By the time I was in my twenties, I had a method and “feel” for making big decisions. The decision to get a divorce, to move away, to quit my job and go minister to young people for 85% less than I was making as a pharmacist– all big decisions. The decision to love, trust, and marry again after divorce is a big decision. The decision to get pregnant again after miscarriages is a big decision. Big decisions are a part of life whether we like them or not. Not!
However, not all big decisions are hard ones. The decision to forgive someone after they’ve hurt you is not a hard decision. The Bible is clear on it. You have to forgive. (Colossians 3:13) The decision whether or not to give to your church and charity is not a hard decision. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) I love it when the Bible gives me clear guidance on how to decide. Unfortunately, some decisions aren’t plainly in black and white, or even the red letters. Big decisions are tough and they make me want to eat cake and cry.
Big decisions are tough and they make me want to eat cake and cry.
I find that it’s our nature to seek God for big things. When we ask God for answers, we want burning bushes and full-bellied whales to spit us out squarely on our path to purpose. When was the last time someone raced up to you, bright-eyed, and declared, “God told me I’m going to be taking care of my kids and supporting my husband.” Has anyone ever excitedly pulled you aside to say, “God said you will be a middle manager for his glory.” No! People are always looking for God’s next BIG thing.
Sometimes, the next thing is not so big. Wanna know my favorite? In Mark 5 Jesus raises a little girl from the dead. Can you imagine? Jesus comes to your house and raises your child from the dead. Boy oh boy! It’s on now! I’m the mother who would be planning the Talitha Koum Testimony Tour. I’d be on Instagram telling everybody that God is a healer and Jesus is Lord. When God does something that big, He certainly wants the world to know it…or not.
Jesus did not want a Testimony Tour or a live stream of his miracle. In fact, He gave the parents “strict orders” not to tell anyone. Then Jesus gave His instructions for what comes next… “Give her something to eat.”
That’s it? You raise my daughter from the dead and your only instruction is to go make her a sandwich? What about her future? What about your glory? What about….you know the books and movie deals. Just make a sandwich. That’s it?
That’s it.
When you #readyourbible you’ll find that Jesus often gave simple instructions for what to do next. I think the reason why this decision is so heavy is because I want to know what’s going to happen next. I want to be headed in the direction of my destiny. I know God’s plan is to prosper and not to harm me. I just want a few more deets so I can make this decision.
“Pick up your mat and walk.”
“Break the bread into pieces.”
“Follow me now.”
Jesus didn’t tell the fishermen what kind or how many fish were at the side of the boat. He simply told them, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat and you’ll get some.” We have to trust that God’s simple instruction leads to the “prosper and not harm” promise. The fishermen had been fishing all night. Don’t you think they had already put their nets in the water? Of course they had. But doing something on your own and doing it when Jesus tells you yields different results. Preach Somebody!
Jesus told Jairus to feed his daughter after she was raised from the dead. After the fishermen caught the fish, Jesus told them to “Come and have some breakfast.” As it turns out, all we have to do is follow God’s simple instruction to move forward and trust that the path is the one He has chosen for us. So for now…I’m just going to take a step and eat some cake…keto, of course.
Well you sure threw me for a loop, I thought you’d say prayer and fasting, but I like eating cake better! Of course prayer and fasting is good too!