5 Things to Do When You Need to Make a Hard Decision
Life is a series of opportunities. And if you are a go-getter, you probably wouldn’t want to miss a good ride once it arrives.
However, how will one know if he should act or he should not?
How will one know if what he’s looking for is where he’s looking at?
How will somebody live without regrets?
How will one know if the time is right?
Thankfully, the Lord promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us in any situation. And despite our limitations, He assured help to all who will cling to Him by faith.
Are you weary and can’t decide on something? Here are five things you can do when you need to make a hard decision!
Pray
Pray if you need it, and even when you feel like you don’t.
Pray in moments of doubt and moments of certainty.
Just like Jacob, we have to wrestle with God in prayer. Hebrews 4:15 states that we must “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Prayers unlock the doors of Heaven. Prayer is our means to communicate with God, the author, and the giver of our life. Thus, we can rest assured that whatever dilemma life may throw us, God always has an answer for us.
The Bible says, “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).”
Read your Bible
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble (Psalms 46:1)”.
Blessed is the man who “meditates in the law of the Lord day and night because He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (Psalms 1:2, 3). Meaning those who read His words will be established, and they will lack nothing.
The Bible is a pool of wisdom and answered prayers. It is the manual for our daily living. Thus, it is only reasonable to turn to God’s Words whenever we are faced with hard decisions to make.
Read: No One Plans to Fail, They Just Fail to Plan
Sometimes the answers to your questions are not just a simple yes or no. Sometimes you will be confronted with both good options. In that case, remember that each of us was given the ability to think and choose for ourselves. Although the Bible will not answer you explicitly, it will provide you principles that will guide you in life.
Seek Godly Advice
Seeking advice from godly people is also another option when you are making a hard decision. Learn from other people’s experiences. Seek counsel from men who are wise in the Lord.
When you are faced with hard decisions, you’ll find people who would be willing to give unsolicited advice. However, one must be discerning enough to choose people he/she will incline his/her ear too. If we turn our ear to the Lord, we will identify which advice is godly and not.
The wisest man who ever lived on earth mentioned that “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (Proverbs 12:15). Our hearts should always be receptive to the teaching of others. Thus, if confronted with hard decisions to make, find people in the church whom you know has a relationship with God and turn to them for wisdom.
Open yourself for Providence
While waiting for God’s answer to what you are praying for, open yourself to providence.
Sometimes it is okay to pause, observe, and see how the Lord will work through circumstances to show you His ways. Praying and waiting will do you good and save you from misery.
Sometimes, it’s okay to “stand still and know that He is God” (Psalms 46:10).
Once we surrender everything to God— our plans, biases, desires, and ambitions-we will be amazed how the Lord will open doors of opportunities for us.
Act
It’s not wrong to wait, so you may not end up deciding by impulse. However, waiting will never lead you anywhere. One must act on faith to see more of God’s leading.
Weigh things in a balance. And make sure to go either to the right or left. State your stand if it’s a yes or no. Make sure to value your decision. Remember choosing not to choose is still a decision.
Do not be afraid to act on anything. Who knows if you’ll hit things right or not? But if you made a stir out of your wrong decision, then it would be another lesson learned in life.
Finally
Finally, the apostle Paul advises us, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
So, if you are contemplating a hard decision to make, ask yourself, “Is it true? Is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy?”
If not, think again, and repeat the five things I suggested!
Chasing Hope is an inspiring podcast about the Christian life where it talks about faith, hope, and some Christian history. Besides spiritual life topics, the podcast also talks about career, family, and plenty of areas that concern the listener.
Joshua’s Outpost is a source for men to find encouragement to be bold in their faith and walk with Jesus Christ.
