Demystifying Decision-Making - Part 1
Much of the process I propose below falls in line with what others have suggested, but I am adding an element at the end that few have included. Be sure to read to the whole article.
What will happen if I take that job in New York instead of staying in Atlanta? Should we pull the trigger now and put an offer in on that new house, or should we wait till the market improves? How do I know which college is best for my daughter?
It’s monumental decisions like these that sometimes inspire sleepless nights. Of course, decisions would be a snap if we only knew the future. But we don’t.
Even Christians struggle in the decision-making process and sometimes over-spiritualize the process by seeking signs, reading too much into circumstances, or flipping their Bibles open, randomly hoping to spot a relevant verse.
For Christians, the process should include:
Committing the decision to God through prayer – God will always honor your heart-felt decision to do his will.
Looking to Scripture to make sure the particular choice conforms to God’s ethical and moral standards – Discovering that a company you are considering a job offer from has been convicted of financial misconduct is an obvious red flag.
Thoroughly investigating each alternative – Do your homework to learn all you can about each option.
Seeking insights from wise, credible, and trusted friends and colleagues – This can uncover issues you may not have considered.
Determining if circumstances may be pointing in a certain direction – Although we should not “seek a sign,” sometimes the facts clearly align to strongly nudge you toward a particular option.
Creating a list comparing the advantages of each alternative and assigning relative importance to each factor can also be helpful. For example, if your extended family lives in Arizona, accepting that job offer in Phoenix might be a major plus, whereas the more favorable climate out there might not be so important.
So far, all this is pretty standard advice. But here is the part I have seldom heard anyone add.
If you have followed the guidelines suggested above and have thoroughly committed to go in whichever direction God leads, and if there is a firm deadline to move one way or the other, then you have no choice but to conclude that whatever decision you made is God’s will. This is true even if that decision results in catastrophe down the road.
As an example, a job offer from prospective employer is a binary decision. Either you accept it or you don’t. You can’t do both. If they have asked for your response by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, you must commit one way or the other by the deadline.
This is how I handle this type of situation:
Do my best to determine what I think God’s will is
Tell the Lord right before I pick up the phone to indicate my answer which direction I believe he has led me to
Ask him to make it abundantly clear if that is not the right decision
If he doesn’t stop me and I accept the position, from that point on I treat the decision as God’s will – no looking back.
So even if the employer fails to honor what they promised or if the company goes bankrupt a month after I start, this does not mean I made the wrong choice or that God has let me down. Even though there might be significant fallout from the new circumstances, I should not second-guess my original decision. But, of course, it’s perfectly acceptable to move on from there.
Next time, I will offer five reasons why second-guessing God’s leading is a bad idea. Stay tuned!