A Prayer for When You Feel Lost
By Heidi Vegh
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13.
In our technology-saturated world, there are a million and one things vying for our attention. Ads tell us what to buy, how to dress, and what to do. When we need direction, the internet and social media create confusion and convolute our thoughts. I was in a stuck spot not long ago, searching for a job and coming up empty. I have a particular niche in writing, and it was challenging to find something that suited me. I would spend my days searching endlessly online or clicking on Instagram ads promising to help me make money doing anything and everything. I would get pulled in only to quickly realize that it differed from what I thought.
I was feeling confused and overwhelmed, and I wasn’t truly seeking God for direction, leaving me feeling lost. I was allowing the world to drown out the voice of the Lord, which is the ultimate way to get the precise direction I desperately needed. I decided to do a social media and job searching fast for three weeks. After only a few days, I began to regain some clarity. I was filling my time with Jesus, filling my mind with His truths. I was focused on His presence rather than what I wanted from Him. I surrendered all that I was seeking, knowing that He had the best plan for me, and I was willing to take whatever that was, even if it was not having a job.
As clarity set it, I got offered an internship with a publisher, which was precisely what I needed. I don’t get paid, but it will give me the experience I will need to get the job I want eventually. God knows best. He understands all the intricate details of our life and what we need. It will likely not be something we sought, but that makes it all the more beautiful. He wants to give us things that exceed our expectations.
“Now to him who can do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” - Ephesians 3:20
When we feel lost, God is our true north. He is the one who can lead us where He wants us. It is so easy to get caught up in listening to the world, so sometimes, it is best to shut it out to create a quiet space for God to work. God wants our whole hearts. He wants our full attention. When we only halfway follow him and rely on the world to give us direction and guidance, we will always fall short of what He has for us.
Before you start your day, surrender your to-do list. Ask the Lord to guide you each hour and give you wisdom on what to focus on. For big decisions, consider fasting. You can fast food, media, technology, or sugar. Giving up something to gain more of God is always worth it. It provides clarity and helps you regain a deeper connection to your creator. Make spending time with Jesus your goal, not the outcome you want. When you have a closeness with Jesus, things will fall into place.
Let’s pray:
Lord, I feel lost. I don’t know which way to turn, and I don’t know where to go. I get caught up in the loud voices of the world, and I can’t hear you. I feel confused and discouraged. I wake up every day without direction. I need your presence. I need your voice. I need your wisdom. I don’t want what the world has for me. I know you want what's best for me, and that is what I want. Even if it doesn’t align with my ideas or dreams about my life. Instill in me the desires of my heart; I want them to align with your plans for my life. I want to take delight in you so my heart is filled with your desires for my life (Psalm 37:4). Forgive me, Lord, for clamoring after the wisdom of the world. Cleanse my heart and realign my soul with you. I want to seek you only, and I am excited about what you will bring about. Thank you, Lord, for your provision, love, and direction.
In your precious name, I pray, Jesus, Amen
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/baona
Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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