Trust God When You Can’t See Ahead - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - December 09, 2025
“He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10, NIV).
Sometimes, life feels like a video game. You know the path before you will magically appear at some point, but if you aren’t careful, a dissolving block might take its place. One wrong move and you’re back to the starting line, farther and farther away from the finish.
While these video games can be a fun source of entertainment, they’re a scary representation of our lives, especially if we fear the future and what’s next when we can’t physically see it.
When I was in High School, I was petrified about growing up, choosing a career, and going to college. Why? I was scared of making the wrong choice and screwing up God’s plans for my life (as if I were really that powerful). It’s as if I were waiting on the Lord to tell me exactly where to go to college, what to major in, and how to live out the next 5 years of my life. Sometimes I’m still waiting!
Let me be clear: God can speak in this way. He might give you a word, or a sign, or communicate through a friend or family member. But for most of us, God doesn’t give us specifications; instead, He gives us choices within His rule. Here’s an example:
Instead of seeing God’s will as a dot, picture it as a circle drawn with a protractor. I’m not a fan of math, but I know that using this tool creates a beautiful circle around a single point.
There are things in this life that are clearly outside of God’s desires for you—for example, lust, adultery, murder, and violence. But there are also choices within his boundaries that are gifts for us to choose. For example, our job, calling, or who we marry. He might tell us the specifics, or He might say, “Amber, stay in these boundaries, but the choice is yours.”
Looking back on my early 20s, I used to have a lot of anxiety about the future. I begged God to tell me who I’d marry, when I’d marry them, and what my jobs would look like. Needless to say, my life has looked very different than what I had imagined. And yet, it’s been better than I could have asked or thought. Because God always knows best, even when I can’t see what’s in front of me.
A few years ago, I memorized Proverbs 16:9, which reads, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (NIV). I committed this verse to my heart and mind because it reminds me that I can trust God in seasons of uncertainty. Even when facing anxiety about the future, and even when I’m trusting but still anxious, there is strength in the stillness of the unknown. In saying, “Lord, I don’t know, but you do, and I trust you.”
If you’re struggling with the fear of the unknown today, I want you to know that you’re not alone. But I also want you to know that it’s okay. It’s okay to be scared. To doubt. To cry out in confusion. But don’t stay in that place. Pray over those fears. Pray with tears. And rest assured of this:
God is greater than your biggest fears—trust, even when you’re scared, and especially when you can’t see. For we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and perhaps God created life in this way on purpose. Because if you knew everything, would you commune with Him? Talk to Him? Trust Him? Hand over every detail of your life? Just something to ponder with today.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Learning to trust you when we can’t see what’s next is scary. It’s like we’re walking a tightrope and fearful of falling off the side. And yet, we know that if we keep our gaze and eyes fixed forward, on you, we will make it to the end. Instead of looking down, please help us look to you. Please help us trust you when our eyes can’t see, and in seasons of uncertainty, not to give up hope. Please give us the endurance we need to keep pressing forward and trusting you along the winding road. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. You know best and have good plans in store for our future, even if we can’t fully see them. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Bulat Silvia
Related Resource: How to Stop Comparing Your Prayer Life and Start Praying for Real
Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, Well… I’ll never sound like that? In this encouraging conversation, Donna Jones sits down with author and speaker Shellie Tomlinson to talk about the comparison trap in prayer—and how to get free from it. Shellie shares why God isn’t looking for “perfect prayers” or spiritual clones. He wants you. We unpack simple, practical habits that help you linger with God, stop quitting when your mind wanders, and remember that prayer isn’t the goal—a deeper relationship with Jesus is. Shellie shares one simple reminder about approaching God in prayer that I’m sure I’ll never forget. You don’t want to miss it! If this episode of That's Just What I Needed helped you prioritize what matters most, be sure to follow the show on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
