I Can't Even: Confused to Confident

Ever felt completely lost—even when you were technically on the right trail?

That was me, gasping my way up a rugged trail in the Smoky Mountains, blisters forming, stomach growling, and brain swirling with questions like: Did I miss something? Should I turn back? Am I about to become a bear snack? My older brother had long outpaced me, and I was stumbling alone in the woods, exhausted and confused. Honestly, I started second-guessing everything. Was I even still on the trail?

Confusion does that to us. Spiritually, emotionally, mentally—it wears us down and makes us doubt everything we know.

James, Jesus’ brother, wrote to a group of Christians who felt that way. Their lives were falling apart: relational chaos, spiritual dryness, and emotional overload. James says the answer is simple but not easy: Go back to the Word.

“God’s Word brings clarity into confusion—but hearing it without doing it will leave you even more lost.”

That moment on the trail, my older brother came back for me. He took my heavy pack and led me the rest of the way. That’s what Jesus does. He finds us, speaks through His Word, lifts the weight we can’t carry, and leads us home.

And here’s the grace of it all: God doesn’t expect you to have it all together. He knows you get confused. That’s why He gave you His Word—not as a lecture, but as a lifeline. And He doesn’t just ask you to follow it; He gives you the power to actually do it.

The Word of God is not some dusty rulebook or optional life manual. James says it’s “the perfect law that gives freedom.” It shows you who you really are, and who God really is. And if you look into it—intently—and act on what you see, you will be blessed.

So What Should You Do?

Here’s how to live this out:

1. Read God’s Word with an open heart. Don’t just read it to check a box. Ask God to show you something real.

2. Ask yourself: What should I do about what I just read? Write it down. Pray about it. Act on it.

3. Stay humble. Don’t let anger or pride drown out what God is saying. Let Him lead—even when it stings.

Two things to remember:

1. Maturity Means Action. If you believe something, live like it. Faith leaves a footprint.

2. Keep Returning to the Trail. Don’t wait for a crisis to open your Bible. Let it be your daily compass.

A Simple Prayer:

Jesus, I’m confused sometimes. I want to do the right thing, but I get lost in my thoughts, emotions, and fears. Help me to trust Your Word again—not just to hear it, but to live it. Show me what to do and give me the strength to do it. Amen.

Your Turn:

Where in your life do you feel most confused right now—and what part of God’s Word might bring clarity if you took it seriously?

Let this be the week you don’t just read the Word—you walk it out. That’s how you move from lost to found, from confused to confident. And best of all, your older Brother is right there on the trail, ready to carry what you can’t.

Want to hear more of the story?  Listen to the full sermon on YouTube.