God, I Have No Idea
God, I have no idea.
No clue what to do. No clarity on what decision to make. Feeling overwhelmed as I sit and contemplate all the potential “what-ifs” that lay ahead.
I hate making decisions. It can be something as simple as deciding on a restaurant, picking out an outfit, or making a decision that could affect the future of our family, such as one related to a job or finances. I don’t like decisions. They aren’t comfortable. They raise my anxiety. Probably more than they should. But I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.
It’s often in these moments of overwhelm that I forget to turn to God. Instead, I sit and mull over my options, only worrying myself. Worrying doesn’t add anything good to my life. It only makes things a little more difficult. Because when my mind is overwhelmed, stuck in fight or flight or freeze mode, I cannot accurately execute decisions.
On one such evening as I was sitting rubbing my aching head, my mind was racing. All I could muster out was God open it or shut it abruptly. Please.
I opened my Bible app on my phone to this verse.
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
I needed that reminder because I sat there feeling it. I was afraid and discouraged. I needed the reminder that God was here with me. Providing strength and clarity in the midst of my confusions and/or frustrations. There to hold my hand for all of the decisions this life will hold. No matter how big or small they really are.
Maybe today you get it. You understand the struggles with decisions because you’re also living it. Maybe you’re trying to decide what’s best for your family. Deciding if it’s time to take that leap of faith. Wondering what God has in store for you ahead.
I turned in my Bible to a familiar story in the book of John. I found some peace hidden there. Perhaps you will too.
John 9:1-7
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!
It’s often in the midst of troubling times that we are quick to point fingers. To find hope anywhere, finding anything we can cling to. Justifying our circumstances in an effort to cope in the best way possible.
This man born blind had to have encountered his fair share of difficult days. Probably the same for his family. Making decisions while wondering why they were dealt these cards. The last part of verse three stood out. Honestly, it felt like the words yelled back at me. HELLO-SEE THIS!
“It happened so the power of God could be seen.”
That’s the goal. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I want to be said of my life.
Whatever decisions I encounter in my life, I pray that God will receive the glory. Not me. It was a refocus that I needed in order to relax. My decision wasn’t made at that exact moment, but my soul was calmed. My priorities refocused. I realized I’m not in it alone.
And you aren’t either.
Give God glory today for the decisions in your life that need to be made. None are too big for Him to help navigate through. He gives us clarity when we spend time with Him, allowing our soul to rest and refocus on the task ahead. He gives strength for one moment at a time.
