Choices
How many choices? An average adult makes 35,000 choices each day, more if the person is a manager. Wow. (Cornell University, 2007) So many decisions. No wonder sometimes we feel stressed, overloaded or just plain tired.
Not all the choices, thanks be to God, require lots of thought or process. Buzzed by a mosquito? Kill it, move away, use a net. Uncomfortable where you’re sitting? Change chairs, location or take a walk. What to eat for dinner? What is there to cook; what did someone cook for you; eat takeaway.
But there are choices that, for each of us, are important, difficult and/or complicated. All this was true before Covid 19, and somehow seem to be more frequent now.
There are some usual ways people do decision making and there are pointers from the Bible, which we’ll get to. Common ways are these. Ask a friend what they would decide, if they were you. Then, without worry, you do what they say. This might work out, but since your friend is not you, the decision might not work out well.
Secondly, you can just decide impulsively (e.g. eeny, meeny, miny, moe) or decide not to decide. These options will work fine if you’re choosing a new piece of clothing or an item from a menu. Negative consequences are likely minimal to none and can easily be learned from.
Thirdly, advertisements and media always have the latest, newest, best, most fashionable in front of our eyes. Just go with what is shown.
However, there are choices we face for ourselves or our loved ones that have consequences that can affect health, finances, education, housing, safety and so much more. Decisions for these more weighty choices deserve more thought, reflection, prayer and conversation than others mentioned above.
If we begin with God and trust Him to guide and direct us, we make a good start. Our confidence and faith in His love for us and willingness to guide us helps relieve us of some of the stress for having to figure it out by ourselves. (if our faith is high, perhaps we lose all the stress)
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path straight.
To gain wisdom about the situation, ask God to lead you to scriptures that will help to inform your decision.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
So pray about the choice, your process and options with God and listen for His response. Read scripture believing His word is for you. Also, consult with mature Christians that you trust. Ask them to pray with you, for you and to share any insight or wisdom God gives them about your choice. Then, take their input back into prayer with God, asking for His view of the input.
God wants us to be blessed and to bless others. Our ways are to reflect His spirit in us, as should decisions we make. Any decision reflecting God’s desire will also reflect these gifts.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, tolerance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Remember that our sense of importance and timing is not the same as God’s. He knows the best steps and timing for any actions related to your decision making. So when you feel pressed or distressed in this process, hang on. Don’t rush to make a decision just to get it done.
Ps 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Our responsibility in decision making can feel heavy, frustrating and even over whelming, if we let it. We can take a deep breath, and chose to act as God is directing us, in spite of our reluctance and/or fear of the unknown. With God beside us, going before us, our job is to do, only, ever, what He leads us to do at the time He indicates. When we share the burden with God, we can receive His peace, that really is beyond our understanding. In the end of it all, regardless of the actual decision, God is in control. He is with us and will never abandon us.
Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give your hope and a future.”
REFLECTION
- Do I trust God with the important decisions I make/made? Why or why not?
- Is there a daily decision I make that God wants me to make differently? Am I willing to change?
PRAYER POINTS
Pray for people among us who face important decisions that God will guide and sustain them in tangible ways, creating clarity for best choices to make.
Pray for those whose well being, education and future are affected by our choices.
