3 Questions to Ask When You Feel Lost by Becky Harling

By Becky Harling
Have you ever felt completely paralyzed, wondering which way to go? I have. I remember a time, a couple of years ago, when Steve and I were hiking. A storm was brewing in the sky, and somehow, we kept choosing the wrong path back to our car. We ended up wandering in the forest for a couple of hours. We definitely got our steps in—that's for sure! Getting lost in the woods is one thing, but it can feel far more challenging when we feel lost in life. Perhaps we feel paralyzed, wondering which way is the right way to move forward.
3 Questions to Ask When You Feel Lost by Becky Harling
 
 
 
By Jeremy Lopez
Available as a book or ebook.
Click here to order.
 
 
 
Have you ever felt completely paralyzed, wondering which way to go? I have. I remember a time, a couple of years ago, when Steve and I were hiking. A storm was brewing in the sky, and somehow, we kept choosing the wrong path back to our car. We ended up wandering in the forest for a couple of hours. We definitely got our steps in—that’s for sure!
 
Getting lost in the woods is one thing, but it can feel far more challenging when we feel lost in life. Perhaps we feel paralyzed, wondering which way is the right way to move forward. Or maybe we just feel stuck in old patterns that are no longer working. Maybe we feel like we’ve lost some of our faith and fervor for the Lord. What do we do when we feel lost or confused?
 
The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).
 
I’ve been thinking a lot about this verse this week, and while it was originally written to encourage Israel to repent and return to obeying God, it also carries wisdom for us today. The words of Jeremiah invite us to ask three questions.
 
3 Questions to Ask When You Feel Lost
 
1. Why do I feel lost?
 
This is the first and most obvious question. Ask yourself: What am I feeling, and why? Sometimes, when I feel lost or confused about how to move forward, I might just be tired. Or I might be grieving something. Take time to identify those feelings and consider what’s behind them. Whatever you do, don’t stuff them down. Bring them to the Lord in prayer, even if you don’t feel close to Him in the moment. Learning to be honest with God is the first step toward finding clarity.
 
2. What are the ancient paths?
 
Value what the faithful saints before you taught and believed. We have become such a Google-and-ChatGPT society. Those tools can be helpful, but when we’re feeling confused in our faith, we need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. It’s so grounding to look back at what faithful people of God have taught in the past. Some of my favorites are Andrew Murray, Eugene Peterson, and A.W. Tozer. You can even go back further to the Desert Fathers. When you need to re-ground your faith, look at what the faithful saints of the past held dear. Don’t get swept up in every new wave of doctrine—consider the ancient paths.
 
3. What are God’s ways?
 
We know that God’s ways are clearly outlined in Scripture. We are to love God and obey Him, love one another, live with sexual purity, and pursue peace in the body of Christ. If you feel confused about God’s ways, I suggest reading Colossians 3:8–17. God’s ways are laid out there, and when we walk according to His ways, the result is rest for our souls.
 
Friend, my prayer for you this week is that you will have clarity in who God is and what He has called you to. May you relax and rest in His lovingkindness, trusting Him to lead you to the right paths.
 
Becky Harling
 

Related Articles • More Articles

I've often heard jokes about women talking too much and not listening enough. However, as I read through the gospels, I see women who dared to lean in and listen to Jesus. As a result, they were greatly used by Him, and their stories continue to be told through generations. I want to be a woman whose life is marked by listening. I've had to grow quite a bit in this area and still, honestly, have a lot farther to go. However, as I stay intentional, listening becomes a little easier. As I practice listening to God, I slowly become more attuned to His voice.
Have you ever thought, "I just need a little peace and quiet!" Maybe you don't need absolute silence, but rather quiet in your soul. May I ask you—what most often steals your peace? A full schedule. Pressure at work. Finances. Health issues. Worries about kids. All of those are valid when it comes to creating anxiety and stress in our souls. Yet Paul wrote that we are to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15). This peace results in calmness of soul. It's the assurance that all will be well.
Everyone I know is needing wisdom these days. They're seeking wisdom for job transitions, school choices for their kids, and wisdom for their relationships. Right? You probably need wisdom in some area of your life as well. Our temptation when we need wisdom is to turn to Google. I remember when one of our daughters said to me, "Mom, how did you raise us without Google?" We laughed over that. My answer was, "Your dad and I learned early in our parenting journey to get on our knees and ask God for wisdom."