Sometimes I don't know...

I truly hope that by the time you get to read this, the world will have calmed down a little.

I write this following the tragic events in Southport and the aftermath of violence, fear and uncertainty that has spread the country.  

Nearer to home, the last few weeks have been filled with great uncertainty as friends and family go through challenging circumstances.   I am certain that others will be going through similar experiences too. In these times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel lost and unsure of what to do next. Life often demands answers and decisive actions, but there are moments when the right path remains unclear. Whether it’s a personal crisis, a difficult decision at work, or the broader challenges in the world around us, the complexities of life can leave us feeling paralysed by the sheer magnitude of it all.

These moments of uncertainty are a natural part of the human experience. Many of us find ourselves in situations where we simply don’t know how to move forward. Recently, I’ve found solace in a simple yet profound practice. Someone introduced me to the “I don’t know” prayer. It’s a prayer that acknowledges our limitations, our fears, and our uncertainties. It goes like this:

You just go off somewhere quiet and hidden, and you turn to God and you say, 'I don’t know.'

‘I don’t know where to go from here.’

‘I don’t know how to process this.’

‘I don’t know what to do with these emotions.’

‘I don’t know how to handle this situation.’

It covers a lot of 'I don’t knows.

And with whatever dusty, little sand grain of faith you have, you say, 'But You know.'

And you leave it there."

This prayer has become a lifeline for me. In the last few weeks, I’ve found myself praying it often. The world feels more chaotic than ever, and the news has been filled with situations I simply don’t know how to navigate.

In these quiet moments of prayer, I find peace in admitting my limitations. The “I don’t know” prayer is a reminder that it’s okay to feel lost and not have everything figured out. It’s a way of releasing control and placing trust in something greater than myself.  By saying, “But You know,” I am reminded that there is divine wisdom at work, even in the midst of chaos. The prayer doesn’t offer instant solutions, but it provides comfort and reassurance that I am not alone in my uncertainty.

So, if you find yourself struggling to know what to do, don’t be afraid to admit it. Even give the “I don’t know” prayer a try and trust that, even when you don’t know the way forward, all is not lost because God does.