One of the things I think most people hate is making decisions.
Letís face it, there are a lot of choices out there. Often, we find that our stress level goes even higher when we have to make a big decision, when there are only two possibilities to choose from. Which one do we choose?
An Arab chief tells a story of a spy who was captured and then sentenced to death by a general in the Persian army.
This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the big, black door.
As the moment for execution drew near, the spy was brought to the Persian general, who asked the question, ìWhat will it be: the firing squad or the big, black door?î
The spy hesitated for a long time. It was a difficult decision. He chose the firing squad. Moments later, shots rang out confirming his execution.
The general turned to his aide and said, ìThey always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. Yet, we gave him a choice.î
The aide said, ìWhat lies beyond the big door?î
ìFreedom,î replied the general. ìIíve known only a few brave enough to take it.î
How about you? Have you ever felt like youíre standing in front of some big black door, not knowing what to decide? Sometimes decisions are hard to make, which way do we choose?
The good news is God has an answer for our indecision. Itís His promise to guide us.
Psalm 23:3 says, ìHe leads me on paths that are right for the good of His name.î
This tells us that we handle the stress of making decisions by letting God guide us.
Now you may be thinking, ìBut Iíve already tried this!î
You decide youíre going to ask God to guide you, but the result is the direction you are looking for is no clearer. And so you wonder, ìis God playing a game with me?î
Of course not! God wants to come along side of us and guide us. He wants that even more than we want guidance.
The problem is, when weíre trying to make a decision, we sometimes look in the wrong places.
Sometimes we depend on our feelings to point the direction we should go. Some of us want something more strategic, a map or step-by-step plan laid out for us.
We want some formula to apply to our situation.
Or maybe we look for some big sign in the sky that will tell us, ìhey go this way!î The thing is, all of these kinds of approaches lead us only to frustration and no closer to an answer.
We need to realize that God does want to guide us. He doesnít want us stressed over any decision, but He wants us to look to Him alone for the answers we need. If we will pray and ask for guidance - and listen - God will lead us.
You can depend on His promise to guide you. He doesnít make promises and then fail to back them up.
We can depend on God to do the right thing at the right time, and what a difference that makes!
If we want to worry less in those decision-making times, we need to pray more.
Rather than looking forward to our situation with fear, look to God instead. The Bible encourages us to pray about everything.
You are never a victim of fate when you trust God to show you the way.
So loosen up. Anxiety is an expensive habit. Worry will never brighten your day. Instead, trust God to lead you to the right decision.
His answer may come in a way you didnít expect, but keep trusting Him just the same. He will do the right thing at the right time. And what a difference that makes!
This Faith Matters column was provided by Tri-Community Baptist Church in Beiseker.
