How to Make the Right Decision

“I’m Afraid to Make the Wrong Decision. I don’t want to miss God’s Direction.” Not too long ago, I was wrestling with these thoughts while trying to make a decision regarding my career. I really wanted to be following God and his plan for my life. However, I didn’t want to quit something that I thought he had called me to do. Making the right decision was a real struggle. I couldn’t figure out if he was calling me to walk away or if it was the enemy trying to hold me back. 

I wanted to make sure that I took the right path and made the right decision. It seemed like a decision that could change the course of the rest of my life. I felt so much pressure and just wanted to make the choice that would please God the most.

One day, I was going through my emails and received an email from one of my favorite authors, Lisa Bevere. She was talking about this very topic. I don’t remember word for word what it said, but she had a very good points. Lisa reminded me that I wouldn’t be able to “miss God” in my decision.

God Is Bigger and More Powerful Than Your Decision

God can use any situation to bring Glory to himself. It really didn’t matter if I messed up or made the wrong decision. God would be able to turn that decision around to glorify him, if I was continuing to follow Him. In being so wrapped up in my power to make the right decision, I was saying God wasn’t able to work things together for good.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Rom 8:28 (NIV)

There are many examples of people in the Bible who made mistakes, and God was glorified through them, anyway. Let’s look at David, particularly. He made many mistakes while walking with God, some being committing adultery, and having a man murdered. However, he was still very much loved by God.

You see, if you are afraid of making the wrong decision, you are actually taking God out of it. You are trying to control the situation and the outcome. In fact, if you are wrestling with something, it’s likely the thing you don’t really want to do that you should be doing. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be wrestling with it. You would be led and follow without hesitation.

In Order to Make the Right Decision, Make Sure You are Not People Pleasing

I found that I was listening to people who had influence in my life, and didn’t want to let them down. I was hearing from God that it was time to move on and let go of the first dream He had given me, so He could work in me. However, I didn’t want to disappoint people who were helping me to achieve that first dream. I didn’t want to look like a quitter. I was concerned more about what others thought of me than what God wanted for me. When I finally let go of caring what others thought about the situation, I became more free.

Was I Willing to Give Up What I Wanted in order to Follow God

When I quieted those thoughts and that desire to please others, I realized that God wanted me to be willing to lay down that dream for him. He wanted me to trust him to make it into something bigger and more beautiful. It reminded me of the book the Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. Towards the end of that book, Ordinary needed to be willing to give up his dream for something better. It was hard for him to give it up, but after he did, God turned it into something bigger and better.

The more I follow God and let him lead me, the more things I find that I hold dear and don’t easily lay down. Sometimes it is a bigger struggle than I think it’s going to be. However, if Jesus is my Lord and Savior, not just my Savior, I need to trust Him to lead me in all my ways. I need to be willing to lay down all things in my life and place him as number one.

Have you ever been afraid of “missing God” in making a wrong decision? Did this article bless you in any way? Please comment below. As always, if you liked it or think this might help someone you know, please share it.