Are your hasty decisions working for you?
Sometimes we make hasty decisions that end up being bad decisions. Then, in desperation, we make more hasty decisions, hoping to claw our way out of the regrets that follow. Purchases, dating, career choices … do any of these sound familiar?
The thing is, we know better. By now, we’ve heard (even learned through experience) how important it is to pray before making decisions. So why do we continue in our stupid – excuse me, I meant to say “imprudent” – ways? Why do we feel compelled to act now and, if necessary, pray later?
Especially since whenever we feel like we “must decide now” to avoid a catastrophe, we find that our impending catastrophe is usually not as imminent as our impatient self wants to believe. The opportunity we jumped at often turns out not to be part of God’s plan for us.
Perhaps we don’t allow ourselves time to consider our choices because we’re impatient for a resolution. And that quest for an immediate resolution is more important to us than discovering what God has to say about it. Or maybe we believe He doesn’t care or won’t respond.
What would happen if we made our choices as if we believed God was God? And that He does care? Perhaps then it would be easier for us to practice Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV):
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
How many regrets would we prevent by acknowledging God in all our decisions? Whether we’re seeking guidance on important life matters, the way we choose to spend our day or even our food choices, wouldn’t we benefit from trusting God with all of it?
Since God knows everything there is to know about us (He’s the One Who made us, after all), He has the best perspective on what’s good for us. He’s aware of our circumstances and knows each person who is affected by our choices. God – all-powerful, wise, amazing God – has a plan for us (for you!). He knows how to get us to the place where He wants us.
A place with less frustration, less regret … and less haste.
What about you?
You can use a pseudonym (fake name) when commenting.
- How are your hasty decisions working for you?
- How many of them do you now regret?
If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Today Can Be Different online and leave a comment.
See sidebar to subscribe to this blog and receive the most recent post to your inbox. There is no charge for this service. And, if you like this post, please consider sharing it. Thank you.
This is so true. Another error that goes with this is uttering a quick “prayer” and then doing what you want “in the flesh” and saying “I prayed about this.”
Yikes! I’ve been guilty of that very thing, more than once. 🙁
(It’s nice to see you here again, my friend.)
I believe in our world today. We make far too many hasty decisions because we wanna impress someone or others pressure for any answer now. Alot of time we rush to get it done rather then waiting to think it through. If we waited and prayed over it first. We’d most likely make a whole lot less decisions we regret. However knowing God knows all and believing in Him. We should live and walk in our faith. We should make our decsions knowing Gods got it and us. Most of us say we know Gods got us but being human we rush to impress make snap decisions. Usually snap decisions are the worst and most regretted. I try to pray over decisions and not make harsh decisions because it gets me in trouble more then not. But we all slip an do it. I pray God helps me to make hasty choices less.
I am working on making fewer hasty decision, too, Kati. It’s so easy to rush into a decision … but so hard to work our way out of the regrettable consequences, isn’t it?
Thanks again for dropping by, Kati.
Yes it is! All to often that regret wouldn’t happen if we acted in Him rather then in hast.
Indeed!
In the year and a half that I have been a widow I have found myself often paralyzed with fear. And more frequently than I want to admit I make major decisions that I later feel we’re ill-advised and hasty. Why? I don’t trust my own ability to know when God is leading or to hear His voice. With no one that I am close to with whom to talk things through I seem to simply be incapable of knowing what God wants me to do.
“Deaf and dumb” … even your pseudonym speaks volumes …
Thank you for sharing your honest and painful struggle. When I read your comment, my heart ached for you. And for all those in your shoes – including anyone who doesn’t have someone “close to whom to talk things through.” But especially to all who once did – but no longer have his or her loved one to consult with.
I can hardly imagine how paralyzing your fear must be: always wondering if you’re making the right decisions – always praying for reassurance that you’re actually hearing His voice.
Grief alone is devastating. Missing your husband and adjusting to your new (lonely) reality is beyond difficult.
I wish I could reach through my laptop screen and share a cup of tea with you; talk and talk and talk with you (or if you’d rather, let you talk and talk and talk to me); pray with you. And give you a really big – and a really long – hug!
Thankfully, I can pray for you. And I will.
Please keep in touch.