“O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.”(Psalms
25:4 NLT)
Even simple decisions can be stressful. Ever watch a
child struggle to choose between chocolate or strawberry ice cream? And the
bigger decisions, like whom to marry, which career to choose, whether to buy a
house or to make a major move, etc. can be nerve-racking! Overwhelmed is an
understatement. But how do we practically move forward and reduce the amount of
stress we deal with?
We can reduce our stress level by following the Word of
God and these principles: (1) Do the research. “Anyone who answers without
listening is foolish and confused” (Proverbs 18:13 NCV). Get all the facts and
avoid making decisions you’ll regret. Knowledge has never been more accessible;
through the Internet, helpful books, and especially God’s Word: “Your
commands…are my constant guide” (Psalms 119:98 NLT).
This one we take for granted. We minimize the power of (2)
Trust God. “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to
follow.” Consulting God then trusting His word as our guide helps us prevent
premature decisions, clarifies our priorities and prepares you to hear His plan.
Is God interested in your decisions? Yes. “The Lord directs the steps of the
godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalms 37:23 NLT).
This one is the most challenging because we struggle so
much with change… (3) Be open to new ideas. Don’t get trapped in old mind-sets.
“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights”
(Proverbs 18:15 TM). Clinging to the familiar can be crippling. God may choose
to lead you along a new path of fresh insight. So take a deep breathe, seek His
wisdom, and open up your heart to receive it.
Lastly, I have been blessed with family and friends that
invest in me and me in them and that has proven an amazing source of strength and
provided good counsel that is supported by the Word of God. (4) Get advice from
trusted friends. “It’s a hard road that’s walked alone,” says an old Celtic
proverb. So follow Solomon’s counsel: “A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a
wise man listens to others” (Proverbs 12:15 TLB).
By following these clear principles from God’s Word, we
can relax, stop stressing out and give our worry to God. Then trust Him to work
it out. After all, He has our back.
Blessings,
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