When the Exit Isn't Clear

I📖 Scriptural Anchor
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” — Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Even in confusion, His voice still speaks. Even when fear is loud, He leads. And when we can't see the way forward, He sees us.

🗣️ A Real Conversation
I thought it was going to be a good move—a fresh start. The job looked promising. A friend vouched for the culture. I told myself, This is favor.

But from day one, my gut started warning me. Something was off.
A “probationary period” no one mentioned.
Public pressure masked as performance culture.
Weekly humiliation disguised as feedback.
And a friend who suddenly shifted—went quiet, then cold.

It was a shark tank. And I was bleeding.

I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t afford to leave, but I was breaking inside trying to stay.

I woke up anxious, cried in secret, and beat myself up in silence:
“How could I have been so stupid? How did I miss the signs? How do I get out of this?”

Fear whispered:
If you quit, you’ll look weak.
If you stay, you’ll break.
Either way, it’s your fault.

And I froze. Not because I lacked faith—but because I didn’t know which path was faith. I needed clarity. But even more than that, I needed comfort. Someone to say: I see you. You’re not crazy. And I’m with you even here.

💣 The Lie Exposed

• Lie: You’re stuck. There is no right move. If you mess this up, it’s all over.
• Root: A fear of failure wrapped in perfectionism. Performance anxiety disguised as discernment.
• Truth: God’s direction isn’t earned. It’s revealed. Even when you feel stuck, He still leads—and He never leads through shame.

🧠 Abba Speaks
I saw the moment you realized this wasn’t what you signed up for. I saw the fear in your belly, the tears you hid, the questions you buried under a brave face.
I was there when trust broke. I was there when the silence grew.
And I’m still here now.

I’m not pressuring you to perform.
I’m not measuring your worth by your outcome.
I’m guarding your heart while you listen.
And when you’re ready, I’ll show you the way forward.

Even if it’s messy. Even if it takes time. Even if you need to rest before you run.
I’ll still be here—pointing the way, holding your hand, clearing the fog.

🦁 Dominion Declaration
I refuse to let fear dictate my next step.
I will not idolize perfection. I will not bow to pressure.
God’s peace is my compass, and His voice is my guide.
I don’t move to prove. I move when He leads—and He leads me with love.

🪞 Reflection Prompt

• 🧍🏽‍♀️ For the Wounded: Where have you let shame or fear cloud your ability to hear from God?
• 🧗🏾‍♂️ For the Called: Are you forcing a move to escape pain—or following God’s peace into purpose?

🙏🏾 Closing Prayer
Abba, I’m tired of second-guessing myself and calling it discernment. I’ve let fear sit in the driver’s seat. I’ve let anxiety become my counselor. But You are my Shepherd. You don’t drive me with pressure—you lead me with peace. Quiet every voice that isn’t Yours. Heal what confusion has wounded. And when the time is right, make the next step so clear I can’t miss it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

📣 Call to Action
You’re not the only one who’s felt trapped in a situation you didn’t see coming. And you’re not weak for needing help to navigate it.
That’s why I created the Resilient Warrior Workbook: A Christ-Centered Guide to Healing from Workplace Post-Traumatic Stress (WPTS)—to help you process, heal, and walk out with authority.

🔗 Download the workbook / https://awholepersonforlife.gumroad.com/l/zoolgs
Read more devotionals like this one → awholepersonforlife.com/devotionals

Lion-headed. Dominion-minded. Unapologetically His.