“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:6 (ESV)
We all make hundreds of choices every day. Should I wear the blue shirt or the pink? What do I want for a snack? An apple or a piece of chocolate? Chocolate always wins! That’s not such a big deal, but what about when the outcome is life altering?
Should I stay in a relationship or not?
Should I change my career path?
Should I move to a different city, leaving the comforts of what I know behind?
Sometimes when you don’t know which choice you should make, you may feel stuck in a state of indecision and inaction. Overcome the agony of making hard choices by taking Biblical steps to make wise decisions. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Does God already have a clear teaching about this?
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding-indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 (NIV)
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. Proverbs 2:6-9 (NIV)
The only way to know if God has anything to say about what you are going through is to study His word and spend time with Him in prayer. God’s word directs our steps and gives us a guide to follow.
The ten commandments give us a moral code to follow. Scripture also provides us strength, wisdom, and guidance in areas of our lives that aren’t necessarily, black or white, right versus wrong.
In the past few years, one of my biggest struggles has been with busyness. Should I volunteer more at my daughter’s school? Should I add more extracurricular activities to an already overloaded schedule?
Psalm 39:4 reminds me to not do the most every day, but to make the most of every day. Activities in themselves are good, but when they leave no time for God, friends and family, then they are not good. Psalm 39:6 also cautioned me on busyness. It says, “We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing” (NLT).
What are you struggling with? Find out what the Bible says about it. His word “is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ESV).
2. Have you used common sense?
First of all, find out everything you can before you make a decision. Proverbs 13:16a says, “All who are prudent act with knowledge” (NIV).
Then, weigh the pros and cons of a situation based on sound facts. “Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion” (Proverbs 3:21 NIV).
After I graduated from college, I really desired to live in Houston. I loved living there during my clinicals and I met a guy I really liked. I looked and looked for a job, but at the time the job market was saturated with Occupational Therapists. The one job I actually found would not cover the cost of my living expenses.
I was broken hearted, but I knew I could not live there without a job that I could support my basic living expenses. If I would have moved there without researching job opportunities and living expenses, I would have had a rude awakening.
Always hang on to common sense and discernment! And just because you can’t do something right at that moment, doesn’t mean it won’t be right at a later date. I saved thousand of dollars from my first job and was eventually able to move to a new city even though my salary was much less in the new city.
3. Have you asked for advice?
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14 NIV)
Even after praying and seeking guidance from the word of God, it can still be really hard to make a decision. We were placed on this earth to do life together. There is safety and comfort in talking over your circumstances with a trusted, Godly soul.
It can be a mentor, pastor, close friend, or spouse. Talk with people who you feel are discerning and wise, taking a cue from scripture: “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22 ESV).
4. Is this consistent with the way God has created you?
Each one of you has been given gifts to utilize in your everyday life (I Peter 4:10). God created you for a purpose. Use your gifts for the glory of God and to minister to others.
When it comes to making decisions, make sure you pay attention to the way God has designed you. If you are not good at math, would you become a math teacher?
Are you creative? Are you a leader? Do you like being in charge? Do you like completing details behind the scenes? Pay attention to how God has wired you. You can move outside the way you are wired sometimes, but doing it every day will be very taxing.
If you still feel stuck on trying to make the perfect choice after going through these steps over and over again, I want you to know there may be a better choice, but there is actually no perfect one.
There’s no perfect relationship.
There’s no perfect career.
There’s no perfect city to live in.
There’s no absolutely perfect choice.
But there is a perfect God that promises that “He will make our paths straight if we acknowledge Him in all we do” (Proverbs 3:6). He will use your imperfect choices to complete His perfect will in your life. Don’t let the fear of failure and making the wrong choice paralyze your potential. If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Give it your best by taking Biblical steps to make wise decisions.