WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE THE NEXT STEP

There are moments in life when the road ahead feels completely uncertain. Times when no matter how hard we try to plan, understand, or predict, we find ourselves standing at the edge of the unknown, wondering where to go next. The silence of uncertainty can be deafening, and in those moments, it’s easy to question whether God is really at work.

I’ve walked through seasons like that—where my prayers felt unanswered, where the doors I expected to open remained closed, and where the path ahead seemed covered in fog. I would search for signs, listen for direction, and hope for clarity, only to feel like I was still standing in the same place. And in those moments, fear crept in, whispering doubts: What if I’ve taken a wrong turn? What if God isn’t leading me anymore? What if I’m stuck?

But the truth is, God is always at work, even when we can’t see it.  Romans 8:28 says; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

That verse doesn’t say some things or most things, but all things. That is where I must decide if I trust God to keep His Word.

I remember a time in my life when I was desperately seeking direction. I had been praying for guidance, asking God to show me the next step, but no clear answers came. I had done everything I knew to do. I sought wise counsel, read Scripture, and prayed continuously, but still, the next step was hidden from my view.

At first, I wanted to move forward, to have a clear plan, to feel certain about where I was headed. But all I felt was uncertainty. Have you ever been there?

What I didn’t realize at the time was that the waiting was not a punishment, it was preparation. God wasn’t ignoring me. He was working behind the scenes, aligning things I couldn’t yet see. I thought nothing was happening, but in reality, He was moving pieces into place that would later make perfect sense.

You must believe that God Works Even When We Can’t See.

In John 13:7, Jesus tells His disciples, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” That verse holds so much truth. There are times when we don’t understand what God is doing, when life doesn’t make sense, and when the next step feels unclear. But just because we can’t see Him working doesn’t mean He isn’t.

Think about a seed buried in the soil. From the surface, it looks like nothing is happening. The dirt remains unchanged, the ground looks the same day after day. But beneath the surface, life is growing. Roots are stretching deeper, nourishment is being absorbed, and in time, what was hidden will break through the surface and bloom.

That’s how God works in our lives. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, He is working in the unseen. He is strengthening your faith, refining your character, and preparing us for what’s ahead. The silence does not mean absence, it just means trust is required.

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight is one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn. Trusting that even when the path isn’t clear, God is leading. Trusting that even when we don’t have all the answers, He does.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” That means we don’t have to see everything to move forward. We don’t have to understand every detail before we take the next step. We simply need to trust the One who leads us.

Faith is like walking with a lantern in the dark. The light only illuminates a few steps ahead, not the entire path, not the whole journey, just enough to take the next step. God often works the same way. He doesn’t always reveal the whole plan at once, but He gives us enough light to take one step at a time.

I’ve learned that when I can’t see the next step, I have a choice. I can either allow fear to paralyze me, or I can choose to trust God and keep moving forward.

Trust doesn’t mean we always feel certain. It doesn’t mean we have no doubts or questions. Trust simply means that even when we don’t understand, we believe that God is still leading us.

And when we choose to trust, something incredible happens, we begin to see His fingerprints in places we never expected. The doors that once seemed closed suddenly open. The situations that made no sense start to come together. And in hindsight, we realize that God was working all along.

Looking back, I can now see how God was at work in every season of uncertainty in my life. The moments I thought were wasted were actually building my character. The times I felt lost were actually bringing me closer to Him. The prayers I thought went unanswered were actually being answered in ways greater than I could have imagined.

God never abandoned me. He was working behind the scenes, shaping me, preparing me, and guiding me, even when I couldn’t see it.

And if you’re in a season where you can’t see the next step, let me remind you of this: God is still at work. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t left you wandering. He is still leading, still orchestrating, still preparing something good for you.

So, what do we do when we can’t see the next step?

We keep trusting, keep praying, keep walking by faith, one step at a time.

And when you finally look back, you’ll see that every step, even the ones you didn’t understand, was leading you to something far greater than you ever imagined.