As we’ve talked about making hard decisions in our lives, we’ve established that the ability to choose one thing over another is actually a gift of empowerment. Knowing, then, that making decisions is a form of power, why is it so often difficult? I believe there are a couple factors that are worth our time to discuss. 

First of all, I think it’s common to put off making choices due to boredom or laziness. It’s easy to delay decisions that might cause us inconvenience or that we perceive will require extra time or effort, especially when we already feel overextended and tired. What we don’t realize, however, is that making the decision(s) we’ve been avoiding will usually imbibe us with a fresh surge of energy. 

This leads me to the second and most prevalent reason we avoid tough choices — fear. There’s a famous proverb from the Medieval age that says, “Every decision is a thousand renunciations.” To put it in today’s language, for every choice we make to pursue one thing, we have to say no to a thousand others. For example, if I say “yes” to marrying one person, I have to say “no” to whoever else might come down the road. In fact, I think lots of people today struggle with this because they’re not sure they want to limit themselves to a relationship with just one person. However, by failing to make the important decision to commit, they are missing out on the joy, companionship, and love that comes from marriage. In other words, their fear is keeping them from a choice to experience God’s best. This can be true in many different scenarios. 

Friend, hard choices are the key to a joyous and successful existence. Don’t let the fear of what could be keep you from an even more abundant life; the kind that is always one decision away. In Jesus, you are constantly in motion, being led by His Spirit as He faithfully works to complete the good work He has begun in you. Cooperate with Him, and make tough choices when you need to so that He can continue to create something great and glorious in your life!