An Unyielding Grey
I thumbed through my Bible again, looking for some verse to leap off the page and shout, "This is the way—walk in it!" Silence.
I prayed until my knees ached. "Lord, just tell me what to do. Should I continue in this particular area of the ministry, or should I spend more time in this other area? Should we continue in our current "game plan" or pursue a new approach? A simple yes or no would be lovely!"
But heaven remained quiet. No burning bush. No writing on the wall. Just the persistent, foggy grey of uncertainty.
Have you been there? That spiritual twilight zone where you've done everything "right"—prayed fervently, studied Scripture diligently, sought godly counsel—and still find yourself standing at a crossroads without a traffic light in sight?
It's maddening, isn't it? Especially for those of us who like plans, clarity, and knowing exactly which box to tick. In my perfectionist mind, I sometimes imagine God has a detailed flowchart of my life, if only He'd share the next step.
One particularly frustrating morning this week, as I sat with my Bible and journal, I felt the Lord gently shift my perspective. Perhaps the grey zone isn't a waiting room for an answer but a classroom for deeper trust.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Notice it doesn't say, "and He shall give you a detailed roadmap with GPS coordinates." It says He will direct our paths—often one step at a time and typically with limited visibility.
I've learned several precious truths in these grey seasons:
First, God is more interested in who I'm becoming than where I'm going. While I'm frantically seeking a decision, He's developing my character. Patience isn't just waiting; it's waiting well, with a heart that trusts.
Second, sometimes the answer is simply "continue faithfully for now." When Paul was in prison, he didn't receive a dramatic escape plan. He wrote letters, encouraged believers, and remained faithful in his confinement.
Third, I've discovered that uncertain seasons draw me into deeper communion with God. When I don't know what to do, I spend more time seeking His face rather than just His hand.
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)
Notice that waiting isn't passive. It requires courage. It involves an active strengthening of the heart.
Friend, if you're standing in the grey today—not getting a clear green light, but also not seeing a definitive red—take heart. You're in good company. Abraham left Ur without knowing his destination. Moses led people through a wilderness without a roadmap. David was anointed king but spent years in caves before his coronation.
The grey isn't evidence of God's absence. It might be the very crucible He's using to deepen your faith and prepare you for what lies ahead. Keep walking faithfully, even when the light is neither red nor green. God will get you where you need to be at the proper time.