“. . .for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
Making decisions can be very hard, especially when it comes to our health. Over the years I have learned to pray about decisions, especially big decisions. I have also learned to listen for the answers to those prayers. Sometimes the answers come through other people, sometimes through circumstances, and other times through intuition or direct revelation from God.
The year leading up to my colostomy, as I continued to waste away and grow weaker and weaker, I continually asked God for His wisdom and guidance and an answer to my deteriorating health. For the first time I seemed to get absolutely no response from God, no answer in any fashion whatsoever. Everything worked out eventually, and my health has improved since the surgery, but it took me aback that God did not seem to give me any help with my decision for surgery.
About a week ago, late one night during prayer, God gave me an answer, a simple one: It had to be my decision. I understood immediately what He meant. I had fought the decision to have a colostomy all along. I would not even consider it until I had no other choice and there was really no other option.
If God had pressured me, or anyone else for that matter, to have the surgery–I would have balked. I would have resisted, and probably went into the surgery and come out of it with resentment and without the attitude I needed to deal with the process.
When it was solely my decision to make, and when I made it, I went into the surgery with the attitude I needed to deal with everything involved in it.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. God gives us the tools, the wisdom, the insight and common sense to make correct decisions and follow the right path. Very often we need merely to make the decision to do what is difficult and challenging. But too often we resist doing the hard or difficult things that come into our path, and that difficult path may be the one we must decide to take.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that even though You are with us, we must move our feet and take the steps that lead to a good outcome. Amen.
About The Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and an Ostomy to deal with, yet God gives him the strength to live each day with hope and faith.
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Karlton, I’m so glad you shared this. How good the Lord was to leave that big decision to you and show you why.
Having ADD, I have trouble making everyday decisions that are trivial in comparison with the one you speak of here. And sometimes I have the strong impression that God is telling me that it’s fine with him whatever I choose, that He wants to build up my trust in Him.
Grace and peace to you as you continue to recover and get used to new realities.
I agree that making decisions regarding our health can be very difficult because of the complexity of many of these decisions. For myself, making decisions relating to medical treatment has been complicated by the moderale to severe multiple chemical sensitivities that I had developed. Deciding upon and then trying multiple treatments in which my body reacted badly to and even worsening my condition and ability to function, had brought a sense of insecurity in me. Initially in my illness, I did not intentionally seek the Lord for these decisions. As my eyes were opened to my sin in this, I began to seek Him in prayer. At one point I realized that I had never really repented of my sins and believed in Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. In my living room I invited Him into my life, I believed. However, the rollercoaster in decision-making continued. Over time, through persistent daily reading of the Word, I began to understand that hearing the Voice of Jesus, takes time to develop. Just like an infant may recognize her mother’s voice, she has to learn what the words mean. In infancy in Christ, I struggled to understand His words, but as I continue to grow and mature in listening, learning and loving His ways, I understand His instructions better.
The attitude and motive of my heart are essential in this understanding. When I pray, I am to pray with a humble heart (I need His help), with an honest heart (I am hurting and confused), with a submitted heart (May Your will be done), with a persistent heart (cry out day and night), with a believing and trusting heart (faith in His promise to guide me and move in me) and an abiding heart (rest in Christ, waiting for Him). May my desires be His desires. May my will be submitted to His will. May my decisions be made for the sake of His kingdom and for His glory. Then, my choices will be pleasing to Him. And that’s all that really matters.
I’m glad, Karlton, you shared your experience with decision-making with faith in the Lord, and for the opportunity to share here with others. May God bless us all as we grow in knowing Jesus Christ more and more each day. God’s peace go with you.