How God Helps You Make a Decision When You Are Unsure
“But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors, he brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.“
Deuteronomy 7:8
Have you ever struggled to make a decision? For me, I struggle to know if the choices I’ve made are the correct ones, and if they were what God would want me to do.
If you are like me, I’d like to walk with you through one way to make biblical decisions, based on Deuteronomy.
Focus
It is important for us to remember God’s covenant with Abraham and the fulfillment of His promises to him and his descendants as we begin. Here is a brief flyover: God provided a son, Isaac, to Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Hundreds of years later, Abraham’s descendants became as numerous as the stars. God then delivered them out of slavery in Egypt through Moses. God formed the Hebrews into Israel, a nation set apart for Him, during their forty years in the wilderness. He gave them laws to live by. After Moses died, Joshua led the people into the land God had promised to them. Throughout this process, the Israelites made mistakes, they rebelled, and they forgot God’s faithfulness time and time again, yet God did not forget His promise to them. God did not break the covenant He made with Abraham and his descendants (Ps. 105:7–11).
Forget-Me-Not
At the end of Deuteronomy 7:8, we read about God reminding His people that He brought them out from under their oppression in Egypt with His strong hand, redeeming them from slavery and the power of Pharaoh. When we forget what God has done for us in the past, we can be tempted to despair or to slip into arrogance, taking credit for our successes.
Remembering what God did in the past helps inform our present and future decisions. God is infinite and all-knowing; He does not forget His promises. The only thing He chooses to forget is the sin of those who are in Christ (Isa. 43:25; Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12). Being “in” Christ means believing in Him, that He is who He says He is in the Bible. It involves receiving His salvation by accepting His forgiveness for our sins, following Jesus, and aligning our lives to His will. In essence, it’s about being “all in,” holding nothing back from Him.
Throughout the totality of Scripture, we see our desperate need for deliverance and God answering our deepest need with His greatest gift to us. No matter how dark things get, the promise and hope of Jesus is present—from Genesis to Judges, from the Gospels to Revelation. Not only is it important to remember what God has done for His people in the past, it is crucial to remember what Jesus has done for us.
Jesus’s Ta-Da List
Here is a sampling of the incredible things Jesus has already accomplished!
Left heaven and came to earth in the flesh (John 1:1–14)
Instructed in truth (John 14:5–6)
Pointed to the Father (John 14:8–11)
Died on the cross for our sins, was buried, rose again (1 Cor. 15:3–4)
Showed us how to love others (John 13:34–35)
Gave us the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–17)
This is Jesus’s faithfulness on display. Not only did He provide all of this—and more—for us but He is coming back again!
It is comforting that God does not forget us (Isa. 49:14–16). He keeps His promises. God upholds His covenant even when we fail. When we are convinced of God’s lavish love, it helps us make clearheaded decisions. Could it be that you’re having trouble making a decision because you have forgotten that God does not forget you?
Recalling what Jesus has done for us is a necessary practice. It strengthens our faith to remember He is our Promise Keeper and our Ultimate Deliverer. He has gone to prepare a place for us, if we are His.
In His Word
Read Deuteronomy 7.
Notice how God tells His people to remember who He is, what He has instructed, and what He has done. What do you understand now about the covenant God made with His people?
In Your Life
What is something you are unsure about? How do you find clarity in times of uncertainty? The power of remembering is the first guiding principle in making wise decisions. When we remember what has been promised through Scripture, we are less likely to despair when we are unsure about what to do in our own lives.
We Recommend
We recommend the book God, What Do I Do?: A Bible Study on Judges 1-5 About Making Wise Decsions in Uncertain Times By Katie M. Reid. We love how Katie draws from the story of the Israelites during the time of Deborah and other early judges to show you how to move forward in times of transition and trial when you don’t know what to do and God’s voice seems silent.
Let’s Connect
Katie M. Reid is a Bible teacher, author, and podcaster. Trained in education, Katie teaches around her kitchen table, in the classroom, and around the country. She cohosts The Martha + Mary Show and runs the Martha + Mary Show Sisterhood group on Facebook. Katie is a pastor’s wife and worship leader. Following Jesus, marrying her husband, and being a mom to five are the best decisions she’s made. Connect with her online at KatieMReid.com or on Instagram at @katie_m_reid.