Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Need Directions?

By Dr. Richard P. Bucher

Bible Passages provided by BibleGateway.com
 

Like most people that use e-mail, my inbox often gets filled with special offers from Internet companies. Recently I received one from newegg.com, entitled, “Rad fads for grads and dads.” Intrigued, I opened up the e-mail to discover that they were offering seven different portable GPS (Global Positioning System) units. Ever get lost? Need directions? Press a button, and one of these cool GPS handheld devices will instantly display a map, showing you exactly where you are—no matter where you are. Type in your destination address, and you will instantly be given directions. As you drive (or walk) along, your current location on the GPS map moves to match where you are. Definitely a must-have for the directions-challenged among us.

If only someone made a portable GPS device that gave us direction for the important decisions of life.

We all have times in our lives when we are faced with difficult, sometimes gut-wrenching decisions. And we cry out to God for guidance. “What should I do, O Lord?” we ask. “Show me the way.” The good news is that God really does care about the decisions we need to make, and even more, he promises to give us the direction we need. To make this clear, the decisions that I have in mind here are decisions that don’t involve good or evil, but decisions that are morally neutral.

Let me give you an example from my own life. At the beginning of my senior year in college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do once I graduated. I was a marketing major, and was getting ready to interview on campus with various companies. But I wanted to do what God wanted me to do. In my Bible reading I came across a passage that became very important to me. It was Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.” I was so impressed with this promise that I copied it on a note card and had it setting on my desk all year. Every time I saw it, I would pray, “Alright God. You have promised to make clear the plans of those who commit their works to you. I hold you to that promise. Establish my plans. Show me what you would have me do once I graduate.”

As the year progressed, I interviewed with a number of companies, and had a job offer or two. But my heart just wasn’t in it. It all seemed so hollow. About the same time, I had met the vicar who was assigned to Valparaiso University, who began talking to me about going to the seminary. At first I laughed at this, since I had never considered being a pastor. But several months later, when he asked me if I wanted to accompany him to the Fort Wayne seminary on an errand, I agreed to go. To make a long story short, the visit went surprisingly well, and I began to think much more seriously about attending. I made a pro-con list, prayed a lot, sought out the advice of Christians I respected, and ultimately decided to take the plunge. Even then I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing. But I decided to try the seminary for one quarter and then revisit my decision. By the end of that quarter, I was certain that I was where God wanted me to be. God had kept his promise of Proverbs 16:3!

In retrospect, this is how I’ve made all the major decisions in my life—and I highly recommend it to you. 

First, place before yourself one of the passages where God promises to guide and direct us. I mentioned Proverbs 16:3, but there others, such as Jeremiah 10:23, Psalm 37:23-24, Proverbs 16:9, and James 1:5). Second, pray. Continually ask God to keep his promise and to direct you in the way you should go. Third, use the brain that God has given you. Do the research so that you are making an informed decision. Carefully think it through. Write down the advantages and disadvantages that occur to you. Do not allow yourself to be governed by emotion or instant gratification! Fourth, ask wise Christians for their advice and prayer. Fifth, be regularly reading and hearing the Word. God often gives us the direction we need in the Word, especially through the preached Word. But if we are not in church we will never hear it. Sixth, if at all possible, do not rush into the decision. If you have a deadline, use all the time allowed to make the decision. Seventh, consider the feasibility of taking the plunge. Sometimes only by trying something can we know if it is right for us. But is this feasible? For example, it is usually more feasible for the single person to try out a job in another state than it is for someone who is married with several children. Also, trying out something to see if it is right is not feasible at all for certain decisions, such as getting married.

Most importantly, when making a difficult decision remember Romans 8:28 and relax! Romans 8:28 declares, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” God has promised to cause all things to work together for good for Christians—even poor decisions. Even when we don’t make the best decision, God has promised that he will work it for good in our lives, but in a way and time that he ordains. This is no excuse to skip the process I described above. Rather, it is a great comfort, one that reminds us that God is not hindered by our ill-advised decisions. Even these will be used by him for our ultimate good!

So if you need travel directions, consult a map or a portable GPS device. But if you need direction for life decisions, consider the steps that I’ve recommended to you. Know that God has promised to guide you and to work all things for good.

May 2005