Choices…Choices…Choices

Have you ever been at a point in life where you didn’t know what to do or who to turn too? Possibly now? We are currently living in unprecedented times. There is a rarity of “good news” being reported or talked about. I have never experienced hearing and receiving such a plethora of “bad news” on the heels of each other in my entire life. These are very overwhelming and stressful times. When you add your very own personal situations and/or crisis amid this pandemic, it could leave one hopeless. Looking back on my life I can remember times that were just as dark for me in the absence of a global pandemic. It was during those times I felt vulnerable, uncertain, and out of control. I was going in circles trying to figure out who and what could I trust? I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. I remember waking up each day looking for a sign that would give me some sort of solace or peace. I know I had to wake up hundreds of days with expectations that today was the day, only to realize at the end of the day, nothing had change. I tried convincing myself that everything I read or heard was moving me one step closer to where I wanted to be. While this was true, it wasn’t necessarily in the context in which I believed. You see what I really wanted was instant gratification. Yep, I heard it, I got it, now God do it, was what I was really thinking. I had to mature into the knowledge that life is a marathon and not a sprint. We get there in God’s ordained time (kairos), not our own. True progress is not getting to your “desired” outcome, but getting to a “God” given one.

I thought I understood that my ultimate purpose on this earth was to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The truth of the matter is, I had at least three to five major goals in mind for my life, that were standing side by side with my discipleship. While, it is natural to have goals for your future. Career goals, relationship goals, financial goals, and educational goals to name a few. It takes a turn in the wrong direction when we put these goals above our discipleship and/or decide that these goals are as equally important as our relationship with Christ. When the bible says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33. It means just what it says, we should first seek God for his direction before we make decisions and pursue our goals. Often times we make decisions and choices without consulting God that can eventually lead us into a downward path or one we could have avoided had we taken a step back to get clarity. When we do this, we forfeit these scriptures, Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Some decisions we make are emotional based. Some decisions are made of our own wisdom without truly seeking God and waiting for an answer. When we make decisions from either of these places, we are likely going to be met with opposition and fallout at some point. I met a guy at twenty-one and decided to married by the age of twenty-two. I don’t remember consulting God for true direction. I was a young Christian that felt everything would work out for my good just because I loved God. The church can make one feel that marriage is a priority every Christian should make, while that holds some truth, it doesn’t necessarily mean we should use marriage as a sole avenue to keep one’s purity. That’s another blog. I know now that I was void of understanding of quite a bit of God’s word that could have allowed me to make wiser decisions.

Unfortunately, my first marriage wasn’t the only decision I made without consulting God. A person once said “How you do anything, is how you do everything!” Such a rarely spoken truth for most of us. I went on to have my first child, in whom I dearly love, without consulting God again, amid my already difficult situation. I remember being told by a parent to wait. Nope, I wanted a baby, and so I had one. So, in my own wisdom I felt having a child was within God’s will because I was married, right? On top of this, I made bad financial decisions that I felt the impact for many years afterwards. All these decisions begin to spiral and add up over those few brief years that felt like a lifetime, eventually causing me to feel immensely overwhelmed. You know who was left to take full responsibility for these decisions? You better know it, I was. When I finally came out of this situation five years later, it was like starting all over. While I don’t regret having a child. I do realize I could have consulted God more before I made certain choices. I had to reset my thinking and consider everything that I could have done differently, but more important, I learned to consult God moving forward.

Johnny Nash wrote a song in 1972 entitled, “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone”. I was very young when I first heard that song, but for some reason I understood it. Needless to say, I truly understand it now. The lyrics went like this:

I can see clearly now the rain is gone

I can see all the obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright) sunshiny day

I think I can make it now the pain is gone

All of the bad feelings have disappeared

Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for

It’s gonna be a bright (bright) sunshiny day

Life can come at you like a heavy rainstorm that’s blinding. It’s impossible to see clear when the rain is falling. There are some storms, that even the windshield wipers are of no service. We sometimes have to pull over until the rain stops. But after the rain stops or lets up, and the “SON” begin to shine – it replaces the dark clouds with a rainbow to remind us of his promise. The clearing of the rain revealed that I wasn’t waiting on God, he was actually waiting on me. Waiting for me to see that he always had a plan, even on my worst days.

True growth came when I made the decision to seek God and use Godly resources solely for my betterment and purpose not for a desired outcome. It is said that we should seek God’s face and not his hand. We tend to look for signs to comfort us that everything will work out the way “we” want it, oppose to trusting God to work it out according to his will. This is one very common mistake that young Christians as well as some older ones in the faith continue to make. We have to seek God first and his righteousness from a pure place. In our devotions we should ask God to reveal to us the plan and path he would have us to take, not one of our choosing. When we continue to take things into our own hands, we in turn end up with a temporal outcome. Often times, one that isn’t very favorable. Seeing that God is omniscient “all knowing”, he is the only one that can lead us to the best path.

Whether it’s a relationship that needs evaluating, a financial crisis that is in need of repair, a crossroad in which you need directions or whatever situation you may be battling. Seek God and ask for guidance to ensure your outcome will be one that is lasting and not temporal. Today can be the day that you decide, no more emotional choices and unwise decisions that may have residual effects. If you find yourself in a dilemma from a decision you have already made, the answer remains the same. Seek God for direction for your next move. I can tell you from my very own personal experience, you can save yourself a lot of trouble in this life by choosing wisely and seeking God for his directions. Pay close attention to signs, and choose not to ignore them. Signs are there for a purpose and are meant to provide insight. Remember your teaching, and always trust your gut. Finally, but most importantly we should all continue to develop our relationship with God through studying his word and seeking his face in prayer. By doing this, we can never go wrong.

Take some time over a cup of tea this week, perhaps there are some things you may need to take to the Father in prayer. If you are doing well in these areas, consider sharing this blog with someone that you feel could benefit from the read. Also never forget, The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Psalms 34:15

Until next time, be good to yourselves….