Introduction:
Life is full of twists and turns, and sometimes we find ourselves in uncharted territory, unsure of where to go or what to do next. Whether you're navigating a new season, facing unexpected challenges, or just trying to make sense of life as a whole, you can make it through the unknown!
In this month's eBook from Zach Fontaine, you'll learn seven keys to boldly stepping into the unknown with confidence. In each chapter, you'll find practical wisdom and encouragement to help you keep moving forward, no matter what you're facing. With God on your side, you're never alone in struggles—He is with you every step of the way. Use these seven keys to discover how to trust Him more deeply, even in the unknown.
Ask for Guidance
Have you ever walked through uncharted territory? Maybe you’re in the midst of it right now. You could be a brand-new parent, excited to bring a baby into the world but intimidated by the responsibility. Maybe you recently lost a loved one and you don’t know how to do life without them. Or maybe you started a new job after praying for months, but now you wonder if you’re cut out for it.
You’re not alone. All of us have encountered uncharted territory that we didn’t know how to navigate—and so did many people in the Bible.
“I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD, you heard me!”
Jonah 2:2 (NLT)
As a prophet, Jonah was called by God to tell the wicked city of Nineveh to repent. But Jonah fled in fear and sailed in the opposite direction. A storm picked up, and he ended up being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish (see Jonah chapter 1). Talk about uncharted territory!
While Jonah eventually did what God asked of him, his story tells me that uncharted territory is much better with God than without Him. I would have rather faced Nineveh than be stuck praying in the belly of a whale.
You can save yourself a world of trouble by choosing God’s ways. Call out to Him and ask for His guidance. Then be willing to trust Him and go where He leads. The unknowns don’t scare Him—and He has a much better path for you than anything you could figure out yourself!
Go Deeper
- What uncharted territory are you currently navigating in your life?
- What steps can you take to actively seek God's guidance in your current circumstances?
- Reflect on a time when you felt God's guidance clearly. How did it impact your decision-making?
Pick the Right Companion
For some people, life’s uncharted territory is a thrilling adventure. But for most of us, the unknown is uncomfortable and intimidating. The difference between the two experiences often comes down to who you have with you.
If you read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37 and 39–41, you’ll find that his entire life was uncharted! First, his own brothers sold him into slavery. Then as a slave, he made his way up to become the head of his master’s household. Unfortunately, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. But even in prison, he rose to the top, and in the end, he became second in command to Pharaoh himself.
Through all the twists and turns, Joseph had a distinct advantage because he always kept his heart for God. He continued to seek God no matter what happened. As a result, God’s favour caused Joseph to rise up in every circumstance (Genesis 39:2), and what was meant for his harm worked out for his good (Genesis 50:20).
The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man...
Genesis 39:2 (AMP)
When you walk through your uncharted territory with God, rather than being a roadblock, it can catapult you into your purpose! Just keep moving forward and seeking Him. You can receive His guidance when you don’t know where to go. You can experience His peace even when you don’t have all the answers.
When you know God is with you, then you can be confident you’ll make it to the other side victorious!
Go Deeper
- How do you usually respond when faced with unexpected twists and turns in your life?
- What does it look like for you to walk through uncharted territory with God by your side?
- What can you learn from Joseph's story about maintaining faith in challenging circumstances?
Build a Refuge of Trust
Have you ever lost an item that was precious to you? My wedding band slipped off in the pool one day, and let me tell you, I didn’t stop looking until I found it again.
When you truly seek after something, it shows that it’s dear to you. So it’s interesting that Psalm 9:9–10 highlights those who seek God. Seeking Him is always important, but it’s especially crucial when you’re in the middle of uncharted territory. That’s when you need His guidance and wisdom more than ever.
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalm 9:9–10 (NKJV)
In this passage, David also says, “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You.” This isn’t like knowing the name of someone you pass in the halls at church every Sunday. This is knowing God intimately. It’s understanding His character, His ways, who He is to you, and who you are to Him. It’s talking to Him, listening to Him, and making decisions with Him.
This personal relationship with God is where trust is built. Because David sought God and got to know Him deeply, he was able to trust God to be his refuge. He knew deep down that God would not forsake him, no matter what happened in the world around him.
Realize how precious your Father God is in your life and never stop seeking after Him! Pursue Him daily through His Word and pray as you go about your day. You’ll experience a refuge of peace even if your world may seem full of unknowns.
Go Deeper
- What are some ways you can take your relationship with God deeper and build your trust in Him?
- Reflect on a time when you sought God and found peace in His presence. How did it change your perspective?
- What does it look like for you to pursue God daily, even when life feels overwhelming?
Keep Seeking God
Have you ever felt forsaken by God? Sometimes we feel this way when we fail and mistakenly assume He has rejected us. Other times, when we face challenges that look too big for us to handle, it can feel like God is distant or that He’s forgotten about us.
In human relationships when you sense a divide between you and the other person, one of the best things you can do is self-reflect first. Why? Because many times, we contributed to the problem. Yes, other people sometimes do and say hurtful things. But the only person you can change is yourself.
Why do I bring this up? I want to show you that if you feel forsaken by God, it’s not that He has moved away from you. God’s Word promises that He is always with you, regardless of whether you feel His presence.
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)
I’ve noticed that if I start to blame God for something, I naturally begin to pull away. Then, feeling alone, I’ll call out, “God, where are You? Why did You walk away from me?” But all along He is saying, “I’m right here. I never left.”
My goal isn’t to minimize the pain you may be feeling or to make you feel guilty. But I do want you to know, no matter what your emotions are telling you, God is right here with you. He has never left, and He never will. Turn toward Him and continually seek Him, and you’ll never feel forsaken again.
Go Deeper
- What are some ways you can remind yourself that God is always with you, even when you don't feel His presence?
- How does meditating on God's promises help you overcome feelings of abandonment?
- Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How did you find your way back to a closer relationship with Him?
Open Your Eyes of Faith
Every day your five senses receive input, and your brain uses that information to make decisions. That’s a normal, necessary process. But we run into problems when we prioritize our five senses above God’s Word. If you value what you can see, touch, and feel more than God’s promises, you will usher unbelief into your life.
“For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
In Matthew 17, Jesus’ disciples were overly focused on their five senses. A boy was possessed by a demon that caused him to throw himself into water or fire, endangering himself. Distraught, the boy’s father asked the disciples to cast out the demon—but they couldn’t.
When the father approached Jesus next, Jesus simply rebuked the demon and set the boy free. What made the difference? What the disciples could see in the physical realm was more important to them than what they believed, so they struggled to get the results they wanted. But Jesus knew the authority of God’s Word was more powerful.
Now, I’m not saying to ignore your situation. We need to use wisdom. But Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 that all it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed to see mountains move. And each of us has already been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
If you’re believing for something but the problem in front of you seems overwhelming, maybe it’s time to close your physical eyes and open your eyes of faith. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV), “We walk by faith, not by sight”!
Go Deeper
- How do you filter the input from your five senses through the truth of God's Word?
- How does faith help you move mountains in your life, even when circumstances seem impossible?
- How can you practice walking by faith and not by sight in your daily life?
Cut the Anchor
Some believers think having doubts means they’re not in faith. But the truth is, faith and doubt are just opposing forces.
It reminds me of when my brother-in-law David challenged me to a kayak race. No matter how hard I paddled, I felt a strange resistance. I was getting somewhere, but it was hard work—and I finished the race last. Afterward, I discovered why: a twenty-pound anchor was attached to the back of my kayak! It turned out that David had arrived at the dock early and played a prank on me.
Of course, we had a good laugh. But it made me think about how doubt works in our lives. Without that anchor, I would have moved ahead so much more easily. Instead, I fought and struggled to the finish line, blaming my kayak the whole way. You can be exercising your faith, declaring God’s promises, and believing Him for great things, but if you’re dragging doubt behind you, you’ll struggle to move ahead.
Notice that the presence of doubt doesn’t mean you don’t have any faith! I still reached my destination even with that anchor dragging behind me—and you can still see answered prayer even if you struggle with doubt in your mind. But your faith will have a much harder time working.
But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 (NLT)
That’s why we need to get into the Word and deal with our heart beliefs. Then we can cut free from the anchor of unbelief, and faith will send us surging ahead!
Go Deeper
- How can you actively work on cutting the anchor of unbelief and doubt in your life?
- Reflect on a time when you felt doubt but still saw God's promises fulfilled. How did that experience shape your faith?
- What practical steps can you take to strengthen your heart beliefs and align them with God's Word?
Make God's Word Your Foundation
Unbelief is what makes life’s uncharted territory scary. But if you choose to seek God through it, that uncharted territory can catapult you into your purpose.
This happened in Joseph’s life. He suffered slavery, slander, imprisonment, and abandonment—yet he stuck with God through it all, and God’s favour caused him to rise to the top. In the end, Joseph was able to tell his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20, NLT).
If you’re in uncharted territory right now, I’m here to tell you that with God, you’re going to make it—not because I said so, but because God says so!
Take a step back and get your eyes off the fear. Make God’s Word your foundation and switch to seeing your situation with eyes of faith. As Romans 8:28 says, God will cause everything to work out for your good when you keep seeking Him. Dare to imagine what incredible things He can do through this challenge you’re facing!
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
I can’t promise everything in life will be easy. Jesus said we’d face trouble in this world, but urged us to take heart because He has already overcome it all (John 16:33). You don’t need to be afraid of the future. You’ve already been given everything you need in Jesus, and you can make it through. God said so!
Go Deeper
- How does Joseph's story inspire you to keep your faith during tough times?
- What uncharted territory are you facing right now, and how can you trust God to guide you through it?
- How can you practice seeing your situation through eyes of faith rather than fear?
Conclusion:
With God by your side, you can handle any uncharted territory with confidence! Make Him your guide, trust that He will never leave you, and keep His Word in the forefront of your mind and heart. When your eyes are fixed on Him, fear can't steal your attention.
Let's go over the seven key tools we discussed in this eBook to help you face the unknown:
- Chapter 1: Ask for Guidance. Navigating uncharted territory is much easier when you keep God as your guide through the unknown.
- Chapter 2: Pick the Right Companion. When you know God is always with you, you can have confidence you’ll make it through any struggle or new situation.
- Chapter 3: Build a Refuge of Trust. When you seek God and get to know Him deeply, you can trust Him to be your constant refuge.
- Chapter 4: Keep Seeking God. God’s Word promises that He is always with you, whether you feel His presence or not.
- Chapter 5: Open Your Eyes of Faith. Keep your trust in God's Word above everything you can see, touch, and feel.
- Chapter 6: Cut the Anchor. Don't let doubt hold you back—let God's Word help you cut free and walk in faith unhindered.
- Chapter 7: Make God's Word Your Foundation. You're going to make it through the struggle you're facing—because God said so!
Keep yourself rooted in God, His love, and His Word and you'll be able to take on the world!
