight for him. With praise going before them, Jehoshaphat’s army won the battle, and all those who heard about it became fearful of them and the God of Judah. We might not be facing a great army but the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. We hope that victory will come, and it may not be soon and not in the form we wish, but God can deliver. When he does, your testimony of how he held you in your moments of uncertainty will lead others to light. Your story is for God’s glory.