4 Action Steps to Take When You Don’t Know What to Do

Have you ever been in a season or situation where you don’t know what to do? I’ve got some news—if you’re not in one now, you will be at some point. Sometimes we encounter smaller decisions to make, but other times—you may find yourself in a life altering, desperate situation of not knowing what to do or what step to take next.

The good news is, blessed are you when you don’t know what to do. In 2 Chronicles 20, we are given an event where Jehoshaphat was told that a vast army would be coming against him. Let’s break it down together to understand what the Lord says and actionable steps we can take when we find ourselves not knowing what the next step is.

Who Should We Seek During This Time?

To get the full context of this event, you can review 2 Chronicles chapters 17-20, but I will give you some background information to better understand the steps we will discuss.

Jehoshaphat became king of Judah after the death of his father, Asa. For most of his life, Asa's heart was fully devoted to the Lord. However, in his later years, he began relying on others rather than God, forming an alliance to strengthen his kingdom instead of seeking the Lord's guidance.

Later, Asa developed a severe disease in his feet. Yet even in his illness, he sought help only from physicians and did not seek the Lord. This account is found in 2 Chronicles 16:12–14 and is important to remember when it comes to our health. Rely on God with your health and know that He works through the physicians. If God's purpose in allowing your illness is to draw you closer to Him, you won't grow closer to Him by seeking only physicians. You'll grow closer to Him by seeking Him first and seeing how He works through the people and resources He has provided within His creation.

Side note, I love how God works because I wasn’t even planning on writing about that, but it appears He did not want me to leave that out. Take notes on that part for your health!!

Okay let’s continue on. The Bible says that the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, the new king of Judah, “because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel” (2 Chronicles 17:3-4).

person running on the beach relates to this post about taking action steps when you don't know what to do

Faith In Action

Let’s fast-forward to see Jehoshaphat's faith in action in 2 Chronicles 20. People came to tell Jehoshaphat that a vast army was coming to wage war against him. Do you know what Jehoshaphat’s response to this frightening news was? “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all of Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). This resulted in the people of Judah coming together to seek help from the Lord.

Jehoshaphat stood in front of them all and began crying out to the Lord, declaring His power and remembering how He was faithful in the past. Pay close attention to one of the most important things he said:

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

When you have no power to face what’s ahead, what do you do? Do you look to the battle that is ahead of you, or do you look to the One who is ahead of you?

God’s Response

The Lord spoke to them through certain people there. Let’s go through a breakdown of how the Lord responded so you know what to listen for when He is speaking.

God first gave a word of encouragement to His people: “‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army” (2 Chronicles 20:15).
God then gives them His truth: ”’For the battle is not yours, but God’s’” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Wow, save that, highlight that, write it down, remember it. We will see the evidence of this towards the end.
He then gives them an action step: “Tomorrow march down against them” (2 Chronicles 20:16). He instructed them to go, but also reassured them that they would not have to fight the battle.

Person journaling or taking notes. This relates to post because this is our response to God by taking action when we don't know what to do.

Response to God: Action Steps When You Don't Know What to Do

How we respond to God will greatly impact how we experience His provision.

I’m not sure how you feel after reading that sentence above but I feel like God was just speaking directly to me with that, WOW.

Here is how the people responded:

Worshiped: As soon as Jehoshaphat heard God’s word, he “bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:18).
Praised Him Boldly: “Then some of the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice” (2 Chronicles 20:19).
Took Action and Remembered His Word: “Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat told his people to have faith in God and they would be upheld, and to have faith in His prophets and they would be successful.
Praised Him Again with Gratitude: they sang to the Lord as they went out at the head of the army, thanking Him for His holiness.

God’s Deliverance of His People

“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:22). WHO set the ambushes?! The LORD did. Remember when the Lord said the battle was not theirs, it was His? Remember when He said they would not have to fight this battle, but they did need to take action? All the people did was take action and praise Him. When the Lord sees your praise, He delivers you. Sometimes deliverance looks different. Your deliverance may be staying in the battle a little longer so He can develop in you what you NEED for the road ahead.

To put a bow on this gift the Lord already gave them, Jehoshaphat and his men had “found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it” (2 Chronicles 20:25). The Lord provided abundantly more than they asked or needed. When the surrounding kingdoms heard about all that God did, the fear of God (which means reverence to God) came on them. Do you see how showing others the faithfulness of the Lord advances His Kingdom? The reason the Lord did this was so all would know that He is God. God then gave Jehoshaphat and his kingdom peace and rest on every side.

What if what you’re going through is so that your relationship with Him will deepen on a new level and others around you will come to know Him too?

Reflection Questions

What is your first response when you don’t know what to do?
Who are you gathering together with you to seek help from the Lord?
Refer to the action steps above and write down one way you will put your faith in action this week for each response step
- Worship
- Praise Him Boldly
- Take Action and Remember His Word
- Praise Him Again with Gratitude

If you want to pursue putting your faith in action through weekly rhythms, you can learn more here about my NEW faith-based program: "Faith in Action: Becoming More Like Jesus".

Faith in Action

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