How to Stop Overthinking and Move Forward in Faith

Feeling stuck in life’s big decisions? Discover why sometimes the answers you seek aren’t in endless searching but in stepping out in faith.

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Updated Nov 20, 2024
How to Stop Overthinking and Move Forward in Faith

My wife and I were discussing an opportunity she had been presented with recently, and we kept going back and forth on it because it was an amazing opportunity. Still, it would require some major sacrifice for the family, and we were trying to determine if it was worth it. She joked, and she said, I wish I could just Google. Is this the right thing for me? We live in a unique age and time when we can search for almost anything. You can Google pretty much anything and find what you're looking for.

But the fact is, there are still some things in life that you can't search or Google. And we get to those things, those challenges in life, and go, what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do? And we seek God, and maybe we don't hear from Him, or we seek counsel and hear from them what they think we should do. But ultimately, it's between us and God what we're supposed to do.

In Ecclesiastes 3:6, King Solomon starts the chapter by saying, "There's a season for everything. There's a time for every purpose under heaven." He says, "There's a time to search and a time to give up." Now, I think searching is important.

I think researching, investigating, planning, and doing your best. You know, it says, in a multitude of counsel, plan, succeed. But there comes a time in life, multiple times actually when you have to make a decision that you can only search and research for so long.

At some point, you have to give up searching and move forward with your decision on what you're going to do, and you have to trust God with what He's going to do. I think that's what faith is. You know, you don't need faith when it's sunshine outside, and unicorns are prancing through your front yard.

You only need faith when it gets dark and you can't see ahead. Sometimes, we search for answers, but the answers will only come as we move forward, step out into that darkness, and say, "God, I'm trusting you." This is faith.

I trust you that you've got an I can research, and I know it's wise to research, but ultimately, my future is in your hands. And when you step out and do that, you say, okay, I will stop searching. I've done the research as best as possible, but I feel I'm supposed to do this.

When you step out and do that, it's amazing. It's almost like surrendering yourself to God's will. You say, "I'm going to stop searching, I'm going to just give up, and I'm going to trust you with my future."

It's kind of weird to say that you should just give up, but that's really what it comes down to. I'm going to give up on my plan and trust your plan, Lord. When you do that wisely, living with wisdom, I've seen God do some amazing things.

You can be confident in this. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love him, for those who are called according to his purpose. He has a purpose for your life, and you'll find it as you step out in faith.

You won't find it on Google. You won't find it through too much searching. You'll find it as you step out on faith and he reveals his plan for your future.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Doucefleur


headshot of author Joel MalmJoël Malm is the founder of Summit Leaders where he uses outdoor adventure and leadership coaching to help people find their calling and pursue a vision for their lives. His expeditions have taken him around the world to places like Mt. Kilimanjaro, Grand Canyon, and Machu Picchu. He has traveled in over seventy countries on six continents and speaks three languages. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Counseling.
He speaks at churches, conferences, and corporate events around the country and is the author of seven books, including Vision Map (Moody Press), Connecting the Dots, and Keep It Light. (Salem/Regnery) He and his wife Emily and daughter Elise live in Texas.
Find out more at: http://joelmalm.com

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