LET GO OF DECISIONAL INERTIA

A woman standing at a cross road

Life is full of decisions or choices. We are, to some extent, products of some of the decisions or choices that we have made in this life. Decisions or choices can be good or bad depending on their fruits, and we all have to make them whether we like it or not and accept to live by their fruits. That is what it means to live. I make them all the time—sometimes good, sometimes bad ones and have learned to Live with them. I am sure that is the same thing with you. Decisions and choices make up who we are as human beings. However, it is not all the time that it is easy to make a decision or choice. Sometimes the nature of circumstances, expectations, goals, or plans that we want make it so hard for us to make a decision if you consider the alternatives that you have. For example, decisions or choices concerning family issues, relationships, investments, career opportunities, and marriage are not easy to make. Questions like: Who should I marry? Who should I date? Which career opportunity should I take? To which direction of life should I take my life? Should I accept this divorce or not? Should I leave or stay? These are very big and crucial questions that are difficult to answer  right away. Sometimes we want to first seek help or advice or assistance from those around us to help us answer them and make the right decision or choice. Sometimes as a Christian, you wonder what God really wants you to do. You pray, consult your pastor about it, and it is not all the time that you get a a direction as to wish decision is write or wrong. So what can you do? Does that mean that God does not want to help you?

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) says: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” You do not need to stand at the crossroads or be stuck to make a decision. Even if the silence from God gets louder and the counsel from those around you sounds unconvincing, you have to make the decision or choice right away. You do not need to wait until everything is certain or for you to be sure to make a decision. If you want to move, move. If you want to make a career choice, make a decision and get on with it. If it is about marriage, choose a partner to marry. Do not stand at the crossroads for too long. Proverbs 20:4 (NIV) says: “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” (Or as paraphrased: Those who wait for perfect conditions will never plant nor harvest.) You have got to get yourself moving and let God lead and guide you with His voice by His Spirit along the way.

Somebody might be saying, “I am waiting to hear from God before I make a decision. I want His confirmation first before doing anything because I do not want to go against Him or mess up.” However, God is waiting for you to make a decision so that He can start walking with you and guide you along the way. You are not only delaying yourself by standing at the crossroads—you are also delaying God, who is waiting for your decision so that He can walk with you on your journey. Where does God want you to go? Or what does He want you to do exactly? You cannot know until you start moving and let His guidance be with you. When Andrew came back to tell Nathanael that he had found Christ, he told Nathanael that following Christ is like the wind—you never know which direction it goes. (See John 3:8: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”) You can never know which direction the Lord has predestined you to take or go unless you take a step of faith to move forward by making that decision and choose, and let the whispers of the Lord direct your path.

I have been standing at the crossroads of decision before, and I would like to admit that my inertia costed me severely. Even right now, I am still dealing with decisional inertia concerning my career path, and the Lord said it is time to move. You do not want to be told by the Lord to make a decision to step out in faith like Moses, who stayed around the mountain for 40 years when he was supposed to be leading the Lord’s people to Canaan. Decision inertia will delay your God-given promises. Your destiny is waiting for you to make a decision today. The Spirit of the Lord is waiting to embark on your journey with you, just like He did with Moses from Egypt. You have prayed enough, planned enough, and consulted enough. It is time to free yourself from your Egypt and move forward.

You may ask yourself, “Well, what if I make a bad decision? What if it turns out badly?” Well, remember this: Christ is our Redeemer. He specializes in redeeming things. As Paul said in Romans 8:28 (NIV): “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.” That is, Jesus will take your mistakes, failures, and all the bad decisions and consequences, and work them all together for your good and turn all the circumstances in your favor. We just have to trust Him and let His voice guide us.

I do not know about you, but today I choose to make those choices and let God take control of my life. We have got to trust Him with our decisions or choices. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

May the Lord bless His words in you.