How to Make a Tough Decision with God as Your Guide

We will make many decisions in our life.  Most of our decisions are going to be simple decisions.  What to eat for dinner?  What movie to watch tonight?  What outfit should I wear?  But some of our decisions are not going to be as clear. Should I buy a new house?  What job should I take?  By trusting God and asking for guidance, it will make these tough decisions easier.

When you are faced with a decision, following these steps on how to make a tough decision with God as your guide.

Pray for Guidance

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6

When you are faced with a tough decision, you should spend time in prayer.  Praying will help bring clarity to the situation.  When you pray in faith, God will give you wisdom to make the best choice.  This wisdom will bring peace into your life even when it gets tough.  His grace is there for every need, every burden, and for every difficult decision you have to make in life.  You never need to wrestle through these along.  He is faithful to help us in our weakness.

Pray for guidance in any decision you have to make.

Search the Scriptures

“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The command of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” Psalm 19:8

The Bible is the most obvious place to find guidance from above, but it’s often the least listened to.  When making a tough decision, it is important to turn to the Scriptures that can speak to our situation. It’s a wonderful experience when you go to God’s Word and look for his guidance. When we find the Scriptures that speaks to us, the word becomes personal and special to you as though it was put there just for you for what ever you’re facing.  It is as though God is speaking to you personally through it.

The Bible’s not meant to be an answer book, but rather a guide to help us get through life and the decisions that come along with it.

Be Still Before God

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” Psalm 37:7

When we are faced with tough decisions, there’s a need to want a quick solution.  This can be a tough spot for us – waiting for God’s to answer and give us guidance.  We are impatient and want answers now, but remember that God is working behind-the-scenes for you.  Only He knows when the time is right.  Being still before God means that we will have times when it seems like nothing is happening.  Yet the Lord is moving on our behalf.

Waiting for God does not mean you just sit and wait.  Spend time in his presence, in his word, in prayer and find strength because you’ve spent time with God.  Reflect and meditate with thankfulness because of the Lord’s goodness.

Seek Counsel from Godly People

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22

Everyone can have an opinion on what is the best decision for you.  Talk to your mentors, parents, friends, pastors, or church leaders.  Don’t go looking for them to give you the answers, just their insights and counsel.   It’s helpful to talk with people who know you, who know your faults and strengths.  It is also helpful to speak with a person who knows the situation and may give you a different view on it.  But most importantly, find someone who knows the Lord and has been following Him for some time.

The pieces of advice you receive from the different people may conflict, but they should give you other perspectives to think about.  You are ultimately the one responsible for your own decisions.  Seeking advice is wise, but don’t let someone else make the decision for you.

Trust in the Lord

“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” Proverbs 3:5-6

When faced with a decision, we need to do our homework:  write down pros and cons, weigh out every option in our minds, pray, get advice and counsel.  But in the end, we need to make a  decision.  It all comes down to trusting and believing in God to lead us in the right decision.  When we let go of our own wills and make ourselves open to God’s will, we make a way for God to work a miracle.  He will give us the direction and His faithfulness will come through for us as we press forward in faith in spite of the odds. Put your trust in God and believe that He will give you the wisdom that you need to follow the right path.  We can’t see the road ahead.  But you can rest in knowing that God is with us.