The Right Response

When we face situations where we have questions about what we should do, I think we often struggle with what our response to the unknown should be. We tell ourselves that we don't know what to do. We worry about the potential outcomes of any course of action. Sometimes, we are stalled, unable to see a way out, a way that doesn't cause us intense anxiety and worry. Other times, we pick a course of action and go full steam ahead, forgetting to be grateful when things go well. And then, even when things go well, we often find ourselves in new places saying, "Well, ok, but now what?"

"I don't know what to do!"I think this thought is one of the enemy's most insidious and effective weapons.  It underscores our lack of confidence in ourselves. It highlights our anxieties and insecurities. It shows us that we don't have all the answers, even for our own lives. And it offers nothing in return. It strips away all our comforts and support, and leaves us there, blowing in the wind, unable to stand alone.

But this is where God comes in. Because, in uncertainty and in triumph, the Bible is clear. The right response to this kind of thinking is always prayer. In times of uncertainty and worry we are to call upon the Lord. In triumph and success we are to praise Him. These are two sides of the same coin. When we don't know what to do, or where to turn, or how to process where we think our life is going, we need to pray. When we can't contain our joy or when happiness is abundant, we need to praise God. Prayer provides the answer to the enemy's destructive thought. When we say, "I don't know what to do", God says, "It is what I will do that matters". When we don't know where to turn, God says, "I will never leave you or forsake you." When we don't know where our life is going, God says "I know the plans I have for you."

What is your usual response when you aren't sure what to do?

Today's Verse
James 5: 13
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.