When You Need God to Show You the Way - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - May 27, 2026
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5, NIV).
Have you ever been in a season where you didn’t know what direction to take? Or maybe you were driving in the car without a GPS and confused about which right the map suggested was the next one? Maybe you even had a plan, but watched it fall to pieces when your health decided to crash. No matter the circumstance, seasons of confusion, anxiety, and transition are uncomfortable. But David provides a model of prayer for uncertain believers in Psalm 25.
At the beginning of this Psalm, David asks God to “Show me your ways.” Like David, we often want immediate answers. If God hasn’t answered in 5 or 10 minutes, we grow impatient. What I love about David’s statement here, however, is that he asks first for God’s ways, not merely His outcomes. And this is hard to do. If we want God to show us His ways, that means we have to be willing to do 2 things:
1. Surrender our personal timelines.
2. Ask God to shape our character and not just our circumstances.
Sometimes, our dreams and plans align with God’s. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes God changes the circumstances. Sometimes, He changes us within those circumstances. And this is why David then prays, “Teach me your paths.” David doesn’t just want to be shown the right way; he wants to know what God wants for Him. Talk about a change of agenda!
For God to teach us His paths, we need to remember that faith is learned over time. Thankfully, God guides us through a process of clarity. While I’ve even wished that God would reveal everything to me at once, I’ve realized that one step at a time keeps me humble and dependent on Him. Spiritual growth requires humility and teachability in slow seasons. It’s trusting God even when you can’t see the path forward, because you know His character. You know and trust that He is good.
Once we’ve asked God to show us His ways and teach us His paths, we can then follow Him into His truth. “Guide me in your truth” is a word that anchors us in emotionally confusing seasons. Because God’s truth remains stable even when our emotions fluctuate, instead of returning to fear, we will return to God’s Word. Instead of believing cultural lies about worth, success, or control, we look to Him who created us. And this is why David ends with, “My hope is in you all day long.”
Notice that David didn’t end with certain plans or revelations. He didn’t know the five-year plan or have a color-coded agenda. Rather, he places his hope and confidence in Christ alone. Hope in God is continual dependence, and David models this persistent trust. Instead of relying on ourselves daily or panicking when things don’t go as planned, we can practice practical rhythms of hope. Cling to prayer and worship. Journal and sit in silence as you wait for Him to speak. Ask Him to show you His ways over your own.
Psalm 25 teaches us that God guides surrendered hearts, and today, you and I have an opportunity to surrender ourselves fully to Him. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s always worth it. Because the waiting isn’t wasted, and God’s direction is relational, not mechanical. Over time, hope grows through dependence.
If you’re waiting for God to show you His ways today, I want to encourage you that feeling lost or uncertain is often part of the process. You’re not alone, and it’s okay not to know. But God isn’t withholding Himself from those who seek Him. Sometimes, He’s growing us through the process. And even when you can’t see Him, dig deep into those roots. He’s still there, holding you firmly, encouraging you for the unseen journey ahead.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, we sincerely seek you today. Help us to trust you above the outcome and to believe that you have good in store for our future. Show us your ways, Lord, and even when we don’t know the five-year plan, help us to take the next best step. Your plans for us are good, and we can trust you with what we don’t know. We love, praise, thank, and trust you, Jesus. Amen.
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Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
