How often do we encounter friends and family members who are asking
themselves: "What should I do? How can I make a decision that is
according to God's will? How can I know what to do next?" They are
confused in the face of uncertainty. How are we to help them? With so
much confusion, how can we make the right decisions?
Some believe
like Eliho. "Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn
together what is good." (Job 34:4, NIV2)
Honestly, how often
haven't we tried to come up with the perfect solution without good
results? There are so many decisions! Life can be a real labyrinth,
enough to confuse anyone!
Still, according to Jesus, the answer
is quite simple: "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be
complete." (John 16:24b, NIV2) It's a solution that always works.
However, given this pressure-cooker kind of life that we lead, we
usually can't help but be impatient, and that impatience becomes one of
our deadliest enemies: "I want it now!" No wonder we make so many wrong
decisions.
Imagine finding yourself in a completely foreign
country.
This is how we felt when we landed on Mackinac Island in
Michigan. Even thought this island is part of the United States, it
seemed like we were definitely in a foreign land, one that looked more
like a carribean island than anything else. There were no cars nor
busses in sight, as these have all been banned. Instead there were
numerous bike rental places, as well as multiple horse trolleys. That
wasn't too bad, in fact it was quite an innovative way to avoid
pollution! Except for what the horses left behind on the roads, that is
. . .
In addition to the lack of motorized vehicles, we were also
feeling out of our element due to the vast number of tourists. I'm not
sure we have ever seen so many tourists in one place! We felt like
sardines in the street, and it didn't take us long to become completely
disoriented. We tried asking, but either they ignored us, didn't hear
us, or answered us with a shrug. What should we do?
That's when
hope appeared: A tourist information bureau! Ask and you will receive,
but we still had to ask someone who knew the way.
I know of only
One who can always guide us to the right decision. If we ask our
Heavenly Father, He will answer. Sometimes we don't hear the answer
right away, and often this is because we aren't ready for His answer.
After all, why give an answer that will only be ignored?
Too
often we forget "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best
for you, who directs you in the way you should go." (Isa 48:17, NIV2)
God has always our best interest at heart. We can truly trust Him;
however, He cannot reveal His answers if we are not ready to follow His
advice. This is why it is so important to wait upon Him with an eager
heart, willing to follow His advice, no matter what.
"But if we
hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." (Rom 8:25,
NIV2)
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for
God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Mic 7:7, NIV2)
Do we truly
believe this promise? Too often impatience will lead us to the wrong
decision; however, waiting on the Lord will lead us to a decision that
we will never regret. Unless, of course, we are dedicated to making our
own decisions. It's at such times that we miss the opportunity to truly
experience our Heavenly Dad and His wisdom that is beyond understanding.
He has our best interest at heart, no doubt about it. We can truly trust
Him and be assured that His answer will always be the best decision for
us. Waiting for His answer is worthwhile and will keep us from making
wrong decisions.
Now it's up to us to decide if whether or not we
will wait on our Father.
There is just one more more ingredient
that needs to be part of this equation. "When you ask, you do not
receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you
get on your pleasures." (Jas 4:3, NIV2)
What should we do next?
Wouldn't it be good for us to discover how to ask our Father for
directions and know with certainty what His will is?
Till next
time!
Rob Chaffart
Lost in a Totally Foreign Country. How Can I Make Right Decisions? Part 1
Today's Bible Verse:
"Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John
16:24b)
Lost in a Totally Foreign Country. How Can I Make Right Decisions? Part 1
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