When You Don’t Know What’s Next, Do What You Know: Follow Him
I know what it feels like to wait for an answer from God. The late-night prayers. The overthinking. The constant wondering, God, what do You want me to do? Where are You leading me? Can You just tell me what’s next?
I have spent seasons of my life stuck in that cycle. I was desperate for clarity, afraid of making the wrong move, and honestly, frustrated that God was not speaking the way I wanted Him to. I wanted a clear sign, a roadmap, a detailed plan. Instead, what I kept coming back to in Scripture was something much simpler, yet much harder to live out:
"Follow me."
The Call That Never Changes
If you read through the Gospels, you will notice something. Jesus does not hand out five-year plans. He does not sit people down and map out every step of their journey. Instead, He gives one command over and over: Follow me.
That is exactly what He said to Peter and Andrew as they were fishing. He did not tell them where they would go or what would happen. He just said, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19, NIV).
And what did they do? They dropped their nets and followed Him. No questions. No hesitation. Just obedience.
I wish I could say I respond that way every time God calls me to step out in faith, but I don’t. Too often, I hesitate because I want details. I want security. I want guarantees. But Jesus does not give us guarantees in the way we want them. He just gives us Himself. And that is enough.
Stop Waiting for the Whole Plan
For so long, I felt stuck because I thought I needed to know what was next before I could move forward. But that is not how faith works. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (NIV).
Faith is trusting God before you see the whole picture. It is moving forward even when you do not have all the answers.
The disciples had no idea what was ahead of them when they followed Jesus. They did not know about the miracles they would witness, the suffering they would endure, or the way their lives would be completely transformed. They just knew that Jesus called them, so they went.
That is what He calls us to do too.
What Does Following Jesus Look Like Right Now?
You may not know where God is leading you in the next five years, but you do know what He has called you to do today. Following Jesus is not just about the big decisions, but about daily obedience.
Here are some things I have learned about what it means to follow Him, even when I do not have all the answers:
Stay in His Word – Every time I have felt lost, God has reminded me to come back to Scripture. His Word is a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105). Not a floodlight for the whole journey, but a lamp for the next step.
Pray and actually listen – I used to think prayer was just about talking to God, but the more I grow, the more I realize it is also about listening. Sometimes the clarity we are looking for comes in the quiet moments when we stop striving and just sit with Him.
Obey what you already know – There are things God has already made clear. Love people like Jesus. Walk in integrity. Be faithful where you are. Keep seeking Him. We do not need a new word from God if we are not already living out what He has told us.
Trust His timing – I have learned that God’s silence is not His absence. Just because I do not have all the answers now does not mean He is not working. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (NIV). His timing is perfect, even when it does not match mine.
You Do Not Have to Have It All Figured Out
I do not know what season you are in right now, but if you are feeling stuck, I want you to hear this: You do not have to have it all figured out. You do not have to know every detail of your future. You just need to be faithful with what is in front of you.
Jesus is calling you to follow Him. Not when you have all the answers. Not when you feel fully prepared. Not when life makes perfect sense. Right now.
So take the next step. Stay in His Word. Keep praying. Walk in obedience. And trust that as you follow Him, He will lead you exactly where you are meant to be.
And then? Keep going.
