This is part 4 of a 5-part series. View the entire series here.
Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You. – Psalm 143:8 NLT
You’ve probably heard the phrase “analysis paralysis,” referring to when you freeze up in making a decision because you have so many options or so many paths you could possibly take. I experience this feeling—in big and small ways—on an almost-daily basis. The “paralysis” part comes because I’m afraid of making the wrong decision. When presented with so many possibilities, the chance of choosing the “wrong” one is pretty high. And that can be scary!
We all want assurance that we’re on the right path and that we’re making the right decisions for our lives. For those in Christ, we want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we’re living in God’s will. Did I marry the right person? Did I choose the right job? When is the right time to start a family? When is the right time to move? Should I quit my job? Should I find new friends? What should I have for dinner tonight?
Okay, so maybe we don’t need to be seeking God’s will about our evening meal plans, but you get the idea. To be alive is to be confronted with decision after decision, and that’s exhausting enough in itself. But to constantly wonder whether we’re making the right one is a strain on our hearts and minds that we don’t need to carry.
There is so much freedom to be found in our verse today. We can go to God for guidance every day and surrender our decisions to Him, knowing He has our best interest at heart, He’s trustworthy, and He’s full of unfailing love for us.
Surrendering your decisions to God doesn’t mean that you don’t ever make your own decisions anymore; God gives us the freedom and the ability to choose, and He wants us to use that freedom in healthy ways.
Say you’re looking to change jobs. You’ve prayed about it, weighed the pros and cons, sought wisdom from trusted family members and friends. You’ve done everything you should do to make an informed decision—but you still don’t feel like you’ve gotten a firm yes or no from God. Now you’re afraid to make the leap because you’re not certain you’ve received God’s blessing.
This is when you surrender the decision to God and trust that He will be with you through every moment. Because when you’re walking in step with Him, living in obedience to His commands, seeking His presence in prayer, and getting wise counsel from those closest to you, you can’t really make a “wrong” decision. Maybe you accept a new job and it ends up not being a great situation. That doesn’t mean it was against God’s will. He has the power and ability to redeem every situation and all the time you may feel like you’ve wasted. Not only that, but He is kind and gentle in guiding us forward after a setback.
Even if you’re not making a life-changing decision today, start your morning by asking for God’s guidance. Surrender your decisions and your need to control the outcomes to Him. Trust that He has good plans for you.
Prayer
God, I know You are in control. When I feel overwhelmed by all the decisions I have to make, remind me that You hold my past, present, and future. I am safe in Your hands, and I trust that no matter what I choose, You will be with me. I ask for clarity to know when I’m making a decision that does not align with Your word. I give myself to You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
