When You Don’t Know What to Do.

The king of Edom and his troops joined them and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their pack animals. “What should we do?” the king of Israel cried out. “The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.” But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do.” One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.” Jehoshaphat said, “Then the Lord will speak through him.” So the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom went to consult with Elisha. – 2 Kings 3:9-12

Sometimes life takes you down a road where you suddenly realize: I don’t know what to do.

You could have been led down that path by God, or you could have made a decision driven by loyalty to family or friendships. What happens when you are on a path that seems to not be producing any fruit? What do you do when you are in the middle of a barren season in your life?

You may not have a prophet of the Lord standing beside you, but you do have access to the Bible. I believe the Word of God can speak into any situation. The Bible has the power to produce the wisdom and understanding needed to navigate anything you are or will face.

The Bible may not specifically name the situation you’re facing, but the Holy Spirit can give you wisdom through the Word to navigate it.

There wasn’t a specific Bible verse or story that King Solomon could lean on when the two women came before his throne arguing over who was the mom of the baby they were holding. Before those two women ever stood before Solomon, he had already asked God for wisdom. So when Solomon faced a situation he had never encountered before, he possessed God-given wisdom to navigate it.

Three nations in the wilderness for seven days with no water. No water for the men or animals. Can you imagine going seven days without water? Walking through a wilderness for seven days with no water.

I doubt anyone reading this will find themselves walking in a desert for seven days with no water. On the flip side, I’m confident many of us will find ourselves headed down a road not properly prepared for what lies ahead.

They were prepared to fight a war, but they weren’t prepared for what happened on the way to the war.

Isn’t that how life works sometimes? You prepare for where you’re going, but something happens on the way there that you never prepared for.

I will be the first one to tell you that I have made decisions in my life that have taken me down certain roads where I find myself wondering, “Where am I going to find some water? If I don’t find some water, or if I don’t get (XYZ), I’m not going to make it.”

The king of Israel thought the same thing. King Joram said, “What are we going to do?” Notice what followed. King Joram said, The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.

Two kings. Same wilderness. Same drought. Same crisis.

One blamed God. The other sought God.

King Joram looked at the situation and decided what God must be doing. Jehoshaphat looked at the same situation and asked how they could hear from God.

When you don’t know what to do, don’t assume what God is doing. Seek Him and ask.

Have you found yourself blaming God for a decision you made? Maybe you thought God would bless this move. Maybe you thought God would bless you at this new job. Maybe you thought this was a no-brainer, so you chased after it, and now you find yourself in a drought.

When you don’t know what to do, don’t make the mistake King Joram made and decide what God must be doing.

Seek Him by opening up His Word and get around people who know His voice.

Seek and keep seeking until you have the wisdom you need to take the next step.