What To Do When You Don't Know What TO Do

In a world filled with open doors of opportunities and obligations, how in the world are we supposed to know which doors to walk through?

Which ones are opportunities sent by God, and which ones are obligations we have convinced ourselves we should take on?

When I feel confused by too many open doors and find myself struggling with indecision, I try to pray with boldness and ask the Lord to close doors. Then, I remind myself of these truths.

1. God is not the author of confusion nor fear.

It makes sense to me that the enemy of this world would want to confuse us with open doors that are not from God. So, it also makes sense to me that if I pray for God to close doors, he’s not going to close the ones that are from him.

Let me say that again…

God is not going to close the doors that are from him.

You do not have to be afraid that you are going to miss God’s calling if you ask him to close doors. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

When I say I seek to pray with boldness, I am claiming 2 Timothy as I ask the Lord to shut every door that isn’t from him. Let me tell you friend, there is power in that prayer.

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2. There is life-giving freedom in Christ.

Opportunity is a freedom word, obligation is not.  Think of it like this. I have the opportunity to love others as Christ loved me. I have the opportunity to serve God and be faithful to his calling, just as Christ served the Lord and was faithful to his calling.

As Paul said to the people of Galatia, “Christ has set us free to live a free life!”

If I live my life looking for the opportunities God has placed before me, I will be living a life free from the burden of obligation.

I don’t believe that God obligates us to anything. Now that’s not to say I don’t have some responsibilities in this life (That shirt won’t iron itself after all).

But a life lived in the freedom of Christ is a life filled with opportunity and blessing, not obligation and burden.

3. I can trust the doors God opens.

God has generously given us the Holy Spirit who reveals God’s will to us.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” I Corinthians 2:12

In his great love, God reveals his perfect plan to us, at the perfect time, when we are ready to receive it. Of course, every open door is not from the Lord. But when he reveals to you the door that is from him, you can rest assured that it is good and for your good.

Today, if you are struggling to know God’s will, if you are facing too many open doors and you don’t feel like you know what step to take next; ask God to close the doors that aren’t from him.

Then walk forward through the door he leaves open with confidence and freedom, ready to fulfill your God-given calling and future.

Alli Worthington

Alli Worthington is the author of Breaking Busy: How to Find Peace and Purpose in a World of Crazy, speaker, blogger, and the Executive Director of Propel Women. Alli has helped individuals, small business owners and Fortune 500 companies be more successful. She lives outside Nashville with her husband, Mark, and their five sons. You can connect with Alli at AlliWorthington.com.