It’s a simple question, but too often, in the face of a decision, we don’t ask it. Sure, logic is an important element of making a decision, but so too is intuition. Rather than ignore it or consider it secondary information, honor it. Peace is like an inner GPS system that leads you in the right direction. Even when the system looks like it’s taking you on a detour, it is often offering you a shortcut – saving you the time and energy of landing in a traffic jam of confusion, bad decisions or worse. Even in the most tumultuous situations, God can give you peace about a particular decision you need to make in the midst of the storm. You’ll feel calm even though everything around you is falling to pieces.
If you are honest, there have likely been times when you have felt compelled to move forward with something even when peace is lacking. Why is that? The reasons are probably rooted in fear – fear that somehow if you don’t make a decision now, you won’t get what you want later. It is the fear that you need to be in control and that means being able to see all the pieces of the puzzle. The ones you can’t see, you don’t trust. And you can’t “see” intuition – not in the natural, anyway. It is fear that maybe your intuition is wrong. “You don’t really have the ability to hear from God himself?” your doubt says. “Don’t be silly.” So rather than confidently going with your gut, you forge ahead with that gnawing feeling that something’s not quite right. Proverbs 22:3 promises, “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Here are a few other ways fear shows up when it’s time to make a decision:
Impatience
Have you ever made a decision out of impatience? You’re tired of waiting, so you move forward. Whether a simple everyday decision or a monumental one, such as who to marry or what career to choose, be patient. And choose peace while you are practicing patience. True patience isn’t about whether you wait, it’s about how you wait.
Trust
Lack of trust in God’s hand in your life shows up when you make decisions that are not rooted in peace. Trust Him. If you really trust Him, impatience won’t outweigh peace.
Reasoning
Some of us get very caught up in trying to figure things out. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” In other words, stop trying to predict, reason and rationalize your way into the right decisions!
I don’t know what the most important decision is that you need to make right now, but I know for sure that going in the direction of peace is a demonstration of authentic confidence and spiritual wisdom. So today, I wonder if it’s time for you to slow down a bit. Get quiet. Breathe deeply. Listen. And ask, “In this decision I am making, what choice gives me peace?”
My challenge to you:
Use peace to guide you.
Coach Yourself:
In a decision you need to make right now, are you at peace about your decision? What decision would give you peace? Leave your comments below, I’d love to hear from you!
