When You Wonder If God Has a Plan (Or If You're Just Lost)
Hey there! Can we talk about something real for a minute?
That feeling when you're lying awake at 2 AM, wondering if you're on the right path or if God even has a plan for your life at all?
Yeah, that feeling. I've been there too. We all have. Let's dive into why this happens and what we can do about it.
Why We Doubt (And Why It's Totally Normal)
Let's be honest, doubt hits us for some very human reasons.
My friend Jake prayed for months about a job he thought was perfect for him.
When someone else got it, he was crushed. "I thought God wanted this for me," he told me over coffee. "Now I don't know what to believe."
Maybe you've felt that way when:
You've prayed super hard for something, only to get a "no"
You're watching others succeed while you struggle
Life throws you a curveball you never saw coming
You feel stuck while everyone else seems to be moving forward
Did you know there's actually some science behind why we doubt?
Our brains are wired to look for patterns and meaning.
When researchers at Stanford studied how people handle uncertainty, they found that unpredictable situations actually trigger the same areas of our brain as physical pain.
No wonder doubt feels so uncomfortable!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)
This verse makes so much more sense when you understand how our brains work. We're literally built to try to understand patterns and make predictions.
When God's plan doesn't match our brain's prediction... doubt creeps in.
Real Talk About Real Doubts
My neighbor Maria called me in tears last month. Her mom had been diagnosed with cancer, and Maria's faith was shaken. "I've been so good," she said. "I've served at church, I've prayed, I've tried to live right. Why would God let this happen?"
Sound familiar?
This is where rubber meets road in faith. These moments force us to confront whether we believe God has a plan even when it feels like the world is falling apart.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Easy to quote. Harder to believe when life gets messy, right?
So, how can we overcome these doubts?
Practical Ways to Handle Those Doubts
1. Name them out loud (seriously, try it)
There's something powerful about saying "I'm doubting God's plan right now" out loud.
Research in cognitive behavioral therapy shows that labeling your emotions actually reduces their power over you.
It's like turning on the light to see there's not actually a monster in the closet!
My friend started a "doubt journal" where he writes down his questions and struggles.
"Getting them out of my head makes them less scary," he told me, and I agree because I do this too and I would absolutely recommend you try this.
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16)
2. Look for the plot twists that worked out
Remember that show you watched where a character faced something terrible, but by the end of the season, it led to something amazing?
Our lives have those moments too.
My own story has plenty.
That painful breakup that freed me to allowed me to meet my husband.
The job rejection that pushed me toward my actual calling, this website and blog that I am writing right now, which might never have happened if the previous rejection didn't happen.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Try this: Text a friend right now and ask them to remind you of a time when something disappointing in your life actually led to something better.
Their perspective might surprise you!
3. Focus on today's step, not the whole staircase
When my niece was learning to walk, she didn't worry about how she'd eventually run a marathon.
She just took one wobbly step at a time!
Psychologists call this "chunking" – breaking big challenges into smaller pieces.
It reduces anxiety and helps us move forward when we're uncertain.
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105)
Notice it doesn't say God's word is a spotlight showing the whole road ahead! It's just enough light for the next step.
So, what's your next step?
Maybe it's just getting out of bed.
Maybe it's making that phone call.
Maybe it's simply praying, "God, I don't understand, but I'm trying to trust You today."
Just don't be so hard on yourself when you aren't feeling 100% aligned. It's perfectly normal.
4. Find your doubt buddies
We often hide our doubts, thinking we're the only ones struggling.
Spoiler alert: we're not!
My church started a "Questions Welcome" group that meets monthly.
Just real people sharing real doubts. It's become the most popular group at church because guess what? Everyone has questions.
"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me." (Isaiah 46:9)
5. Look for God in unexpected places
Sometimes we miss God's plan because we're looking for it in the wrong places.
We expect burning bushes but get gentle whispers instead.
My friend Tasha was frustrated with God's silence until she started noticing little "coincidences" – a song that spoke to her situation, a conversation with a stranger that answered a question she'd been wrestling with, even a random text from someone thinking about her right when she needed encouragement.
It's so amazing when you take a step back and really pay attention to what's going on around you, you'll notice these little things happening more and more often, and it's hard to ignore the evidence that God is working for your greater good.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
The Science of Waiting (and Why It's So Hard)
Did you know studies show that uncertainty actually feels worse than knowing something bad will happen?
It's why waiting for test results can feel more stressful than actually getting them.
When we're waiting on God's plan to become clear, our brains are in a state of high alert.
This triggers stress hormones, which is why doubt can literally make us feel sick or tired.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)]
My grandma used to say, "Waiting time is not wasted time."
Science is catching up to her wisdom.
Researchers find that periods of uncertainty often lead to the most growth in our lives, even though they're uncomfortable in the moment.
So relax, things will get better, even if you can't see it yet.
Questions You Might Be Asking
"How do I know if I'm following God's plan or just doing what I want?"
Great question! I asked my pastor this once. He said, "If you're sincerely seeking God, your desires will become aligned with His."
That was so freeing for me. Because it's true.
It's not about second-guessing every decision but about keeping your heart open to God's guidance, in a real, genuine way.
"What if I've messed up God's plan by making bad choices?"
Here's the great thing about God's plans – they're bigger than our mistakes.
My friend Ben has a powerful story about this.
After addiction nearly destroyed his life, he found recovery and now helps others find their way out of that darkness.
"My biggest failures became part of God's plan," he says. "I've been waiting forever. How long does it take to see God's plan?"
Some answers come in days. Others take decades.
My aunt prayed for 42 years for her husband's faith. When he finally found God at age 67, she told me, "I would have waited twice as long for this."
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
A Final Thought
Doubt isn't the opposite of faith, it's actually part of faith's journey.
Think about it: you can't doubt something you don't believe in at some level.
So when those 2 AM questions come (and they will), remember you're in good company.
Even John the Baptist, who literally baptized Jesus, had a moment where he sent his friends to ask Jesus, "Are you really the one?" (Matthew 11:3).
If John could question God's plan and still be part of it, so can you.
What doubts are you facing today?
Maybe sharing them with someone (or even in the comments below) could be your first step toward finding peace with God's plan, even the parts you can't see yet.
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)
Let's walk this road together, thank you for reading, it really means the world to me.