A Prayer When You Don’t Know What to Do - Your Daily Prayer - January 11
A Prayer When You Don’t Know What to Do
By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading:
“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
Listen or Read Below:
Paralyzed in action, but still able to launch a prayer – I paced the hallways in the morning, sought God in my quiet time, and asked for direction in the night. I uttered the prayer, “What do you want me to do, God?”
“Do you want me to do this… or do you want me to do that…?”
Silence.
“Again, Father, I don’t know what to do.”
Nothing.
Later, “Help, Father.”
No answer.
What do we do when we want to do His will, but we still don’t know – entirely – what it is?
It’s aggravating, isn’t it? Infuriating at times, I admit.
Sometimes, I want so much to know that I don’t know how to go.
I get all balled up in stress trying to make the right choice. I want to pick perfectly. Sure, I don’t want to strive, yet I want a meaningful life. And maybe there’s too much of a me-focus in all this. Too much emphasis on my own decision-making timeline. And perhaps this is why God isn’t answering.
Do you feel the pressure of making a decision, like I do? Do you place hard, time-oriented demands on the process of knowing?
Last night, I lay in bed, and the thought hit me, “What if God cares more about how my heart is postured than what I do for Him?”
That was a thought!
Love is paramount, after all! Love never fails, scripture says (1 Cor. 13:8).
What if the answer to what to do, how to move, and what it looks like to proceed is actually love? Love Him. Love them. Love the wait. Love His Word. Love myself as I discern God’s leading.
Rather than hating the wait, I can choose patience in the process and loving kindness towards myself as I proceed on God’s timeline. Instead of distress, I delight myself in the Lord.
Won’t He work out the gap? Won’t He provide the answer? Won’t He come through?
I trust God when I wait well.
Waiting well looks like avoiding distress and enduring in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Do everything in love.”
When decisions have to be made, we can ask ourselves, “Will this produce more love in my life – toward God, myself, and others – or will it reduce love?”
Here, we can do all things, including making decisions, in love.
Let’s Pray:
Father, I need help with the direction I should take. I don’t know what to do, but I know I want to do it with You. I know I want to go Your way. Will you lead me? Will you guide me? Will you instruct me in the way I should go? Will you lead me on Your paths of love?
Jesus, You are The Way. I ask you to illuminate my paths so that I can see the light of Your glory. You are my everything, and I want to stay with You. I want to be where Your plans are. I love You.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ismagilov
Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
