Off the top of my head, I can recall two times in my life when God looked at all
the plans that I set up for my future and then cleared them off the table
completely. One of these times was when a pastor relationship was broken off,
and plans for marriage were thrown out, and the most recent one was
when I was moving to Japan for the first time
in order to go to the mission field. And I remember feeling devastated and broken
because my plans for the future were gone. I felt like my future was just this dark road where I couldn't see
anything in front of me, and I couldn't see what was going to happen in a year,
or a month, or even a week. I felt lost, and I questioned who I was and what I was doing, and thankfully God
led me out of those seasons of darkness. So for those of you who feel like you're
in a similar place, here are seven

steps on what to do if you feel lost. Step number one: Know that it's okay to feel lost. Isaiah chapter 55, verse nine: For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts. In this passage,
Isaiah was explaining that in the same way that the heavens are far
higher than the earth, so too are God's ways of doing things
higher than our way of doing things. And on top of that, God's thoughts
are also infinitely above our own. Back when I was about 20 years old,
I remember there was a time that I considered
going to Bible college. I was a Sunday school teacher at the time, and I remember wishing for someone
to teach me how to teach. But no one at church really sat me down
and they clipped me to be a Sunday school teacher. So I thought that
maybe if I went to Bible college

I could get the training that I wanted, but during this time, I wanted to be a firefighter. Going to Bible college would have delayed my plans of being a firefighter. So long story short, through a lot of prayer and confirmation, I reluctantly put a pause on my ambitions for firefighting and went to Bible college with a bad attitude at first because I was so upset that my plans had a setback. Looking back at that time in my life, it was that Bible college where I was trained to teach at a higher level. The things that I learned in the 2 to 3 years I was there, I later taught to my future students at the school I taught at. And now I'm using the skills I've gained there to teach here on YouTube. So note my thoughts during my early 20s where I should not be at Bible college. I should be training to be a firefighter. But God's thoughts were the skills and lessons you'll gain here will equip

you for the profession and ministries
that I have prepared for you. So if you're feeling lost right
now, know that it's okay to feel that way
because you know who else felt lost? Moses,
when he was leading the children of Israel after getting permission from the Pharaoh
to leave Egypt because God led them into a valley
right in front of the Red sea. The Israelites couldn't go left
and they couldn't go right. And they couldn't go straight either because of the Red sea
that was in front of them. And the Pharaoh thought that the Israelites made a mistake
by walking towards a dead end. But it was God's intention
to lead them through the Red sea. So one of the things I'd like to say
before we move on is that feeling lost is not only a very real
and human feeling, but it also may be the result of God doing something
that we may not understand at the moment.

So while I and the people of Israel
were feeling lost in our situation, God knew exactly where we were,
and that fit in with his plans, which are above our own. And there's a film that really highlights
the message of overcoming feeling lost: Epochs Studios. His new film,
The Firing Squad, is a Christian film releasing in theaters
on August 2nd nationwide. The Firing Squad is a powerful, true story
of Christians who, in the face of death and a third world prison, transformed the entire camp
through their unshakable faith. And this film is not just entertainment; it's a profound witness to the strength
of faith and the potential for redemption. The film stars James Barrington, Kevin Sorbo,
Cuba Gooding Jr., and Madeleine Anderson. Our team was given the chance
to watch the film before its release, and I love the fact
that it's a true story. And like the characters in the film,

I think we should all be assertive
in our faith, especially when times get tough. The Firing Squad carries
a powerful Faith-Based message, and your attendance will help ensure that
this film has a strong opening weekend. And your support
not only helps the firing squad succeed, but it also sends a message to Hollywood that faith-based films
have a dedicated audience. So together,
we can encourage the production of more films that uplift and inspire. So join us in theaters
nationwide on August 2nd and visit Firing Squad film.com. To purchase your ticket
directly on the site and click the link in the description
below for more details. Okay, and back to the video. Step number two don't be led by feelings. Proverbs chapter three, verses 5 to 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

In this passage, King Solomon advises people to trust in God with their whole heart and not to depend on their own understanding of the situation at hand. And then he commands them to seek God's will, and that by doing so, God will show them what to do. So while step one tells you that it's okay to feel lost. Step two would advise you to not stay in the feeling. Note how this passage says to not depend on your own understanding, but to instead trust God. And the reason why this is important is because when we feel lost, sometimes there's the temptation to listen to how we feel and then make things worse. Back in 2022, I made the huge announcement to my school that that year would be my last year teaching because I felt called to the mission field in Japan, and I quit a job that I loved and coached my last year of sports. I sold my truck and I had my goodbye party June 2022.

and my plan at that time
was to leave for Japan August of 2022. But during this time, the borders to Japan
didn't open due to Covid, and I was stuck in California. An opportunity arose
for me to go to the Philippines instead. There was a church that needed help. There was housing arranged for me,
and during September of 2022, I felt like maybe I could go
help this church until Japan opened up, and I could get some missions experience
helping the church in the Philippines, and I could put some good use of the funds that people gave me to support my mission
to Japan, and many of my friends and family
thought that going to the Philippines would be a good opportunity
for me to grow and learn. But as I prayed to God
about going to the Philippines, God showed me my true heart
for going to the Philippines, and he showed me
that I was not going to the Philippines to help the church,
but to save my name and my pride.

God showed me that I put my self-worth
in my accomplishments. So since I was at home,
waiting to go to Japan, the perception of my worth was low. And me going to the Philippines stemmed
from the feeling of needing to do more, so I can show people that I really am a missionary,
and to prove to God that I have worth. And during that time, God taught me that
I needed to learn to be small and to humble myself and to do things
according to his timing and funny thing. Japan opened its borders October 2022. So if I did leave for the Philippines
in September, it would have interfered
with my Japan plans. So all that to say, don't be like me
and don't be led by your feelings. Like the passage says, trust in God
with all your heart and don't depend
on your own understanding. And while it's okay
and normal to feel a certain way, don't act based on your feelings.

because they can lead you away
from what God wants for you. Step number three, focus on
the things you need to do for sure. Psalm chapter one, verses 1 to 3. Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in his law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither. And whatever he does shall prosper. In this passage, the psalmist begins
the Psalms by explaining that someone is blessed when they love
God's words and meditate on them. So when it comes to feeling lost,
the reason why you feel lost is probably because there's question
marks in your life and we either don't know what to do
or where we should go.

or how we should respond
to a certain individual. However, while there can be
a lot of uncertainty in our life, there's still a lot of things
that we can be sure of. For example, Philippians chapter
four verse six tells us not to be worried,
but to be thankful and to pray always. And Ephesians 4:31 tells us to get rid
of bitterness and harsh words. In first Corinthians chapter six, verse 18 tells us to run away
from sexual immorality. And in the words of one of my mentors,
when you come across something that you don't know,
always go back to what you do know. So note that while you may not have
the specific answers that you're currently looking for at
the moment, God has still given you everything you need to live
a fruitful and blessed life right now. Because right now, by faith,
we have a Savior that offers forgiveness for our failures
eternal life after death.

Strength for the day and a gentle love
that does not change, no matter what we do. So don't allow the questions that you have
right now make you lose sight of the fact that God still offers
a lot of direction through His Word. Step number four: seek wisdom. Proverbs chapter eight, verse 10 to 11:
Receive my instruction and not silver, and knowledge
rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies,
and all the things one may desire cannot be compared
with her. In this passage, King Solomon describes
wisdom and knowledge as being more valuable than silver and gold. So if you're feeling lost right now,
one of the best things you can do is to seek wisdom. And that can look like reading some books,
doing some research, or asking trusted people who have wisdom
and experience for advice. In the past, before I moved to Japan,
I thought it would be good to sit down and talk to my dad to see what he thought,
and we went to a restaurant.

I told him my plans, and after I was done,
I asked him if I'm missing anything and if there's anything else
that I should focus on. And he proceeded to tell me to make sure I have zero debt
when I move to Japan. Taking that seriously, I spent the next three years paying off
college and car loans before I moved. And it's not just my dad
that I'll seek advice from. I'll ask my best friend Johnny
what to do when it comes to relationships. My other best friend, Jess,
for advice on my book that I'm writing. Or I'll ask past mentors for advice
if I'm really struggling. So know that when it comes to feeling
lost, seeking wisdom, and obtaining counsel can be one of the best things
that you can do that may give you greater perspective on your situation. So I'd encourage you
to take the initiative and sit down with someone you trust,
and to tell them your entire situation.

and then to ask for their input. Step number five: Put God first.
Matthew chapter six, verse 33: But seek first
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you. In this passage, Jesus tells people
to seek God's kingdom and righteousness above all other things, and God
will provide the things that they need. And this verse has provided
a lot of encouragement for me in my life. My schedule
tends to get busy with meetings, and you can usually find me on the phone
talking to someone on the impact team, or working on a separate project,
or building a relationship that's really important to me. And I recall many days when I charged
through my day without putting God first, and I'd skip my Bible and prayer time
because of my busy schedule. And while I may have been successful
for a time, I clearly felt the strain and exhaustion of doing things
on my own strength, and I burned out.

multiple times and messed things
up in my life more than I'd like to admit. And now, being in my early 30s,
I learned to have my prayer times in the morning,
and despite my still busy schedule, I can hold it with a more joyful
and rested heart. To be honest,
when it comes to the growth of impact, video Ministries
and the other projects I'm working on, feeling overwhelmed
is still a pretty normal feeling. With our team expanding expenses,
growing videos, underperforming, and with meetings to attend and expansion
projects building, there's a lot to be concerned with. But one of the things I've learned
from Hudson Taylor, a missionary for China, is to give the burdens
of the day back to God. And starting my day with the chapter
in God's Word, followed by a prayer walk and some morning stretches
with some praise, music really makes all the difference. So should you feel lost?

I really can't emphasize step five enough. So put God first, because by doing so,
God will either take care of your needs, or he'll grow your character to give greater
perspective on your situation. Step number six, don't be afraid of going
in the wrong direction. Acts chapter 16, verses 6 to 7: Now when they had gone through Phrygia
and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit
to preach the word in Asia. After they had gone to Mercia, they tried to go into Bithynia,
but the Spirit did not permit them. In this passage, Paul and Timothy tried
to preach God's word in Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit did not let them, and they ended up
going to Macedonia instead. So when it comes to feeling lost,
there can be a fear of doing the wrong thing
or making the wrong decision, and this is where it's absolutely crucial
to put God first.

You see, when making an important decision, there's some crucial steps that you need to take. Put God first through His Word, prayer and fasting, and then seek counsel from people who can help you, and maybe read books and learn more about your situation. But after you do those things and dedicate your steps to God, and after you wait, maybe a little bit, you kind of have the freedom to do whatever you want, so long as it's not sin. And the reason why is because God still gives us the ability to choose. So in our life, with its ups and downs, sometimes it's up to us to make a decision and to be good stewards of the wisdom, strength, and resources that God gave us. For me, during August 2022, I made the decision to make a YouTube and impact my full-time job, and I ask God what I should do. Got advice from my friends, and I took a risk, knowing that my time spent and energy used

may not result in a successful channel
that can take care of me and my needs. But fast forward to 2024. I now make enough to where
I can be a missionary while being supported by impact. And while you might think sure,
that worked for you. Mind you, I pursued being a firefighter
for about seven years of my life. But despite the fact
that I'm not a firefighter, during that time,
I gave my pursuits to God and God. Use that time in my life
to teach me how to work under pressure, to pay attention to detail,
and to be disciplined. And it was in search and rescue
that I learned that I love to teach the members in my crew
more than using rope systems. And it was there that I learned
that I'd rather be a teacher. So note that while Paul was forbidden
by the Holy Spirit to do something, God eventually
led him to where he needed to be. So for you, after you seek
God and get counsel, make a decision.

And like Paul, be open to God, leading you
in a different direction as you move. The idea that I want you to remember is that you don't need
to be afraid of making a decision, because whether or not it's the right
decision, God will use that decision to teach you an important lesson
and should it be the wrong choice? God has a way with leading
those who stay close to him. And step number seven. Know that life has different seasons. Genesis chapter 41, verses 39 to 40. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
and as much as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning
and wise as you. You shall be over my house,
and all my people shall be ruled according to your word. Only in regard to the throne
will I be greater than you. And this passage Joseph, one of the 12
sons of Jacob, was taken out of prison and was elevated to a position that was
higher than everyone else besides Pharaoh.

So, briefly diving into the life of Joseph, he was a son beloved by his father, but hated by his brothers. And so much so that they sold Joseph as a slave at the age of 17. And you read that in Genesis 37, verse two. So he worked as a slave, but then he was thrown into prison for being falsely accused of sexual assault by his master's wife. And Joseph was probably in prison for years, because it wasn't until Joseph was 30 that he rose to power. So note how God raised Joseph and developed his character. It was through 13 years of being a slave and a prisoner that God refined to the type of character that can help lead and save people. And also note how Joseph didn't stay a slave and a prisoner because God eventually moved him to a different chapter and season in life. And I see this to be the case many times throughout the Bible. Paul used to do a lot of

ministry with Barnabas,
but then a new chapter with Timothy began, and same with the 12 disciples. First they had Jesus,
but then they had to learn how to follow him
without being in his physical presence. So for you, note that feeling lost, while it's a valid
feeling, is still just a feeling. And like all feelings,
they will fade away given enough time. So moving forward, know that while you may feel off right
now, this is only one chapter in the book of your life, and the time will come when you
understand, either in full or in part, the reason why things have happened. And as a final encouragement,
if you find yourself in a specific season in life, learn the lesson
God is trying to teach you right now. So whether you're in a season of learning,
or a season of great difficulty, or a season of blessing,
or a season of transition, try to see what God is trying to teach you
in this specific chapter of your life.

Okay? So if you feel lost,
try to take these seven steps. Know that it's okay to feel lost. Don't be led by feelings. Focus
on the things you need to do for sure. Seek wisdom. Put God first. Don't be afraid of going
in the wrong direction. And know that life has different seasons. Now, don't get me wrong. Being lost is a lousy feeling. But note that this is a feeling
that you can have control of. And the way you do that is by focusing
on God and relying on him for direction. One quote that has always blessed me is
that God is not worried about my future. So if he isn't worried,
then why should I be? Because at the end of the day,
God is still God. And like Romans 8:28 says,
I know that all things work together
for good to those who love God. So if right now you don't know what to do
or where to go,

there is one thing you can know for sure. Jesus loves you.

Follow These 7 STEPS When FEELING LOST…

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