We're faced with decisions every single day, ranging from what we'll be cooking ourselves for breakfast to how we'll handle a team project at work.
There's a decision to be made every second of our day. What's my coffee order going to be? Am I going to go to bed early tonight? Should I date this person? Which career path should I pick? How should I discipline my child? It's a lot to juggle, especially when there are seemingly endless options to choose from, and potential repercussions to consider, too.
So the question becomes, how do we have the insight to make the absolute best decision for ourselves and others?
There are the usual things to do. Making a pros and cons list, consulting friends, reading online articles, or simply trying to trust your gut. Suffice it to say, there's really no easy way to make an important decision, no matter how hard we may try. Our lives are in constant motion, perpetually leading us forward. When we come to those crossroads, we can often feel paralyzed. The weight of this decision is too heavy to bear. How are we supposed to keep moving forward?
We're sharing a few ways to handle indecision and how to trust God throughout the process.
1. It's Okay to Step Back & Reflect
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." ~ Mark 1:35
You know just how quickly things move these days. Each day, we're expected to act quickly, make that decision, and move on fast—especially in the workplace. Hustle culture is real and it is influential.
Efficiency is often praised where intention is not.
We're here to remind you that you are not a machine, and output is not your greatest value, although it is important! You are an intricate human being with complex emotions, memories, and personality traits, and you deserve the time you need to pause, reflect, and consider which opportunity is truly best, especially if it's a big decision.
When we look at Scripture, we see how Jesus often withdrew to spend time in solitude. He needed alone time with the Father, too.
Think Luke 5:16, "But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray." There are many verses just like this, giving account to Jesus' practice of silence and solitude. There's a lesson to be learned here.
When the world around you is in chaos and you can't seem to find any peace, go inward.
Take some time to yourself to reconnect with Jesus. Sometimes, just setting aside that time to breathe, notice your feelings, and share your opinions with God can be just what you need to have a clear head.
2. Learn As You Go (& Grow!)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." ~ James 1:2-4
No matter how old we are, we will always be a student of life.
Just when we think we've got the hang of our daily routine, we get thrown a curveball and we're back to square one once again. That crossroad reappears and suddenly we have to make a big decision.
What we've learned through our time here on earth is that our faith journey is just that—a journey.
It's not a destination, but rather, a series of ups and downs, mistakes and learnings, hardships and seasons of joy. We strive to reach holiness, but we are still human, after all. The key here is to be gentle with yourself throughout this process.
Give yourself some grace as you navigate these big decisions. Chances are, you probably put too much pressure on yourself.
Just as the verse says above, you can rest assured knowing that these crossroads or moments of uncertainty are in your life for a reason and they produce steadfastness. They test and refine your faith, and it's so difficult to endure, but the end result is that you will be made complete, lacking in nothing.
That's why we're big believers in how each day holds incredible importance.
When you look back at your life, there will be the big, epic moments that pop into your mind, but there will also be hundreds of thousands of micro-decisions that brought you to that end. Every second, every breath matters. Now don't let this overwhelm you, but just acknowledge how sacred the day is.
3. Trust in God’s Perfect Plan
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28
Above all, remember who's really in control here. God has given us free will to make our own decisions (which is amazing and terrifying at the same time!) but He is ultimately the Creator and curator of our lives. If we submit to Him, He will lead us on a path for good, one that benefits us and Him.
We are not God, even though there may be times when we think we are. We are extremely limited in what we can and can't do. When many opportunities are presented to us, we do not have the divine omniscience that God possesses to determine the outcome of each action.
The only course of action is to use our faculties to the best of our abilities and leave the rest up to God. Yes, use the brain God has given you. Consult the family and friends God has strategically placed in your life, but at the end of the day, He is the author of your life. May His will be done.
This is His story, not ours.
This serves as an excellent reminder that we are part of His narrative, not the other way around. Our God is not a delivery service where we simply ask Him for good things and expect a life of ease.
On the contrary, life is hard—especially for a Christian. There will be burdens and demands, but we know we have the ultimate Savior at our side, helping us fight these uphill battles.
The next time you're faced with a big decision and you're not sure what to do, come to God in prayer. Ask Him to reveal His glory to you. Pray that you may grow in trust. Pray for His will to be done, whatever decision you make. We also suggest meditating on this prayer from Psalm 16:7-11.
"I bless the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me. I keep the Lord always before me; with Him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure,For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let Your devout one see the pit [of Hell]. You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in Your presence, the delights at Your right hand forever."
The Reminder You Need
Sometimes, we just need a lil' reminder from Scripture to get us in the right mindset. We created our LiF tees to serve as that perfect reminder that God is in control, always. Our Be Still & Know tee is especially relevant to this blog post, but we have loads of faith-based t-shirts and accessories for you to check out.