When You Don’t Know What to Do: How to Seek God’s Wisdom in Decision-Making
We all face moments when the next step isn’t clear. Do I say yes to this job? Should we move? Is this the right school, the right relationship, the right time?
Sometimes we stall, waiting for perfect clarity before moving forward. But God doesn’t promise us a full picture—He invites us to seek His wisdom for the next step. While clarity is helpful, it’s not always guaranteed. Wisdom, on the other hand, is always available to those who ask.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
(James 1:5–6)
This passage reminds us that when we don’t know what to do, our first step should be to ask the One who does. So how do we do that?
1. Admit You Need God’s Wisdom
One of the biggest barriers to wise decision-making is self-reliance. We often treat prayer as a last resort instead of a first move. But seeking God’s wisdom begins with humility—recognizing that our perspective is limited, but His is eternal.
James 1 reminds us that God gives wisdom generously and without finding fault. That means He’s not rolling His eyes at our questions. Whether we’re trying to make a major life decision or figure out what to do this week, He welcomes our requests. He doesn’t think we’re foolish for asking—He’s glad we came to Him.
2. Believe God Can and Will Lead You
James also warns us not to doubt God’s ability or desire to help us. When we pray for guidance, we must believe God is who He says He is—faithful, wise, and good. That doesn’t mean we’ll always hear an audible answer, but it does mean we can trust He’ll guide us in the right direction.
3. Keep Close Enough to Hear but Humble Enough to Adjust
Staying close to God doesn’t mean sitting still—it means staying open. Sometimes we pray, “Jesus, take the wheel,” but we forget that He can’t steer a parked car. Wisdom comes in motion. As we move, listen, and remain open to correction, God adjusts our course.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21)
Spending time in Scripture trains our spiritual ears. The more we study God’s Word and pray through it, the more we recognize His voice and direction. He didn’t give us a floodlight to reveal the entire path—He gave us a lamp for our feet so we could take the next step in faith.
This is how we move forward with confidence, even when every detail isn’t clear—and how we overcome “analysis paralysis” by trusting the One who sees the big picture.
Wise Decisions Start with God
Making decisions is hard, especially when the options seem equally good—or equally unclear. But we don’t have to figure it all out on our own. God offers His wisdom freely, if we’re willing to seek it, trust Him, and walk forward in faith.
If you’re facing a big decision today, start here:
📖 Open God’s Word.
🙏 Ask Him for wisdom.
🚶♂️ Take the next faithful step.
He won’t leave you guessing.
This post is inspired by message five of our “40 Days of Prayer” sermon series entitled, “How to Pray for Decisions” by Pastor Gaylyn Kelly.