“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7
I was not known for quick decision-making skills within my family. Growing up, whenever it was my birthday, I always got to choose what restaurant our family would eat on that day. I remember that I would go through my options over and over, worried about making the “right” decision. I would consider how my other family members might appreciate my decision, and I was worried about what I might miss out on if I chose one over the other. It could almost take the fun out of the celebration. I just didn’t know what to do and where to eat!
Choosing what restaurant to eat at for my birthday, as a child, is not a game-changing decision. Since then, I’ve definitely experienced many, many more decisions to make along the way. Many of these are more game-changing than others. Even though, I’m not always good at making decisions, overall, I’ve made more good decisions than poor over the years. But it’s those decisions between the good and the good that have usually been the most challenging.
I think thoughtfulness and prayer when facing decisions is important. So while I still sometimes need to be ready to act quicker with a decision, I know that the thoughts we can put behind those decisions are so important. Having a plan, setting goals, looking past the decision and seeing how that lives itself out two or three steps down the road and considering how it will affect myself and others are all really important. Through careful thinking, we can often make not only a good decision, but also the best decision.
What has been very helpful to me in making decisions is prayer. The prayer I pray most often when facing decisions is for peace. I can get caught up in the worry of whether I’ve made the right or best decision. So I pray that God will give me peace in those times – no matter how big or small the impact might be. Part of my decision to have a job to be in ministry in the church, comes with a testimony of God granting me an incredible peace. I can go back to that moment and know with assurance that God gave me “a peace that passes understanding” for me to move forward on my desire to serve the church.
Amy Givens, Director of St. Luke’s Youth Ministry
