When I’m Afraid to Make the Wrong Decision

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

Sometimes I’m afraid of making the wrong decision. And that creates stress.

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

However, in the past, I had tried this. I asked God to guide me, but then I became more confused than ever before. I still couldn’t figure it out, and wondered why knowing God’s will is so difficult.

God isn’t playing games with me. He wants to guide me. He wants me to know his will more than I want to know it. But sometimes I look for the wrong thing when I’m trying to find God’s will. 

Some look for a feeling. Some want a formula or recipe to follow. Others take a magical approach and look for God to show a fantastic sign.

But these ways only lead to frustration and can cause me to miss God’s will.

God doesn’t want me confused, and he doesn't want me stressed over making a decision. He is there, guiding me every step of the way. This is his promise, and I can believe it to be true: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

In summary, God will guide me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Sometimes I’m afraid of making the wrong decision. And that creates stress. God has an antidote to indecision.The way to handle the stress of decision-making is to let God guide me. In the past, I had tried this. I asked God to guide me, but then I became more confused than ever before. I still couldn’t figure it out, and wondered why knowing God’s will is so difficult. God isn’t playing games, He wants to guide me. He wants me to know his will more than I want to know it. But sometimes I look for the wrong thing when I’m trying to find God’s will. Some look for a feeling. Some want a formula or recipe to follow. Others take a magical approach and look for God to show a fantastic sign. These ways only lead to frustration. God doesn’t want me confused, and he doesn't want me stressed over making a decision. He is there, guiding me every step of the way. This is his promise, and I can believe it to be true: “He will guide me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

God wants to guide me and is a caring shepherd and a dependable guide. I must follow Him and obey his commands. For he is my only hope for eternal life and security. When I allow God, my shepherd, to guide me, I 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 you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives (including my job.) I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.