Where Did the Pillar of Cloud Go?

What to do when you don’t know what to do.

I’ve often found myself wondering: Why doesn’t God do what He used to do? Why doesn’t He guide us the way He once guided the Israelites into the Promised Land—with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night? (Exodus 13:17-14:29).

Wouldn’t it be easier if God just showed us where to go like that? You know, a visible sign. A divine signal. No more second-guessing. No more anxious wondering. Just clarity.

So, why don’t we get that kind of guidance anymore?

Some might say, “Well, the Israelites didn’t have Scripture back then. Thus, they needed signs. But we do—we have Scripture now. Scripture is our pillar of cloud and fire.”

And sure, there’s truth in that. The Scripture itself declares that God’s Word is living, active, and full of wisdom (Hebrews 4:12). But if we’re being honest—just because we have the Scripture (and read it faithfully) doesn’t always make things in life clear when it comes to making decisions, right?

Sometimes, in my case, even Scripture seems to tug me in different directions. One verse says, “Go!” Another says, “Stay!”

So, what do we do when the answers don’t line up and the signs never come?

I wish I had a straightforward answer. I really do. But most of the time, life doesn’t hand us clarity on a silver platter. We don’t get thunder from the mountain or handwriting on the wall. Sometimes all we get is silence—and the uncomfortable weight of a decision that still needs to be made.

And here’s what I’ve come to learn—not in a classroom or from a book, but in the quiet trenches of real life:

Maybe the goal isn’t to wait for a perfect word from heaven.

Maybe it’s not about finding the one right sign or deciphering the one right path.

Maybe it’s about something far more vulnerable and courageous—learning to walk by faith when the road ahead is foggy and your heart is full of questions.

It’s not easy. Taking that first step when you’re unsure can feel like walking with your eyes closed. But faith isn’t the absence of doubt; it’s the decision to move forward even when you can’t see the whole map. It’s choosing trust over certainty, surrender over control.

Maybe it's time to stop chasing signs and start taking steps—small, shaky, imperfect steps. The kind that say, “God, I don’t know exactly where this is going, but I’m choosing to believe you’re already there.”

Because there comes a moment in every journey where standing still is no longer an option. The heavens might feel quiet. The pillar of cloud might not descend. The doors might not swing wide open. But still, something within us knows—we can’t stay where we are.

And in that sacred tension—between uncertainty and obedience—it’s okay to move forward.

Not because you’re 100% sure. Not because you’ve figured it all out. But because you believe, deep down, that God is bigger than your uncertainty. And that wherever you go, He will meet you there—with grace in His hands and mercy in His steps.

There have been times in my own life when I’ve stood at the edge of decisions, longing for clarity that never came. In those moments, I’ve found myself praying something like:

“Lord, I don’t know if what I just decided to do is right in your eyes. If I’ve gotten it wrong, please teach me gently through it. Show me how to grow, not just how to correct. But if I’ve gotten it right, help me trust you even more the next time. Either way, I believe you’re bigger than my missteps. Your guidance may not always be loud or visible, but your love is always enough. I believe, help my unbelief.”

Friends, maybe you’re in that space right now—waiting, longing, unsure. Maybe the signs haven’t come. The fire hasn’t fallen. The cloud hasn’t moved. But even in the silence, God hasn’t left you. Even in uncertainty, His love is enough to carry you forward. Take the step. And let grace meet you there.

Peace,
Daniel