Prayer when you don’t know what to do
Written by Kelly Ballary
Bible reading:
“Do all things in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
Listen or read below:
Although he was paralyzed during his activities, he was still able to pray. I walked the hallways in the morning, sought God in quiet times, and asked for directions at night. I prayed, “God, what do you want me to do?”
“Do you want me to do this…or do you want me to do that…?”
silence.
“Again, Dad, I don’t know what to do.”
there is nothing.
Then, “Dad, help me.”
There is no answer.
What do we do when we want to do God’s will but don’t quite know what it is yet?
It’s frustrating, isn’t it? I admit that it can be frustrating at times.
Sometimes there are so many things you want to know that you don’t know what to do.
Trying to make the right choice can be stressful. I want to choose perfectly. True, I don’t want to strive, but I still want a meaningful life. And perhaps we are focusing too much on ourselves in all of this. We place too much emphasis on our own decision-making schedules. Perhaps this is why God does not answer.
Do you, like me, feel pressured to make decisions? Do you place strict, time-bound demands on the process of knowing?
Last night I was lying in bed and the thought came to me, “What if God cares more about how my heart stands than what I do for Him?”
It was thought!
After all, love is the most important! The Bible says love is never lost (1 Corinthians 13:8).
What if the answer to what to do, how to act, and how to proceed is actually love? please love him love them I love waiting. Love the word of the Lord. Love yourself while recognizing God’s guidance.
Instead of hating the wait, we can choose patience and loving-kindness towards ourselves as we move along with God’s timeline. Instead of suffering, I rejoice in the Lord.
Will God fill that gap? Will God give us the answer? Will he not come?
When I wait well, I trust God.
Waiting well looks like avoiding suffering and enduring love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 says: “Do all things in love.”
When we have to make a decision, we can ask ourselves: “Will this create more love for God, myself, and others in my life, or will it create less love?”
Here you can do everything in love, including making decisions.
Let’s pray:
Dad, I need help with the direction I should take. I don’t know what to do, but I want to do it with you. I want to follow your path. can you guide me? Could you please guide me? Could you please tell me the path I should take? Will you guide me on the path of your love?
Jesus, you are the way. I ask You to illuminate my path so that I may see the light of Your glory. You are my everything and I want to be with you. I want to be where you plan. I love you.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ismagilov
Kelly uplifts believers by increasing their faith. It’s encouraging to receive Kelly’s blog posts by email each week. A cheerleader of the faith, Kelly is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the look on women’s faces when they realize that their God is faithful. Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevant, and Today’s Christian Woman.
Related resource: How to choose your word of the year in 2026
This month on our podcast How to Study the Bible, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026. It is intended as a gentle but intentional way to reflect on, respond to, and reconnect with God at the beginning of the year. In this episode, I explain why I like to stop and listen throughout January instead of rushing to come up with a solution or putting pressure on myself to “get it all together” by January 1st. Start with Philippians 1:3-11. So Paul reminds us that we can have true confidence because God is still working in us and He is not finished yet.
Next, I will share six words that I have been praying for our community. I believe these six spiritual intentions reflect the type of growth God is calling us to this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you certainly don’t have to force it. But I hope one of these words resonates with you and provides a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of the How to Study the Bible podcast. This show brings Bible reading to life and helps you understand even the most difficult parts of the Bible. If this episode helped you know and love God more, subscribe to the How to Study the Bible podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
