3 Best Questions to Ask When You’re Stuck or Uncertain
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Do you ever feel stuck in a never-ending cycle of confusion and uncertainty? Are you facing setbacks in your personal or professional life and struggling to find a way out?
Have you ever hit a point in your journey where you feel like throwing in the towel? It could be in any area of your life-whether in relationships, at work, in your personal life, or your business. This can make you stay in a rut and despair. It’s not a pleasant place to be.
Maybe you’re wondering if you’re on the right path or if it’s time to make changes. I know I’ve been there—those times when you’re walking down a road and suddenly doubts creep in. You’re wondering if this is where God truly wants you, or if you’re letting your own doubts get the best of you.
It’s normal to feel stuck, uncertain, and wonder what to do next. It feels almost like we’re tangled in a web of our own thoughts and emotions. This is a sign that things need to change which could be your perspective.
We’re going to talk about how to evaluate these crossroads, so you can discern if you’re feeling God’s gentle nudge to pivot or if He’s calling you to press on with fresh purpose and energy.
The first step we can take before getting paralyzed by overwhelm is to ask the right questions. These 3 Best Questions to Ask When You’re Stuck or Uncertain will help you reflect on your motives, check if your approach is sustainable, and seek God’s guidance to find clarity.
Why do we feel stuck in life?
There are various reasons why we may feel stuck, uncertain, or ready to give up in life. One of them is you may have outgrown your current situation. Sometimes we set goals based on the season of life but over time we change and evolve.
What you prioritize as a mom of toddlers may not be the same as what you prioritize as a mom of children in college. This can make you feel uncertain about what to do next with your life.
You may become stuck when you’re trying to live up to the expectations of other people. What people expect from you may be different from what you want and this leads you to feel stuck and unfulfilled.
We want to be accepted by the community group around us whether that is family members, friends, or colleagues but at what cost?
This leads us to the next reason we may feel uncertain in life. Your day-to-day life may be disconnected from your passions and values. These reflect what’s truly important to you and bring harmony and fulfillment. When you’re not living up to your authentic self, you end up feeling stuck and dissatisfied with life.
Our thoughts are a powerful tool. When you have negative thoughts about yourself, the situation you’re in, and your ability to achieve your goals and dreams it can lead to helplessness, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It affects your emotional well-being and you become uncertain and feel like giving up in life.
Fear can hold you back and be an obstacle to reaching your full potential. It can be fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, or fear of success. At any given moment, you could have a fear of the worst-case scenario that could happen. This can all lead you to feeling stuck. When you overcome fear, it can propel you forward so that you experience success.
When you’re stuck worrying about past experiences, mistakes, or failures you had it can make you feel like giving up. It traps you in a cycle of regret and anxiety and you can’t fully engage in the present moment.
It’s only when we can accept that we’re human and learn from our failures, that we can move forward and use these as stepping stones for growth.
Do you spend much time trying to make things perfect? Do you want the perfect home, business, or family? The reality is perfectionism doesn’t exist and it can leave us stuck. You end up putting pressure on yourself thinking if it’s not perfect you won’t take action.
Being overwhelmed and burnt out is another reason why we want to give up on our goals and dreams. Are you taking time for self-care or drowning in personal responsibilities, work, commitments, and a long to-do list?
Do you have bold, purposeful, long-term goals that you set but you’re not actively working toward them? Is procrastination preventing you from taking action? Have you taken time to measure the progress you’ve made? This could be a reason why you want to give up.
Lastly, when you’re in a comfort zone and then go through major life changes and transitions such as the loss of a job, changing jobs, a breakup, or relocating to a new city or country. In this case, there are many new things including a daily routine you need to adjust to so you start to feel uncertain and stuck.
While this can leave you confused, lonely, and frustrated, just remember it’s very normal, and asking yourself the right questions is the key to unlocking your breakthrough.
3 Best Questions to Ask When You’re Stuck or Uncertain
Life brings so many twists and turns, and as we pursue big dreams or meaningful goals, we’re bound to face obstacles and roadblocks that challenge us. These obstacles can sometimes feel overwhelming, but often they’re there to help us grow—to refine our purpose, to strengthen our faith, and even to clarify the path forward.
If you’re like most women juggling the responsibilities of your family, faith, and personal goals, there are days when the demands of life seem heavy, and you start to wonder if it’s time to let go of one of those dreams.
But here’s the thing: just because we feel doubt or resistance doesn’t mean we’re off course. And just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not God’s will.
When you feel stuck or stagnant in life, the first step to take is not to quickly take action and try to resolve everything at once. It helps to take a step back and ask yourself good questions to get the right answers. Taking time to reflect can help you see the bigger picture and illuminate your path.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2
As we dive into the following questions, we’re doing exactly that—renewing our minds so we can seek His will and make sure we’re aligned with the direction He has for us.
Question One – Am I Doing This for the Right Reasons?
How do you know if you’re stuck, uncertain, or at the point of giving up? Certain signs and clues can help along the way. When you’re struggling with indecision or overthinking when you need to take action you could be stuck. A lot of time, you may feel like you’re in a rut, feel helpless, or wallow in self-pity.
In this instance, the first question you may want to ask yourself is: Am I doing this for the right reasons?
When we’re unsure about a goal, a great place to start is by looking at our motivation. Ask yourself, “Why did I start down this path in the first place?” Are you doing this because you feel called, or is it more about meeting others’ expectations or avoiding their judgment?
Sometimes we take on goals because we feel like we’re supposed to—maybe because it’s what everyone else is doing or because we’re afraid of what people in our community group might think if we don’t.
I remember a season in my life when I was working so hard to meet others’ expectations as the president of our Mothers of Preschoolers group –also known as MOPS – I thought I was doing it for the right reasons, but deep down, I realized I was just afraid of disappointing people.
And… in all actuality, I had initially said no to the position because I felt God told me to say no. I had a vivid dream that I was supposed to say now. A lot transpired, and I ended up taking the position. Funny, the former leader had a vivid dream that I was supposed to take the position.
Now, I learned a lot being in charge of the group, and I wouldn’t change anything looking back… But let me tell you, that fear of disappointing people led to burnout because I was just in too many places running on my hamster wheel. I wasn’t pursuing God’s best for me—I was trying to fulfill someone else’s vision.
So here’s a small step that I encourage you to take if you’re in a similar situation: carve out enough time to journal and pray about your motives.
Ask God to reveal what’s in your heart and if you’re pursuing the goal God’s way. Or if He truly wants you to pursue that goal at all. If He doesn’t, that’s okay! The good news is He might have something even better in store and the best way to know if that’s the case is to ask Him to reveal it to you.
Question Two – Is My Current Path Sustainable?
The second Best Question to Ask When You’re Stuck or Uncertain is, Is my current path sustainable?
This one is so important because even if we’re working toward something God has placed on our hearts, we need to be able to sustain the journey, especially when we’re balancing the needs of family members, faith, and other responsibilities.
A good start is to look at how you’re approaching this goal. Are you constantly overcommitting? Are you putting so much pressure on yourself that other areas of your life are being pushed to the side?
One thing I’ve learned is that in any given moment when we try to tackle too much all at once, we often end up feeling stretched thin. I’m a mom, a homeschool teacher, a business owner, on the board of directors of our local charter school, and a runner, so I know how easy it is to take on too much and neglect the things that matter most.
But when I finally took a step back and simplified my life and business, I found that I could pursue my goals in a way that left space for my family and my faith.
If you’re struggling to keep up, it might be time to make a positive change for the sake of your mental health. Set boundaries, reduce unnecessary commitments, and simplify wherever possible.
Here’s a challenge: This week, choose just one area of life to declutter—maybe that’s your schedule, your to-do list, or even your social media time. Create space so that you can pursue your goals in a sustainable, balanced way.
We’ve looked at the “why” and the “how,” but sometimes the big question is whether it’s simply time to stick to our goals or move on.
Question Three – Am I Avoiding Hard Work, or Is This a Sign from God?
This third question is a big one, and it requires a lot of honesty with ourselves. Ask yourself, Am I avoiding hard work, or is this a sign from God?
Sometimes, when things get tough, the most obvious thing is to quit. We think, “If this were really God’s will, it wouldn’t be this hard.” But the truth is, God doesn’t promise us a path without challenges. In fact, challenges often build our faith and strengthen us.
“Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:3-4
One example I love to share is from my marathon training. Running a marathon requires commitment and perseverance, and sometimes it involves setbacks and injuries. There were so many days I wanted to give up, but I felt that God was teaching me resilience and showing me that sometimes, strength comes through perseverance.
And even during the race, the last 6 miles are all completed with heart – because at that point, you’re just physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. The same applies to our goals—sometimes God calls us to press on through the difficult parts so we can grow.
Instead of quitting on your goals, it may be worth exploring new creative solutions to the new challenges or difficult problems we face. When we do, we learn to be resilient and we experience great rewards through the process.
On the other hand, there are also times when God is redirecting us, and it’s crucial to seek His wisdom. If you’re not sure whether you’re on the right track or not and there are big decisions to be made, it’s a good thing to spend time in prayer.
Ask for confirmation, whether through scripture, a word of encouragement from a friend, or simply a peace in your spirit.
Here’s an action step: spend time this week praying for discernment. Write down any recurring thoughts or scriptures that stand out. God has a great way of bringing clarity, a sense of direction, and a sense of purpose when we intentionally seek Him.
When you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or just ready to throw in the towel, don’t be discouraged. Whether it’s in your personal life or work situations, it’s normal.
The good news is the power to change your life lies within you. And asking yourself the right questions is a good step in the process. Even when we’re hopeless, these 3 Best Questions to Ask When You’re Stuck or Uncertain can reframe how we think and give us a different perspective of the situation which helps us get moving again.
The first question is, Am I doing this for the right reasons? This helps us clarify our motives and make sure our end goal aligns with God’s purpose. The second question is, Is my current path sustainable? This reminds us to create boundaries and balance, so we can pursue our goals without neglecting other areas of our lives.
The last question is Am I avoiding hard work, or is this a sign from God? This question calls us to discern whether we’re facing obstacles that strengthen us or if God is gently guiding us to pivot.
These three seemingly tough questions—about our motives, our sustainability, and our discernment—help us gain clarity. Wherever you are, I encourage you to lean into that question.
Remember, God has a good plan for you, even if there are twists and turns along the way. He sees the big picture and is guiding you each step of the way. When we root our goals in His will, we find peace, strength, and clarity, no matter what obstacles we face.
Red Hot Accountability Club
You have your goals in front of you! You may even have a good strategic plan to follow to achieve them! But you’re feeling a little lonely in the online space and sick of the hustle culture telling you to do more.
If you’re looking for a place to share and reflect, I’d love for you to join us in the Red Hot Accountability Club. It’s a supportive community where we can encourage each other, pray for one another, and hold each other accountable for our God-given goals.
A safe space. A faith space. A friendly space. A forward momentum space.
Find community and coaching support inside the group coaching membership so you can lean on others and be inspired to continue working on your goals in the season you’re in with the capacity you have – ditching the stress and hustle altogether! (and ditching social media for business if you want to!)
You CAN work your goals into your lifestyle without sacrificing everything to achieve them.
If you are looking for a positive online community and group coaching experience, come hang out with us in the Red Hot Accountability Club!
Sometimes, just knowing you’re not alone in this journey makes all the difference. You can learn more and join us today at redhotmindset.com/rha.
