Decisions made without God’s guidance often rely on limited human understanding, leading to avoidable challenges and missed blessings. We can easily fall into this trap, as we see in the story of Elimelech and his family leaving Israel for Moab during a drought. Rutha 1:1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him.[1]
Although we can make mistakes in judgment, the Lord can use our missteps to show us how vital His guidance is and to encourage us to look to Him the next time. Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.[2] This wise guidance underscores the need to base our decisions on God’s Word and prayer as we seek Him. If we fail to do so, we risk relying on our own flawed and limited wisdom.
Seeking the Lord When I am Under Pressure
Famine compels Elimelech and Naomi’s family to act, yet there is no record of prayer or divine counsel. Complicated decisions often tempt us to act quickly rather than wisely, leaving God out of the process and resulting in transitions that did not need to happen. In addition, our choices in tough times might reflect fear rather than faith.
When under pressure, the best thing to do is to take a deep breath to calm ourselves and seek the Lord. God is not surprised by our circumstances and longs for us to look to Him as our shepherd. It is our sinful nature that wants to move forward without consulting God, thinking we somehow know more than God does.
As we seek the Lord, not only does this bring calm to our spirit, but the Lord begins to reveal options we would not have considered. God may remind us of the importance of wise counsel. Consulting with a godly person I trust provides clarity, helps me better understand the issue, and often leads me to a solution.
Learning From Past Mistakes
We can all learn from past mistakes if we are willing to humble ourselves before the Lord. There may have been a time in your life when you reacted to a situation much like Elimelech and Naomi, when your circumstances seemed difficult. God doesn’t waste any of our life experiences, even if they were the wrong ones. Taking responsibility for our mistakes fosters honesty, which eliminates concerns about our failures.
When we are honest, we avoid issues like lying or telling different stories. Honesty liberates us from these burdens, enabling us to change what we will do next time. As people, we are continually under construction as the Lord transforms us. As we grow in faith, we are not the same person we were ten years ago. This is a testament to God’s love for us and to how He continues to shape and mold us so we become more like Him.
To learn more about the consequences of decisions without God’s guidance, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-transition-is-difficult
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.