When You Don’t Know What to Do

Jehoshaphat’s prayer teaches us to turn our eyes to Jesus Christ when life feels overwhelming.

Scripture:
“Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”
—2 Chronicles 20:12

Devotional Thought:
Jehoshaphat did not know what to do.

A great army was coming against Judah. The danger was real. The people were outnumbered. The situation looked impossible.

And the scriptures say something very honest:

“Jehoshaphat feared.”

That matters.

Faith does not mean you never feel afraid.

Faith does not mean you always know what to do.
Faith does not mean you always feel calm.
Faith does not mean you always have the answer.
Faith does not mean everything makes sense right away.

Jehoshaphat was afraid.

But he did something powerful with his fear.

He “set himself to seek the Lord.”

Instead of letting fear drive him away from God, he let fear turn him toward God.

He gathered the people. He prayed. He remembered what God had done before. He admitted their weakness. Then he said:

“We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”

That may be one of the most important prayers you can ever learn.

Lord, I don’t know what to do about this anxiety, but my eyes are upon Thee.

Lord, I don’t know what to do about this temptation, but my eyes are upon Thee.

Lord, I don’t know what to do about this friendship, but my eyes are upon Thee.

Lord, I don’t know how to fix this mistake, but my eyes are upon Thee.

Lord, I don’t know what my future looks like, but my eyes are upon Thee.

Sometimes the most faithful thing you can say is, “I don’t know what to do.”

As long as you also choose where to look.

The Lord answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer through His prophet. He said, “Be not afraid nor dismayed… for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Judah still had to show up. They still had to move forward. They still had to trust. But they did not have to win the battle by their own strength.

That points us to Jesus Christ.

The greatest battle we could never win alone is the battle against sin and death. We could not save ourselves. But Jesus Christ fought and won that battle for us through His Atonement and Resurrection.

So when life feels bigger than you are, turn your eyes to Him.

You may not receive every answer immediately.
The battle may not disappear all at once.
But Jesus Christ can give peace, direction, strength, and deliverance.

When you do not know what to do, you can still know where to look.

Look to Him.

Quote:
The Lord said:

“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
—2 Chronicles 20:15

Reflection:
What is one situation in my life where I need to pray, “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are upon Thee”?

Today’s Challenge:
Choose one overwhelming situation and turn it toward the Lord. Pray honestly about it. Then read one scripture, listen for one prompting, or find one prophetic teaching that helps you take the next faithful step.

Get the full 2 Chronicles 14–20; 26; 30 Come Follow Me for Teens Study & Teaching Guide at joshdowns.com/cfm-resources.