What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do!

We all know what it is like to seek to know God’s will in a matter, desiring to do it His way, but having no clue what to do! You know the feeling don’t you? This is bigger than deciding which flavor of ice cream to have. Sometimes it is a crossroads, a change in life, a new season and the decision is overwhelming. Other times there seems to be no answer and no choice, yet life demands a decision. It is gut wrenching when neither choice seems to be good or right, and the only outcome we can see is disaster. We are tossed back and forth wondering what to do. It is in times like this that “we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen”. 2 Corinthians 4:18.

So what do we do, when we don’t know what to do?

God’s path for our life is not meant to be a guessing game. He longs for us to know Him personally through all of our paths in life. There is a caution that we not just seek the answers but seek God who holds all the answers. It is in the seeking that we come to know this mighty God that we call Lord, Shepherd, Savior, Friend.

Tucked away in the pages of His word, is the guidance we need in every situation. Let His words encourage you and guide you. You may not feel that you need it today, but I can promise you will need it soon.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12)

The mind of man plans his way; But the LORD directs his steps. (Prov. 16:9)

'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things,

which you do not know.' (Jer. 33:3)

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Ps. 37:5)

This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Is. 48:17)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Is. 30:21

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalms 32:8)

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. (Psalms 37:23-24)

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)

“Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you that You are my guide. Thank you that you do not leave me hanging to figure life out on my own. Thank you that in relationship with you, You show me the way I should go. Lord, I place my life in your hands today and I trust your loving guiding hand.”

The Power Of Forgiveness

At the end of the session on forgiveness, the leader gave all an opportunity to quietly sit and ask God whom we needed to forgive. In the midst of the quiet, sprinkled with sniffles, whispers and tears forgiveness took place. She then asked if anyone wanted to share what God had done during those precious few minutes. My dear friend Sherry gathered herself and stood to her feet in humble gratitude. Her forgiveness had been ongoing for a long while and that day was like a wax seal on a private letter. Yet she dared to peel back the seal and share it with us.

Her words still echo in my heart, “My dad wasn’t there on my birthing bed, but I was there on his death bed.” Forgiveness of an absent father, had given her the privilege to go “be” forgiveness. Her story stirred us all as she told of finding her dad after a lifetime of separation, only to be found sitting on his deathbed two weeks later. Forgiveness had preceded this restoring miracle. There were no memories to thank him for, but the power of forgiveness had opened the doorway to sit on his deathbed and thank him for the one good thing he had given her…. LIFE!

The story underneath Sherry’s life makes me want to stand on tiptoes to watch her faith walk. Not only had she lived without her father, but also her son has been gone from her life for 11 years. Gone…no visits, no phone calls, and no text. Nothing!

Throughout these many dark years Sherry has exuded joy. The joy of receiving God’s forgiveness in her own life has extended to forgiveness of many others, including her birth father and her son. Her heart has been deeply restored and in turn she now helps others find a restored heart. (Sherry leads women through “Restoring Your Heart” groups. For more information, click here.)

I have watched how Sherry has guarded her heart through the years, not allowing bitterness, depression, hopelessness or unbelief to rule her life. I feel sure she has had numerous opportunities to give in to these enemies of the heart, but she has quickly drawn on her faith and sent them running in the opposite direction. With both humility and gratitude, I have watched her hold her heart to God and let Him deal with all of its wounds and brokenness.

Sherry’s story has caused me to re-visit the story in the bible referred to as “The Lost Son” or “The Prodigal Son”, found in (Luke 15:11-32). The son has rebelled and turned from the father and gone and spent his inheritance. He is now homeless, hungry and humble and repentant desiring to return home even as a servant in the household. In this condition he returns home to the father. The verse that shakes me to the core is verse 20.

“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20

I have always pictured this father standing on the porch expectantly watching for his son’s return. He didn’t wait for the son to crawl through the dust begging, pleading and performing for forgiveness. No, he had already forgiven his son and was standing on the porch watching and waiting for his return.

While praying for Sherry’s son and other prodigals, it was as if I heard the thump of the Father’s feet jumping off the porch. In my spirit, I heard the words; “Jesus came down from the porch of heaven and came running for you.”

He watches, He woos. He knows where we are. At the first sign of our return, He comes running with arms wide open. Forgiveness was taken care of at the cross. We need not crawl through the dust, pleading with our rehearsed speech, but only accept the forgiveness the cross has provided for all who receive.

Because we are greatly forgiven, we freely forgive others. We forgive absent fathers, rebellious sons and daughters, ourselves and every other person that has wounded us in any way.

As seen in this story in scripture, forgiveness leads to freedom, joy and celebration.

Prodigals, parents of prodigals, Sherry, prepare the fatted calf, the robe and the ring. Get the party planned! Watch for your son’s return. By faith we are on the porch with you watching for his return.

Pray on the porch.

Watch from the porch.

Worship on the porch

Plan the party on the porch.

Expect God to answer.

“Lord, stir our hearts to pray with expectancy. Where we have grown weary in praying and seeing no signs of change, give us passion to pray knowing that you hear us and you are at work.”

New Reading Glasses

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Ps. 119:18

I remember well when it all started. I was moving the paper closer and closer trying to read the phone numbers. I also remember having difficulty seeing where the numbers fit in the squares on a bank deposit slip. While struggling to read the newly arrived text, a friend snatched my phone and increased the size of the font to HUGE. I began to buy cheap reading glasses but soon found that every few months I was back at the dollar store searching for a greater strength lens. This had become a real problem, even though I didn’t want to admit it.

At Touching Hearts, one of us was forever loosing our reading glasses. Stepping up to read, teach or lead worship without the glasses became a joke. As one began to squint and strain, another would quickly run to rescue the struggling one by sacrificing her own much needed glasses. The prescription shared usually was not the strength needed but at least they made reading possible.

I finally gave in and acknowledged I needed help beyond the dollar glasses. The optometrist confirmed what I knew to be true. I exited his office with the piece of paper offering hope that I would be able to see again. The new progressive lens drove me crazy when I first got them and I came very close to demanding a money back guarantee. After just a few weeks, they became my new best friend.

Oftentimes we squint and strain to see God’s plan amidst difficult life circumstances. His word doesn’t seem to fit inside the squares. We don’t understand His ways and find ourselves in need of a larger font. Often He uses someone else to share his or her perspective to help us to see a little more clearly. Sometimes others vision sharing only leaves you staring at a blur. The best solution is when God gives you His glasses because His glasses help us to see His ways.

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Ps 25:4

God’s ways are so different from ours. We think, piddle and ponder seeking to know what to do and which way to go. If we will wait on Him and allow Him to give His perspective we will walk in His ways and fulfill His plans.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Do you need to throw out all the cheap imitations of vision and commit to the progressive lens of spiritual vision? It takes some time to adjust, but soon you will know that His ways are higher and better than anything you have every seen.