We talk about making good decisions as though each choice was easy. We think,” if I do this, it’s good. If I do that, it’s not so good.” The problem is that oftentimes the decision is complicated and there are good sides and not so good sides to be considered. For many of us, that leads to the proverbial fence, where we sit and ponder, ponder and sit, hoping somehow to simply know the answer that will make things turn out right. If you remember Tevye, the main character in the story of the Fiddler on the Roof, you might remember his constant prayers to God always tended toward what he could do on one hand, or perhaps on the other hand. It’s a strategy that could leave you wishing you had more hands.
So, what can you do? Part of your belief in God is about trusting His plan for your life and knowing that at any given time, He might want to change things up. He might want to move you out of your comfort zone and impress your mind with new ideas. You might not be clear about the steps to take, but you’ve been here before, and you know enough about the way God works, to recognize new possibilities are coming your way. Why now?
Perhaps one reason is that God has more for you to do in this world. He doesn’t mind you sitting on the fence when you’re not sure which way to turn, but eventually, He wants you to choose. The question is not about the rightness of your choice. It’s more basic than that. It’s about your willingness to “choose this day whom you will serve.” It’s about your readiness to embrace a new direction. It’s about your awareness that God is on the move, and He wants you to come along.
You already know the fence is not that comfortable, and sitting there pretty much assures you that you’re going nowhere. The good news about making a choice is that you are never left to simply choose all on your own. You can take your dilemma straight to God and lay out your options before Him. Leaning on Him is a great step because it means you’re off the fence. You see, sitting on the fence will never give you an answer. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
God loves to help you make decisions. He knows you want to do the right thing. It might just mean you have to get off the fence and draw closer to God. He’ll help you from there.
Time to move along!