Earlier this year I had a decision to make that I knew would dramatically impact the life of a loved one. Frankly, I didn’t know the right thing to do. I agonized over the decision. There were pros and cons in each direction, and regardless of how I proceeded, there would be no perfect outcome.
Sometimes we are faced with complicated circumstances and there is no obvious answer on how to solve the problem. We can scour the Scriptures for guidance, but a specific answer is nowhere to be found. Much of the Christian life is black and white and the Bible has volumes to teach us about how to live. But on occasion, we come up against a situation that the Scriptures don’t specifically address.
So, what do we do when we don’t know what to do? Over the last several months, as I’ve struggled with this question, I have found 3 things that I believe will help in these situations.
- Pray for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” I should point out that we’ll likely have to pray and ask repeatedly for wisdom until the answer comes. It may take days, weeks, or months before we have an answer, but if we continue to ask God for wisdom He will give it to us. As we pray, God will begin to speak through the Scriptures, our circumstances, and wise counsel from friends, and we will develop an awareness of how to proceed.
- Wait for guidance. When we don’t know what to do, it’s better to wait to than make an impulsive choice we later regret. Sometimes we need more information or a better understanding to make the best choice. I’ve regretted nearly every impulsive decision I’ve ever made. The Bible has a lot to say about waiting for God to act. The trouble is I often want to make my own decision and then ask God to bless it. That’s a terrible choice. It’s far better to wait and know you’ve made the best decision than to act impulsively and make the wrong choice. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
- Trust and Do Good. As we wait for guidance we don’t have to be idle. Trusting in God is an active stance that requires faith. David wrote in Psalm 37:4, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” When we don’t know what to do we should continue to trust God for direction and do all the good we can as we wait for direction.
