Taking the Fear out of Decision-Making

In Psalm 23:3 I read, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (NIV)

We often fear making the wrong decision, and that creates stress.

When facing a decision about a major issue and I find that I can’t make up my mind, I will end up staggering through life. In fact, the Bible says in James 1 that when I remain double-minded, I become unstable in everything I do. The Greek word for unstable literally means “stagger like a drunk.”

But God says there is an antidote to my indecision. Psalm 23:3 says, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (NIV). I’ll be able to handle the stress of decision-making when I let God guide me.

I may be thinking, “But I’ve tried this!” I asked God to guide me, but then I became more confused than I was before. I still couldn’t figure it out. Now I wonder, “Why is knowing God’s will so difficult?”

Is God playing games with me? Of course not! God wants to guide me. He wants me to know his will more than I want to know it. The problem is I often look for the wrong thing when I’m trying to find God’s will.

For example, I may look for a feeling. I want to be swept off my feet by some emotion so I can say, “That’s how I know what God’s will is!” I may want a methodical approach to God’s will. I want someone to give me a recipe or a formula to follow. Or perhaps I take a magical approach to God’s will. Looking for God to do some fantastic sign, write it in the sky, call me on the phone, send me an email or text message.

All of these ways lead to frustration and cause me to miss God’s will. God’s will is not a feeling, a formula, or something he wants me to be frustrated or fearful about.

God does not want me confused, and he doesn't want me to stress over making any decision. The next time I’m making a big decision, rest in the truth that God will guide me along the right paths, every step of the way.

In summary, God will guide me along the right path. Everyone fears making the wrong decision, and that creates stress. When facing a decision about a major issue and I find that I can’t make up my mind, I will end up staggering through life being double minded, and becoming unstable in everything I do. There is an antidote to my indecision. In Psalm 23:3, I’m reminded that I’ll be able to handle the stress of decision-making when I let God guide me. But perhaps I’ve tried this! And became even more confused than I was before. God is not playing games with me. He wants to guide me. He wants me to know his will more than I want to know it. The problem is I often look for the wrong thing when I’m trying to find God’s will. I may look for a feeling, a methodical recipe / formula to follow, or a magical approach - looking for some fantastic sign to occur. All of these ways lead to frustration and will cause me to miss God’s will. For God’s will is not a feeling, a formula, or something he wants me to be frustrated or fearful about. Furthermore, God does not want me confused, and he doesn't want me to stress over making any decision. So the next time I’m making a big decision, I just need to rest in the truth that God will guide me along the right paths, every step of the way.

When I allow God, my shepherd, to guide me, I will have contentment. When I choose to sin, however, I go my own way and cannot blame God for the environment I created for myself. My shepherd knows the "green meadows" and "peaceful streams" that will restore me. I will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd's leading is actually rebelling against my own best interests. I must remember this the next time I'm tempted to go my own way rather than the shepherd's way.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job.  I pray all these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.