What to Do When You Do Not Know What to Do

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Introduction:

We are so often faced with things for which we are not really equipped. Many problems leave us fractured. The pressures of life mount up, and we lose our orientation. We so often hear, “I do not know what to do.”

What should you do when you do not know what to do? Here are ten suggestions—

I. Walk Closely With the Lord

A. Maintaining daily fellowship with Him will help in time of need

B. Make a regular practice of turning everything over to Him

II. Take the Matter to Him in Prayer

A. Do not ever do anything without His guidance

B. Do not fail to do anything He shows you to do

III. Don’t Try to Figure Things Out on Your Own—“Lean Not on Your Own Understanding”

A. Unaided reason will always lead to more problems

B. It is not wrong to use your reason

1. So long as it is not your reason alone

2. Reason must be submitted to the will of God

IV. Submit Yourself and the Situation to His Will

A. Be willing no matter what His will may be. “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine” ()

B. Do not try to predetermine or “rubber-stamp” His will

V. Clearly Express Your Problem

A. Put it in writing

1. Helps to clarify it

2. We sometimes find answers while stating the problem

B. Be sure you really have a problem

1. Sometimes our only problem is worry

2. Some problems are not worth having

VI. Search for Bible Principles

A. If there is no direct teaching available

B. Try to find principles that apply

1. Why it is important to express the problem clearly

2. There are principles for every situation

VII. Be Sure There Is No Sin or Disobedience Involved

A. “If I regard iniquity in my heart …” ()

B. Sin blocks

1. Not doing what we know we should while seeking to know more

2. Broken fellowship prevents answers

C. Sometimes our problem is that we know the answer, but we just will not act on it

VIII. Seek Godly Counsel

A. Cautions

1. Do not go to those you know will agree with you

2. Do not seek too many

B. Why it helps

1. Others may have been through the same thing

2. The uninvolved see more clearly

IX. Do Not Act Until You Have to or Until You Know What to Do

A. Often we do not have answers because we do not need them yet

B. Many situations care for themselves or provide their own answers

X. Expect God to Give You Direction

A. Move on—do not let it stop you

B. This verse is a promise

Conclusion:

Here’s what to do when you do not know what to do.

These steps can help you do something about the tough situations and keep you going until you find the solutions God has for you.

Wood, C. R. (1984). Sermon Outlines on the Book of Proverbs (pp. 19–20). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.