“When You Don’t Know Which Way to Go” – Viktor Frankl

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” – Viktor Frankl

Let me break this down for you. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, discovered something profound about human nature during humanity’s darkest hours. Even when stripped of everything—family, possessions, hope—we still possess the power to choose our response.

The Problem We All Face

You wake up feeling lost. The path that once seemed clear has vanished into fog. Maybe it’s a career that no longer fulfills you, a relationship that’s ended, or dreams that feel impossibly distant. That crushing weight of “What’s the point?” settles on your chest, and suddenly you’re wandering through life without a compass.

I’ve watched this happen to countless people, take Sarah, for example. After losing her job of fifteen years, she spent months in what she called “the gray zone”—functioning but not truly living, existing but not thriving. She’d wake up asking God, “What am I supposed to do now?”

The Transformation Through Faith

Here’s what changed everything for Sarah, and what Scripture teaches us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God doesn’t waste our wilderness seasons. They’re not punishment—they’re preparation. When we can’t see the path ahead, we’re being invited to walk by faith, not by sight.

Sarah started volunteering at a local food bank during her unemployment. Not because she had a grand plan, but simply because she needed to feel useful. That simple act of service became the bridge to her calling as a nonprofit director—work she never would have discovered if her comfortable corporate job hadn’t ended.

So with all that said, here’s your action step: Stop trying to figure out your entire future and start asking what God wants you to do today.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Your Small Step Today

Take five minutes right now. Get quiet before God and ask: “What’s one small way I can serve someone today?” Maybe it’s calling a lonely friend, helping a neighbor, or simply showing extra kindness to a cashier. Meaning isn’t found in having all the answers—it’s discovered through faithful obedience to what’s in front of you.

As Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” God gives us just enough light for the next step, not the whole journey.

Trust the process. Serve where you are. Let God connect the dots.

What’s one small act of service you could do today while you’re waiting for clarity on your bigger purpose?

Always, Adam