“God’s message yet again: “Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the directions to the old road. The tried-and-true road. Then take it. Discover the right road for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16 MSG)
We are a going good long ways down the road again today. I drove the first shift, early in the morning hours, a quiet cabin with sleeping cargo. I was grateful for the alone time with my Savior. I alternated between worship, Word and prayer. This verse came across my path, ushering in comfort in the immediate wake of a major career decision. The empty miles afforded me opportunity to consider our process. How do we uncover the correct course in life?
For Rob and I, we began in prayer. From the first hint of impending transition, we’ve bathed this season in intercession. We prayed together nightly, in and around every resume, phone call, and discussion. We prayed independently, offering up plenty of time and space for the Lord to speak. We’ve asked from the very beginning that He’d close every door but the right one.
And then we spent the actual interview listening. Yes, to potential employers, but more importantly to the Holy Spirit. We leaned in close for His leading and then His quiet confirmation.
“Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you in wherever you wander left or right: “This is the right road. Walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:20 MSG)
I’ve heard it twice this weekend, how the kids graduating high school and college right now are the most stressed-out generation ever. The source of their strain? Decision-making anxiety. Our daily firehose of information and option has left them paralyzed on the threshold of adulthood. I recognize it and I’ve felt it myself. Terrified of making a mistake, we can self-abort by indecision. We can sit-out God’s best when we allow fear to keep us from even sticking a toe in the water.
When I was a little girl, we used to play a story swapping game on long road trips. One of us would begin the tale, complete with a setting, characters, and a story arc, until another car-rider would yell “SWAP!!!” and then introduce an unforeseen plot twist. My fairy tale characters would inevitably eat my brother’s booger-burgers and his monster trucks would bubble up into butterflies at my command. God’s transformative power in our life-story is much the same.
This is good news for the hesitant decision makers. A mistake is not the end of our story. We serve a God of second chances and He loves a good redemption plan. Our misstep is merely His cue to step in and swing the story back in His direction. If we mess up, we’ve only made another opportunity for His grace to show up. In the end we’ll give Him all the glory anyway.
Lord, forgive us for our fear of making decisions. Help us to lean in and listen to Your leading. Deliver us from our anxious thoughts and help us believe in Your ability to redeem all things, including our mistakes. Amen.