5 Powerful Prayers for Guidance When Life Feels Confusing

By Stephen Altrogge

Life can be confusing sometimes. Often, actually. I’m so grateful that God invites us to lift to Him our prayers for guidance.

We need the Lord’s direction in so many situations: Should I take this job? Should I marry this person? Should I move to this place? Should I attend this church? The list goes on and on.

The good news is that God has promised to answer our prayers for guidance. In Psalm 32:8, He promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you.”

The challenge is that we don’t always know how to pray for guidance. Sometimes all we can say is, “Lord, please help me know what to do.”

 

So Much More

Although there’s nothing wrong with that, I believe God has more for us. Here are five prayers for guidance we can pray when life is confusing.

A Prayer for Guidance and Trust.

Lord, I may not know what to do, but I trust that You have a good, sweet, sovereign plan for my life (Jer. 29:11). Even though I may not know the way to go, You do—and I trust You to lead me every step of the way.

Your Word says that You are my Shepherd. I trust You to lead me beside still waters and bring me to green pastures. You won’t leave me or forsake me. You’ll never abandon me (Ps. 23:1–3; Heb. 13:5).

I refuse to trust in my own wisdom and my own discernment. Instead, I place all my trust and hope in You. I place all my confidence in You (Prov. 3:5–6). I fully trust that You will guide me to the good place You have for me.

A Prayer for Guidance and Wisdom.

Lord, now more than ever, I need Your wisdom (James 1:5). I don’t know the best path to choose—so many options. Please give me the wisdom and clarity of thought only You can provide.
You have promised that You will direct me (Prov. 3:6). So please give me wisdom and guidance to carefully weigh all the circumstances and make the right choices (Ps. 25:12). I absolutely trust You to make the way clear.

A Prayer for Guidance and Submission.

Father, as I consider the future and my need for guidance, I submit myself completely to You (Ps. 37:5). I may have plans, but ultimately You are the One who establishes plans (Prov. 16:9). I may envision doing certain things, but You are the only One who can bring those things to pass.
I know that all the plans You have for me are for my good and Your glory. I joyfully place my plans before You, trusting that You will bring to pass that which is good—and gently turn me aside from that which is not.

A Prayer for Guidance and Peace.

Father, I confess I am tempted to be afraid when life is uncertain. When I feel confused, I often try to figure out everything myself. Then fear strikes. Only You know the future.

I ask for Your divine peace as I seek Your guidance. You promise to keep us in perfect peace when our minds are fixed on you (Isa. 26:3). So I fix my mind on Your faithfulness, goodness, and trustworthiness.

Right now I place all my hope and trust in You. That’s where I find Your peace. Please help me always trust in who You are. Keep reminding me of Your utter faithfulness. I can’t manufacture divine peace. Only You can give it to me.

A Prayer for Guidance and Strength.

Father, as I confront an uncertain future, I need Your strength to keep going forward. Give me strength to trust You and not be afraid, even when I can’t figure out how everything will pan out (Josh. 1:9).

Please sustain me through this trial of uncertainty. I thank You that when I am weak, You are strong. When I’m fragile, You are invincible (2 Cor. 13:9). I’m counting on You for supernatural strength to keep pressing into You and pressing forward in my circumstances (Phil. 3:13–14).

 

God Will Guide Us

The good news is that we have a Good Shepherd who leads us to green pastures and still waters. Yes, sometimes we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Sometimes the way ahead will be unclear, shrouded in darkness.

But no matter the situation, we can be certain that God is guiding us. We can lift up these prayers for guidance in confidence, knowing that God will indeed answer them.

STEPHEN ALTROGGE blogs at The Blazing Center . You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Taken from Prayer Connect magazine.