What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do

As a homeschooling mom, there will inevitably be times when we don’t know what to do. There is nothing you can do to avoid this. But today, I would like to share with you what I do to get through these times with a reasonable amount of peace.

This post aligns with our Weary Homeschool Mom resources → See more encouragement here

1. Use the Word of God as a Compass

Some time ago, when I bought all the supplies and books “I thought I needed” for school. Do you remember that post? Well, that was when I began to use the Word of God in a practical way, like a compass for my life and our school.

It all started as I was meditating on John 10:10, which reads, “The thief comes to steal to kill and to destroy, but I have come to give you a rich and satisfying life.”

Ohhhh, I like the sound of that, don’t you? Rich and satisfying.

That was when I began to ask myself if what I was trying to create for my children was rich and satisfying. I envision a large Thanksgiving table spread for them. Can you see it? Now, let me ask you: How often has your effort to put on a Thanksgiving Spread gone from rich and satisfying to way too much? Yeah, me too.

Here’s my heart: I don’t want to merely feed my kids. I want it to be rich and satisfying! But then, I also need to ensure I don’t overdo it.

In homeschooling, there are soooooo many options! I get it.

Here’s one of my journal entries where I wrestled with just that.

Lord, there are so many options, so many voices, so much noise, and so many opinions telling me what to do. Despite that, I know deep inside me that your way will be “easy and light.” I rest knowing my soul will be at ease in you if I follow your way.

In Your Word, You promise a rich and satisfying life.

when we don't know what to do we can use the Word of God like a compass for homeschooling and life.

So you see, this has become my compass for all of life, not only my homeschool life. I ask myself, ‘Is this rich and satisfying?” If the answer is “No,” then I know it’s time to redirect.

The problem comes when I don’t know what direction to go next.

2. Pray and Ask for Wisdom

It reminds me of the story of Solomon found in I Kings 3:7-9 NLT. In this part of the story, he is the newly crowned King of Israel and is overwhelmed with the responsibility.

When faced with the challenge of it, he prays, “I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I may govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Have you ever felt like that?

I know I have.

“I am like a little child that doesn’t know his way around…”

“…who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Absolutely, have I felt like that!

Are you familiar with what comes next in the story?

The scriptures say, “The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom.”

The story goes on to tell us that he didn’t ask for riches or a long life or any of those things. Solomon asked for wisdom. And he pleased God in doing so.

So yes, there are times when, like Solomon, I desperately pray.

I am like a little child who doesn’t know my way around this whole mom thing and homeschooling!

And I am in the midst of these children. I know you want me to educate them and raise them up so that they can be your champions for the next generation according to your will.

The responsibilities to carry this out are so great and numerous; they cannot be counted!

Give me an understanding heart so that I might raise them well and know the difference between right and wrong.

God, who by herself is able to do all of this?!

And conclude with,

But Lord, I trust you. I ask and wait in hopeful expectation for your wisdom. Show me what to do next so that I may please you.

How about you? Do you ever feel like that?

I remember, as a brand new mom, how I trembled when they laid my first-born son in my arms and said it was time to go home.

Do you remember how you felt going home with your newborn child for the first time?

I recall how fearful I was when I took him out of the house and to church for the first time.

The first big bump.

The first high fever.

How I trembled with every new addition to the family.

Even now, I call my own mom when we experience something I haven’t yet encountered as a mom myself. In desperation, I’ll often say, “I don’t know what to do! Tell me what to do!”

Raising children is hard, and adding homeschooling too is weighty.

You don’t see the results of your day-to-day activities for a very long time.

We have these ideas of what success should look like, and we strive to follow them. Then, we freak out when reality doesn’t meet our expectations. We look for quick fixes when what’s needed is long, consistent stability, which takes time.

when we don't know what to do, we look for quick fixed when what is needed is long, consistent stability, which takes time

(Sigh)

May we pray as Solomon prayed.

As a child of the Most High God, may we recognize He has all the answers and loves when we ask for help.

It’s true!

In the New Testament, James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

I love how The Message reads, “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.”

It’s pretty awesome when we stop to think about it and allow the words to locate us.

James said, “If you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Yes, yes, that’s me.

Then he continues with, “…pray to the Father, He loves to help.“

Oh, I ~~want~~ need some of that help!

…And He won’t condescend to me when I ask for it?

How often does that happen when we ask for help from others? (stomach twists, I feel you, mama).

Let’s keep reading; this is good for us.

3. Trust That God Will Show You What to Do

Ask boldly, believing without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

Did you catch that last part?

“…Keeping all your options open.”

Yikes, have I been guilty of that one…

All too often, it is difficult to understand God. His ways are indeed higher than ours, and his thoughts are higher than ours, but it does help me when I remember I am made in God’s image and His likeness.

Similarly, if someone came to me and said they were depending on me, while at the same time, I knew that they had other options in their back pocket.

Hmm… well, how would that make you feel?

God wants us to put ALL of our hope and trust in him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When you are feeling overwhelmed with fears, whether it’s about planning for the school year, tackling a learning challenge, or dealing with behavior issues, and you find yourself struggling to make decisions, remember this: our children are our ministry. I don’t think God looks at what you and I do any differently than He looked at Solomon and what he had to do.

when you don't know what to do remember our children are our ministry and we can ask God for wisdom

Let’s think back to the story of Solomon.

Solomon asked for wisdom.

The scripture says, “And the Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom.”

You know what? I would like the Lord to say that of me.

And the Lord was pleased that Tammy asked for wisdom.

Put your name in there.

And the Lord was pleased that _________ asked for wisdom.

I invite you to ask God for wisdom. Then, wait quietly and watch for his response. Ready to move when He speaks. If you do it wholeheartedly without “keeping all your options open,” I believe God will blow your mind just as he did Solomon.

Because He created us, He knows what we really want.

A life that is both rich and satisfying.

Because He is God, He knows exactly how to get it to us.

And because He is good, He will!

Hang in there, my friend. Please hear my heart. I know this life can be tough at times. Even as I write, there are questions I have and directions I desperately need. But of all the ways I have ever attempted in my utter humanness to figure things out, the only one that works every time is God.

I have a choice, as do you. I can make a mess of things, or I can trust God.

I’m not saying it’s an easy choice (I have plenty of tears to prove it), but I am saying that from what I’ve seen in my own life, it’s the only choice that works.

I choose to hold out for my life both rich and satisfying.

Are you with me?

Much Love (and a teary hug, too)

P.S. If you’re looking for a warm space filled with mom-to-mom encouragement, I’m excited to share a special sign-up just for you. It offers not only heartfelt support but also access to the Create a Homeschool Life Resource Library and The Simple Homeschool Plan. Catch you on the other side 🙂