What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do

By Doug Tuttle

Are you out of work or underemployed?

Everyone has the seed of greatness within them; we just need to know how to access that which lies within all of us. This book will help those who want to rise above mediocrity and achieve greatness find the success and fulfillment and peace that come from knowing what to do with your life.

You will discover that you are not alone in this journey called life.

You will want to draw closer to God.

Find peace and joy in the journey.

Find fulfillment.

As I read through the pages of Dougs book, I felt as though I was sitting in a coffee shop, listening to a friend share some deep truths that have helped him in his journey towards life. Even in the midst of great heartache, Doug understands Gods promises to him and continues to walk in newfound freedom.

Kathy Spence
Witness and friend

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490846996

Doug Tuttle

Doug Tuttle lives in a small town called Schoolcraft and has experienced many challenges when it comes to work and his life’s purpose. He believes that this book, What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do will help a lot of people who are disappointed with life. God is a major part of his life and has helped him through many trials and tests. Doug grew up in a Christian home, but it was very legalistic. Like many, Doug did not always get along with everyone he has met in life, but he has worked through all those issues and come out a stronger person.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

What Now

Proverbs 9: 4 Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? (Msg. Bible)

For so many of us the times in which we are living are extremely difficult. Our parents and their parents had it rough, but at least you used to be able to go to work for a company and expect to stay there for 30 or more years, retire with a decent pension and spend the rest of your day’s enjoying those things you saved all those years to do.

Now days many of us find ourselves out of work or underemployed. For me and many other men and women, this is the difficult situation that presents itself to us. We have always wanted to be able to provide a safe and secure place for our families to live. When you’re over 40 and looking for a job, this can be a very challenging time to say the least. As a Christian man, I know that I am to rely on God to supply my every need, however as a man, I have a responsibility to God and my family. Sometimes that responsibility can be overwhelming and I forget to look at life through God’s eyes. I will admit that pride has been an issue I’ve had to deal with in the past and am sure will be something I am faced with again. That pride can sometimes get in the way of seeking certain kinds of employment.

I serve a God who loves me and accepts me, wart’s and all. And this acceptance is awesome, because apart from Him I can do nothing. God has put us on this planet to produce good fruit, and when we are faced with things like unemployment, often times we want to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. Therefore we are to take hold of the promises that He has given us and find a way to serve others. It may not be easy or what we want to do but He has given us all the abilities we need to accomplish that. There are things that only you or I can do. Each and every one of us has a purpose for being here. This has been something that has eluded me for many years. I know that it says in Ecclesiastes Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. What are we to conclude from this verse? We have to go back to the Bible and find more scriptures that instruct us in what to do. Remember never to build your life around one or two scriptures, the Bible is to be used in its entirety. Solomon tells us in Proverbs that we are not to be lazy, yet I find in my life when I have had times of unemployment, this becomes a real issue for me. It is so easy for me to find excuses to do nothing except waste valuable time. And as a Christian it is sinful for me to do this. Knowing this, I have a responsibility to use the time God has given me to discover what His purpose and plan for me is. You would think that after spending 55 years on this planet I would know what God’s plan and purpose for me is, apart from what Ecclesiastes 12:13 says. However, I am one of those people that still wonders what I am going to be when I grow up? That does not excuse me from providing for myself. Now this brings up another dilemma, I am self employed and not having much success with what I have chosen to do. So do I throw in the towel and say this is my lot in life, to be broke and maybe homeless someday? Again I have to remember to go to God’s Word and see what He says, because really in the end His Word is all that really matters, not whether I am rich or poor but that I obey Him in everything.

I can see by reading the Word of God that He has laid out a plan for me. It is my responsibility to seek what it is He wants me to do. Yes we all have been put here to keep His commandments, but I believe that in doing that, we find there are specific things we are put here to do in regards to fulfill the commandments. Remember in the New Testament Jesus tells us that if we love God with our whole being and love others as ourselves we fulfill all of the commandments. I know this to be true. However, it is not the easiest thing in the world to do. Especially if you struggle with low self esteem. After all how can a person love someone unless they first love themselves? Well I am no psychologist, but I think most of us realize we need to find a way to work through whatever issues we have and find a way to love the way God has told us to. So What Do I Do When I Don’t Know What to Do? For me, I know that I need to come to God with my supplications and petitions daily, trusting that He has heard my requests and that He will grant me the desires of my heart. That means I need to know what is in my heart, and remove any bitterness, resentment, anger, unforgiveness, fear or anything else that stands in the way of fulfilling His purpose for me. I know that it is not supposed to be some great mystery, but it can be challenging to find our calling. I believe that when we do find our calling everything starts to fall in place. I also believe when we are doing what God has put us here to do He blesses us beyond our wildest dreams. So please bear with me as we journey through this thing we call life. I also want to say that I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert on this topic. I also know that if you’re going to write a book and you expect people to read it and learn from it, it helps to be an expert. All I can say is that I have experienced a lot in this life and I am still learning like all of us. So even though I am not an expert, I believe God has given me an opportunity to sow a little bit of wisdom and insight into someone’s life through my experiences.

So what now? Come with me as we see what it is God wants us to do with our lives. I know I’m not the only person over 40 still figuring out my purpose. Let’s see if we can shed some light on this age old question.

CHAPTER

2

Time on Your Hands

If you are unemployed and spend a lot of time looking for another job but haven’t had much success, you find yourself with a lot of time on your hands. It can become a bit of a challenge to find constructive and productive things to do when you’re not working.

If you are interested in starting your own business, then this is a great chance to pursue your dreams. If you are not sure what you’re calling is, then you will probably want to spend some time figuring that out. Without a set direction we’re just wandering aimlessly, never knowing if we’re getting closer to who we want to be. If you do know what your calling is, you’re more likely to succeed simply because you are pursuing what interests you the most. Volunteering your time can be very rewarding and helps to keep your mind off of the issues of unemployment. Most cities have many volunteer opportunities available to anyone who wishes to help out. Sometimes the volunteer work you do can lead to finding employment. There are a lot of organizations that could use your help. Since you have the time, why not do something worthwhile? If being unemployed has left you feeling kind of out of place, volunteering can help to give you a sense of accomplishment. Whatever you choose to do, don’t let the extra time you have go to waste.

Maybe you are someone who has spent a huge amount of your time at work, and if you have lost your job this could be a good time for you to reconnect with your family. Sometimes work can take up so much of your time that you may end up neglecting you’re family. This may not be intentional but it does happen. If you have young children and work has occupied a good share of your time providing for your family, being out of work could be just what you need to reconnect. Of course this is not the ideal way to get more time with your family but it could be a benefit to short term unemployment. Our children grow up so fast that whenever we can be there for them we need to make it a priority. They will always remember if you were at their games or recitals or whatever it is they are involved in. They will also remember if work seemed to be more important than what they were involved in. I know it is extremely important that you provide but don’t forget how valuable time with your family can be. Do you have time on your hands? If so will you make the most of it?

CHAPTER

3

What Should Be First

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto us

What things was Jesus talking about in that verse? If we go back and read Matthew 6:31 we find the answer, Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Jesus tells us if we seek God’s kingdom first He will see to it that He will supply the necessities of life, food, drink, and clothing. Is this all we have to look forward to if we seek His kingdom first? I believe God wants to do more than supply the basics. We see in the second part of John 10:10 that Jesus came to give us life and not just any old life but an abundant life. To me this means that not only will He see to it that we have the necessities of life but we can trust Him to give us an abundant life. With that being said, why is it some of us Christians are just barely getting by? I can only speak to that which I have experienced in my life. The times when I have been in what I call poverty or lack, isn’t because God has failed to live up to His promises. It is because I have failed to put Him first and honor him with the time that He has given me. God is not man that He can lie. Many times I have spent my time doing things that are not honoring to Him. Therefore I need to take stock of where I am and look inside to see my shortcomings. When I do this and seek His way over mine I find that He makes a way where there looks like there is none. So now it is up to me to step up, stop making excuses for my poverty and lack and do all that I can to find work that is pleasing to Him. I also believe that even if I don’t know what my calling is, if I work as unto the Lord He will honor that work and eventually lead me to that place where He wants me to be.

Sowing seeds into God’s Kingdom does not necessarily mean I have to be doing the work He has called me to. However how much better it is if we discover our calling, then we can be more fruitful and fulfilled in what we are doing. When I recognize that a great man of faith like Moses did not start fulfilling his purpose in life until he was eighty years old, it gives me hope that there is still time for me to live a life that is meaningful and great. Even though most of my life has been spent doing things which I don’t consider to be very impactful or fulfilling I know God does have a plan and purpose that is far more exciting and meaningful than the life