When life suddenly feels unclear and the path you’ve been walking seems to disappear beneath your feet, it’s easy to assume something has gone wrong. But Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God is always at work—even when our view is obstructed. Sometimes confusion isn’t a setback; it’s a signal that God is shifting your direction, preparing new ground, or ushering you into a fresh season. What looks like disorientation may actually be His gentle nudge to lift your eyes, trust Him again, and follow where He’s leading next.

Highlights


Confusion can be a sign of transition, not failure.


God often uses unexpected moments to redirect our steps.


Old paths may fade so new ones can form.


What feels like “lost” may actually be God’s protection or preparation.


Faith invites us to walk even when visibility is low.


Seasonal shifts in life often require new vision and fresh trust.


Scripture realigns our perspective when we can’t see the way forward.

Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

Full Transcript Below:

Confusion May Signal a God-Transition
By Kelly Balarie

Bible Reading:
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
– Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

God is so creative.

Ever notice how He uses the most unusual things to teach us the lessons we need to know?

It happened to me today...

Taking a hike, I headed deep into the woods, leaves crunching underfoot. I kept my eyes alert, knowing I needed to take note of landmarks if I wanted to safely return to my car. You know how it is — it’s easy to quickly head somewhere without even realizing how you got there in the first place. That couldn’t happen; I wanted to make it home safely.

At first, seeing my path was easy — that is, until it wasn’t. What used to be visible gray ground had disappeared. Now, pine needles covered my path. And confusion set in...

Was I going right — toward that tall tree? Straight — toward no trees? Or left — toward a tree stump? I wasn’t so sure.

Have you ever been there? Going a certain way only to suddenly experience confusion? Disillusionment? Maybe you were headed somewhere with God, only to be obstructed...
Maybe you thought you were on the right path until you ran into something...

This can feel discouraging and disorienting.

It can happen in marriages, jobs, joys, hobbies, friendships, vision, or calling. All the same, it becomes wearying to be on a path you thought was right — only to feel lost.

That’s how I felt — for a second — lost. But as I lifted my head and looked yards ahead, I saw it. There! The path.

I was safe — yet again.

However, those path-covering pine needles got me thinking... How did they get there to begin with?

I figured they arrived one of two ways:
The wind blew them there.
The new season of Fall placed them there.

Some of us today need to know that our confusion isn’t just about disorientation — it may be about God providing us with a new direction. And sometimes what covers the old path is actually preparing the ground for a new path.

When the winds of God come, though they displace things, it can be a very good thing. It is His repositioning. It is His moving.

Yes, it’s true — what we once knew can look different or even disappear. But this doesn’t mean it won’t be good. Even if we can’t see, by faith, we can still walk — trusting Him.

Likewise, confusion may signal a progression into a new season. The paths we knew in the old season may not suffice in a new one, which is why seeing can be hard.

The pine needles of Summer must fall to make way for Fall. We can’t hold on to what was and still step into the beautiful potential of what can be. Plus, the falling is part of the seeding of new ground. Did you know that pine needles prepare the soil and they save the path from weeds? In our not seeing, there is also God protecting us in the process of shifting seasons.

So, what do we do when we find ourselves here?

We readjust. We ask God if He has something new for us. We discern if He wants us to change course, change jobs, change relationships — or simply press through.

Either way, we take a time-out with the Lord to listen and discern.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT)

There is a time for everything — and sometimes, there is a time when God adjusts our vision so we can walk in a new direction.

If He is doing this in your life, be encouraged: He is not doing this to hurt you, but to guide you.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Have you ever headed somewhere with the wrong directions? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? A left turn should have been a right turn. Ten minutes turns into twenty. We all know this: when going the wrong way, it is essential to get back on track. Part of getting back on track is to get a map. The Word of God is our map. Jesus is our Sure-Guide. Father cares. Holy Spirit is the Revealer. If you feel off track, how about you get on your knees? How about you ask God to reveal to you what He is doing and how He is guiding you? How about you keep your eyes and ears open to how He may respond?

When life suddenly feels unclear and the path you&rsquo;ve been walking seems to disappear beneath your feet, it&rsquo;s easy to assume something has gone wrong. But Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God is always at work&mdash;even when our view is obstructed. Sometimes confusion isn&rsquo;t a setback; it&rsquo;s a signal that God is shifting your direction, preparing new ground, or ushering you into a fresh season. What looks like disorientation may actually be His gentle nudge to lift your eyes, trust Him again, and follow where He&rsquo;s leading next.
Highlights
<ul data-start="560" data-end="999">
<li data-start="560" data-end="615">
Confusion can be a sign of transition, not failure.
</li>
<li data-start="616" data-end="676">
God often uses unexpected moments to redirect our steps.
</li>
<li data-start="677" data-end="721">
Old paths may fade so new ones can form.
</li>
<li data-start="722" data-end="797">
What feels like &ldquo;lost&rdquo; may actually be God&rsquo;s protection or preparation.
</li>
<li data-start="798" data-end="855">
Faith invites us to walk even when visibility is low.
</li>
<li data-start="856" data-end="925">
Seasonal shifts in life often require new vision and fresh trust.
</li>
<li data-start="926" data-end="999">
Scripture realigns our perspective when we can&rsquo;t see the way forward.
</li>
</ul>
Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025/">Holiday Gift Guide</a>
Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide&mdash;from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there&rsquo;s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Confusion May Signal a God-Transition By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God&rsquo;s work from beginning to end.&rdquo; &ndash; Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
God is so creative. Ever notice how He uses the most unusual things to teach us the lessons we need to know?
It happened to me today...
Taking a hike, I headed deep into the woods, leaves crunching underfoot. I kept my eyes alert, knowing I needed to take note of landmarks if I wanted to safely return to my car. You know how it is &mdash; it&rsquo;s easy to quickly head somewhere without even realizing how you got there in the first place. That couldn&rsquo;t happen; I wanted to make it home safely.
At first, seeing my path was easy &mdash; that is, until it wasn&rsquo;t. What used to be visible gray ground had disappeared. Now, pine needles covered my path. And confusion set in...
Was I going right &mdash; toward that tall tree? Straight &mdash; toward no trees? Or left &mdash; toward a tree stump? I wasn&rsquo;t so sure.
Have you ever been there? Going a certain way only to suddenly experience confusion? Disillusionment? Maybe you were headed somewhere with God, only to be obstructed... Maybe you thought you were on the right path until you ran into something...
This can feel discouraging and disorienting.
It can happen in marriages, jobs, joys, hobbies, friendships, vision, or calling. All the same, it becomes wearying to be on a path you thought was right &mdash; only to feel lost.
That&rsquo;s how I felt &mdash; for a second &mdash; lost. But as I lifted my head and looked yards ahead, I saw it. There! The path.
I was safe &mdash; yet again.
However, those path-covering pine needles got me thinking... How did they get there to begin with?
I figured they arrived one of two ways:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">The wind blew them there.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The new season of Fall placed them there.</li>
</ol>
Some of us today need to know that our confusion isn&rsquo;t just about disorientation &mdash; it may be about God providing us with a new direction. And sometimes what covers the old path is actually preparing the ground for a new path.
When the winds of God come, though they displace things, it can be a very good thing. It is His repositioning. It is His moving.
Yes, it&rsquo;s true &mdash; what we once knew can look different or even disappear. But this doesn&rsquo;t mean it won&rsquo;t be good. Even if we can&rsquo;t see, by faith, we can still walk &mdash; trusting Him.
Likewise, confusion may signal a progression into a new season. The paths we knew in the old season may not suffice in a new one, which is why seeing can be hard.
The pine needles of Summer must fall to make way for Fall. We can&rsquo;t hold on to what was and still step into the beautiful potential of what can be. Plus, the falling is part of the seeding of new ground. Did you know that pine needles prepare the soil and they save the path from weeds? In our not seeing, there is also God protecting us in the process of shifting seasons. So, what do we do when we find ourselves here?
We readjust. We ask God if He has something new for us. We discern if He wants us to change course, change jobs, change relationships &mdash; or simply press through.
Either way, we take a time-out with the Lord to listen and discern.
&ldquo;Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God&rsquo;s work from beginning to end.&rdquo; (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT)
There is a time for everything &mdash; and sometimes, there is a time when God adjusts our vision so we can walk in a new direction.
If He is doing this in your life, be encouraged: He is not doing this to hurt you, but to guide you.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Have you ever headed somewhere with the wrong directions? It&rsquo;s frustrating, isn&rsquo;t it? A left turn should have been a right turn. Ten minutes turns into twenty. We all know this: when going the wrong way, it is essential to get back on track. Part of getting back on track is to get a map. The Word of God is our map. Jesus is our Sure-Guide. Father cares. Holy Spirit is the Revealer. If you feel off track, how about you get on your knees? How about you ask God to reveal to you what He is doing and how He is guiding you? How about you keep your eyes and ears open to how He may respond?

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

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