Trusting God with Your Decisions

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

Trusting and having faith is more often than not easier said than done. Right now, many of us have a lot of decisions to make with a lot of uncertain variables. One pressing decision is the best way to approach the new school year. There’s a lot of information out there, but often it is contradictory and sometimes political. Emotions are high, which is understandable, but high emotions don’t usually produce well-thought-out results. We need to try to settle our emotions and not let anxiety make our decisions.

I don’t envy school administrators having to make decisions for entire districts. It is stressful just to make a decision for my family of five. However, something we all need remember is to do the best we can and be kind to others. We have to make the best decisions we can for ourselves and our families.

I am a teacher with one child in college, one child in high school, and one child starting middle school, so I am fairly invested in what happens this fall. Our local school district has delayed the start of school by two weeks and is offering the option for students to attend online. Currently, in our family, we are all going back to school in-person. I feel that this is the best decision for our family for several reasons. However, I have experienced moments of uncertainty.

How can we feel more certain about the decisions we make in an increasingly uncertain world? We need to pray and seek God’s wisdom.

Being home the past few months has really thrown my schedule out of whack. My “quiet time” began to get pushed to the side. Since we didn’t have to get up early, we all slept later than usual, and I was happy to take advantage of not having to set an alarm most days. However, by the time I was ready to start the day, other things seemed to get in the way of me starting by reading the Bible. One of the kids was already up, I had a pressing deadline, or household chores were distracting me. I felt like I didn’t have time to sit and read my Bible.

Let me tell you, not spending time with God is not the way to deal with a pandemic.

If you have done the same thing, let me encourage you to reinstate your Bible time, even if it is just five or ten minutes a day.

In addition to spending time with the Lord, we should limit our time on social media. Everyone is an expert these days, and not so kind about it. It seems like social media posts are all-or-nothing views with no room for compassion; social media is flooded with very few facts and a whole lot of rhetoric, as well as sound bites designed to get an instant reaction.

Do your own research. Don’t get your information on important matters from social media.

Above all, pray and seek the Lord’s wisdom as you approach your decisions, and be kind when other people’s decisions aren’t the same as yours. It is disheartening to see all the harshness and name-calling coming from normally nice people. This is not who we are supposed to be.

Let’s all pray for each other as we navigate the unknown this fall, and let’s have grace for one another. We can never know everything a family is going through. Let’s extend kindness and support to each other, even when we make different decisions.

Dear Lord, We know that you are with us in everything we do. Guide us as me make important decisions this fall. Be with our leaders, school administrators, teachers, and families as we navigate the unknown. Help us lean on your wisdom and not our own. Help us feel your strength and power when we are afraid. Guide us to extend to others the grace and compassion you extend to us. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

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. (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. (Prov. 16:9 CSB)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. (1 Pet. 5:6-7 CSB)

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12 CSB)

Reach for More

Pray for the families you know, and show kindness and understanding to those around you, especially when you disagree. Encourage those around you. Look for ways to show compassion and share positivity. Even during times of social distancing, we need to reach out and stay in contact with friends and family. Let’s find ways to lighten the load for someone else.

Dana Herndon is a writer, blogger, and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.

Photograph © Engin Akyurt, used with permission