How do you make choices in this world of infinite options? And are some decisions just too small to fuss over, or do you think He cares about them all? I'm curious.
Sometimes the problem is not that you don't have enough options.
It's not that you have a big decision to make and your choices are just too few, and you feel forced to choose between the lesser of two evils.
The problem sometimes is that there are just so many good choices.
Whether it's which charity to support, which cause to throw your voice behind, which restaurant to eat at, which outfit to wear, or what books to read. Being in the Land of the Free can be such a huge burden.
A friend asks for homeschool advice, which curriculum to use, what do I love the most? Do I open up the myriad of catalogs-websites-books-opinions out there and boggle her with the next 12 years of planning her child's life? Do I tell her all the pros and cons and finish with, "But whatever works for your family!"?
I need toothpaste.
Whitening, natural, sensitive, mint, cool mint, peppermint, or spearmint?
Bible? KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, NASB…
And do I expose my kids to this smorgasbord? Do I give them so many choices for breakfast that they feel entitled to always have it their way?
It used to be nothing but oatmeal. Why did I waffle? What have I done to the simple life I wanted for us?
I like having choices, don’t get me wrong. I like what I like and sometimes I like to change what I like.
But I get easily overwhelmed. When it seems like the decisions are huge and there can only be one choice that's right, I feel like that man at the fair, juggling knives.
You'd better get this right.
But there are a few things I've learned about making decisions, mostly from my husband.
1. God knows your heart.
This brings me peace in the swirling. He's not waiting to pounce if I choose A instead of B, not crossing His fingers hoping I make the right decision. If my heart is right with the Lord and I am not purposely ignoring Him, I can trust His guiding. I can rest in His grace.
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you. But to do justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? - {Mic 6:8 NKJV}
Doesn't He make it simple for me?
Yes. Because I need that.
And I need to know that He sees me as His child, trying to please Him but getting sticky jam-fingers all over the kitchen. Would He scold me for the jam and tell me that He wanted eggs, not toast?
2. Once you make the decision, go with it.
I had to choose a sink recently. I stressed over it, really. Stainless, I knew for certain. One-hole, definitely. Deep enough for a big pot. But in order to have a row of drawers to the left of the sink, I had to order one narrower than my current sink.
Would I like it? Would it work for our family? Should I choose a bigger sink instead of the drawers?
Because now is the time to decide…this isn't something we can just change later if it doesn't work out.
I ordered the smaller one and decided I would like it. It would be perfect and I'd be happy and it all would be great. And guess what?
It is.
That's not to say that we need a 'my way or the highway' attitude. Not to close ourselves off from other opinions or suggestions or, especially, clear direction from the Lord that we are wrong.
But just that convincing yourself is sometimes the biggest obstacle and once you've narrowed down the choices, prayed, sought counsel, and have peace, go for it.
And I know, it was just a sink.
But if you're choosing something a little more life changing than a sink, pray, read, ask, pray again, check your heart, and go for it. Move forward until God tells you otherwise.
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. - {Pro 14:26 NKJV}
3. Deal with your mistakes.
You will choose the wrong thing sometimes.
Some mistakes only require a little paint to fix, or a phone call or a letter or some elbow-grease.
Some mistakes really can't be fixed, but you can start doing things right from this point on. You can own up to the mistake and endure patiently, you can trust God through the consequences, and you'll have gained wisdom when it's all said and done.
We'll know more when it's over, my husbands says.
Maybe you chose the wrong job or the wrong neighborhood or the wrong way to spend your time. Maybe it was the wrong 'parenting technique' and now you feel like it's too late.
It's not. Start doing the right thing now.
Maybe you feel like you chose the wrong spouse, in which case I would refer you to #2 above and pray that you pour yourself into being the right spouse.
Whatever the mistake, there is grace sufficient for a repentant heart, and times of refreshing will come (Acts 3:19). That's always the best choice.
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Choosing thanks....
250. starting over, again, because Mercy is new every morning
251. friends and family that stop by
252. my 'new-to-me' computer hutch, given by a friend
253. unprompted apologies
254. Jan : )
255. Academy for Character Education
256. odd jobs
257. two red-winged blackbirds out the window
258. sunshine and fresh air in the morning
259. 5 flat acres, a creek, good neighbors, and no oak trees : )
260. crazy kids in the creek
261. 6 minuscule fish that become 22 whoppers in Ethan's retelling of it
