When you don’t know what to do – do these 4 things
When You Don’t Know What to Do
Is there a decision you need to make, but you just don’t know what to do? Are you facing a problem that you’re not sure how to respond to? Are you surrounded by difficult or troubling circumstances and you don’t know what to do? 
What do you do when you don’t know what to do?
Everyone Faces Seemingly Impossible Situations
We all have times where we get stuck and just don’t know what to do. Everyone faces situations where our abilities, wisdom, personal resources or experiences are insufficient to meet the needs before us or to know how to respond to the threat coming against us, or to discern the direction we need to go.
Good News – You can know what to do
I have some good news. You can know exactly what to do even when in the natural it looks impossible or seems over whelming. There is a story in the Bible that shows us exactly what to do when you don’t know what to do.
It’s found in 2 Chronicles 20. The nation of Judah was surrounded by three large armies and they were ready to attack and defeat King Jehoshaphat and his small nation. Jehoshaphat was out-numbered and out-resourced by these enemy forces. Jehoshaphat did not know what to do. Everything about the situation spelled disaster for Jehoshaphat and his people. You maybe at place in your life where you feel the same way.
4 Things You Need to Do
What was Jehoshaphat going to do? Well, he did 4 very important things that turned his situation around and brought victory. When you don’t know what to do if you will do these same 4 things it will turn your situation around too. 2 Chronicles 20 reveals 4 very specific and powerful things you should do when you don’t know what to do:
1. Seek the Lord
Notice the first thing the king did was call a prayer meeting. When Jehoshaphat heard about the approaching armies’ verse 4 says, “So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to SEEK THE LORD’S help.” It says Jehoshaphat was terrified, so they began to seek the Lord. When you don’t know what to do the first thing to do is to seek the Lord. This may seem obvious, but too often we panic and don’t really purposefully seek the Lord. Why seek the Lord? Because we are weak and needy. What do we seek from the Lord? We seek first His presence then His wisdom, strength, guidance, deliverance, etc. When you don’t know what to do seek the Lord.
2. Ask the Lord for Help – in out praying
Jehoshaphat knew that Judah needed God’s help, and he did not hesitate to ask for it. The second thing Jehoshaphat does is pray for help. Beginning in verse 6 it says he, “prayed, “O Lord,… We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ Judah was small and weak, and even though things looked impossible, Jehoshaphat knew God and knew His God was bigger and stronger! In the natural the threat seemed like sure defeat, but… adding God to the equation meant victory! When we pray and ask for God’s help things are tipped in our favor. We add the “God factor”. When God is in the equation nothing is impossible. When you don’t know what to do pray and ask God for help.
3. Keep Your Eyes on the Lord
Jehoshaphat brings his prayer for God’s help to a conclusion with a very powerful, significant and instructional declaration in verse 12: “… We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” Where is your focus? Most people fix their eyes on the problem. Are you focused on, the circumstances and problem or on the answer? If you will make the decision to keep your eyes on the Lord, you will see the deliverance of the Lord and victory in every situation you face. When you don’t know what to do – keep your eyes on the Lord.
4. Praise the Lord
After seeking the Lord, praying to the Lord, and keeping their eyes on the Lord – here is what God says to them; verse 15, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Wow! The battle, whatever it is is not yours it belongs to the Lord.
After receiving these words from the Lord, the people rose early the next morning to meet the enemy in the wilderness. (vs. 20) What they do next is how we need to respond when facing any problem. The Bible says they began to PRAISE THE LORD. (vs. 21)
There is power in praise. Praise is a powerful weapon, establishing a stronghold against the enemy and silencing the foe and avenger. Verse 22 says, “When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so, they were struck down [in defeat].” When you praise the Lord, it confuses the enemy and your praise brings the victory! When you don’t know what to do praise the Lord.
The Lord Will Not Let You Down
God didn’t disappoint King Jehoshaphat. The Lord gave Judah an incredible, supernatural victory. And when you seek Him, ask Him for help, stay focused on Him, and praise Him, the Lord will not disappoint you! When you don’t know what to do – do these four things and get ready for God to do the impossible and bring you the victory!
