What To Do When We Are Lost

Devotional

Day 1: God Brings Good Out of Evil

Even in the worst moments of suffering and confusion, God is able to bring about a greater good that we cannot yet see. When Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, he could have chosen to despair or to take his heart back from God. Instead, Joseph remained faithful, trusting that God was still present and working, even when he did not understand. In the end, Joseph was able to say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” recognizing that God had used his suffering to save many lives. In our own lives, when we face pain, betrayal, or loss, we are invited to trust that God is still at work, bringing good out of what seems hopeless. [10:36]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced something painful or unfair. Can you look back now and see any way that God brought good out of that situation, or can you ask Him to help you trust that He is working even when you cannot see it?

Day 2: Faithfulness in the Fire

True faith is revealed not when everything goes as planned, but when we stand firm in the face of trials, uncertainty, and even danger. The three young men—Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael—refused to bow to the golden statue, even when threatened with a fiery furnace. Their response to King Nebuchadnezzar was not a guarantee of rescue, but a declaration of trust: “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… but even if he does not… we will not serve your gods.” This kind of faith does not depend on outcomes, but on the character of God. When we do not know what will happen, we are called to remain faithful, trusting that God is with us in the fire. [15:05]

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Reflection: Is there a situation in your life right now where you are tempted to compromise your faith or pull your heart back from God? What would it look like to remain faithful, even if you don’t know how things will turn out?

Day 3: Praise in the Midst of Trouble

When everything is stripped away and we do not know what to do, the answer is to praise God. In the fire, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael prayed aloud, blessing and praising the name of the Lord. The prophet Habakkuk, after losing everything, declared, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” Praise is not just for the good times; it is a powerful act of trust and surrender in the hardest moments. When you feel empty, numb, or abandoned, choosing to praise God is a way of giving Him your heart and declaring that He is still worthy, no matter what you feel or see. [17:57]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Reflection: When was the last time you praised God in the middle of a difficult or confusing situation? Can you take a moment today to praise Him, even if you don’t feel like it or don’t understand what He is doing?

Day 4: Do Not Take Your Heart Back

In moments of pain, loss, or confusion, our greatest temptation is to take our hearts back from God—to stop trusting, to withdraw, to protect ourselves from further hurt. But the invitation is to move our hearts forward, to keep giving ourselves to God, even when we do not know what is happening or why. You are not alone in your confusion; you are part of God’s story, and He asks you to hold on to Him, to trust Him with your heart, especially when you do not know what to do. [11:29]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have been holding your heart back from God because of pain or confusion? What would it look like to move your heart forward and trust Him with that today?

Day 5: It Is Well With My Soul

When waves of grief, loss, or uncertainty threaten to overwhelm, the deepest act of faith is to say, “It is well with my soul.” Horatio Spafford, after losing his son, his business, and his four daughters, chose to praise God and declare that his soul was at peace, even in the midst of unimaginable sorrow. This is not denial of pain, but a surrender to the God who holds us and brings peace that passes understanding. No matter what is taken from you, you can choose to praise, to worship, and to say, “It is well.” [22:08]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: When you face loss or uncertainty, what do you usually say to your own soul? Can you ask God today to help you trust Him enough to say, “It is well,” even if you do not understand?

Sermon Summary

Life often brings us to moments where we echo Mary Magdalene’s words at the tomb: “I don’t know.” We find ourselves in places of deep brokenness, confusion, and pain, unsure of what to do or why suffering has come. It’s in these moments that we are most tempted to pull our hearts back, to stop trusting, and to withhold ourselves from God—the very One who can hold and heal us. The temptation is to retreat, to close off, and to let our pain dictate our faith. Yet, the invitation is to do the opposite: to move our hearts forward, to trust, and to praise even when we do not understand.

Throughout history and scripture, God’s people have faced these moments of not knowing. The story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, is a powerful example. Despite betrayal, injustice, and years of suffering, Joseph remained faithful. He didn’t let confusion or pain cause him to withdraw from God. In the end, God brought great good out of evil—saving not only Egypt but Joseph’s own family. Joseph’s words to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” echo the mystery of the cross, where the worst event in history—the crucifixion of Jesus—became the source of salvation for the world.

This pattern repeats in the story of the three young men in Babylon—Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael—who faced the fiery furnace. They declared, “If our God can save us, may He save us. But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods.” Their faith was not based on outcomes but on the character of God. Even in the face of death, they chose to trust and praise.

The same truth is found in the life of Horatio Spafford, who, after losing his children and all his possessions, wrote the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” In the darkest night, he chose not to take his heart back but to praise God, declaring that even when all is lost, it is well.

When we find ourselves in seasons of loss, confusion, or suffering, the call is not to have all the answers, but to praise. In the midst of trouble, when we do not know what to do, we can still choose to trust, to worship, and to say, “It is well.” This is the path of faith: not the absence of pain or confusion, but the decision to praise God in the storm.

Key Takeaways

1. Praise God in the midst of trouble When life is confusing and painful, our instinct is to withdraw and protect our hearts. Yet, scripture and the saints show us that the answer is to praise God even when we do not understand. Praise in the storm is an act of trust that opens us to God’s healing and presence. [17:20]
2. God brings good out of evil The cross and the story of Joseph both reveal that God can transform the worst situations into sources of blessing. Even when evil seems to win, God is at work, weaving redemption from suffering. This truth invites us to hope, even when we cannot see the outcome. [10:36]
3. Faith is not dependent on outcomes The three young men in Babylon teach us that true faith is not conditional on God delivering us from every trial. Their declaration, “Even if He does not, we will not serve your gods,” challenges us to trust God’s character above our circumstances. This is mature faith—trusting God for who He is, not just for what He does. [15:05]
4. Do not take your heart back In moments of pain, we are tempted to close off our hearts from God. But the invitation is to move our hearts forward, to trust and remain open to Him. Withholding our hearts only deepens our wounds, but surrendering them allows God to work in us and through us. [01:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Mary Magdalene’s Brokenness
[01:16] - The Temptation to Withhold Trust
[02:14] - Encounter at Yad Vashem
[05:07] - The Paradox of the Cross
[07:52] - Joseph’s Story: Faith in Suffering
[09:58] - God’s Goodness in Joseph’s Life
[11:16] - You’re Not Alone in Confusion
[11:38] - The Exile and the Three Young Men
[13:21] - Facing the Fiery Furnace
[15:05] - Faith Beyond Outcomes
[17:20] - Praising God in the Fire
[18:26] - Horatio Spafford’s Loss
[21:35] - “It Is Well with My Soul”
[22:38] - Praising God in the Storm

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)

> As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV)

> Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)

> Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Observation Questions

In the story of Joseph, what did his brothers do to him, and how did Joseph later interpret those events? (Genesis 50:20; [10:21])
What was the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when threatened with the fiery furnace? (Daniel 3:16-18; [14:45])
According to the sermon, what is the common temptation people face when they are in pain or confusion? ([01:37])
What did Horatio Spafford do after losing his children and possessions? ([21:35])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Joseph say, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good”? What does this reveal about his understanding of God’s work in suffering? ([10:36])
The three young men in Babylon said, “But even if he does not [save us], we will not serve your gods.” What does this say about the kind of faith they had? ([15:05])
The sermon mentions that in moments of pain, people are tempted to “take their hearts back” from God. What does it mean to “take your heart back,” and why is it so dangerous? ([01:37])
How does praising God in the midst of trouble, as seen in the stories of Joseph, the three young men, and Horatio Spafford, change the way a person experiences suffering? ([17:20])

Application Questions

The sermon says that when we don’t know what to do, our instinct is to pull back from God. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to “take your heart back” in a hard season? What did you do, and what would you do differently now? ([01:37])
Joseph chose to remain faithful even when he was betrayed and forgotten. Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel like giving up on trusting God? What would it look like to stay faithful in that situation? ([09:58])
The three young men in Daniel 3 trusted God “even if he does not” save them. Are there areas in your life where your faith depends on God giving you a certain outcome? How can you move toward trusting God for who He is, not just what He does? ([15:05])
The sermon challenges us to praise God in the storm. What is one practical way you can choose to praise God this week, even if you are confused or hurting? ([17:20])
Horatio Spafford wrote “It Is Well with My Soul” after losing almost everything. Is there a loss or disappointment in your life that you need to bring to God in worship instead of withdrawing? What would that look like for you? ([21:35])
The sermon says that withholding our hearts from God only deepens our wounds. What are some signs that you might be closing your heart to God? What step could you take this week to open your heart to Him again? ([01:37])
When you are in a season of “I don’t know,” what helps you to keep trusting and praising God? Is there a verse, song, or practice that encourages you? How can you share that with someone else who is struggling? ([22:38])