When Decisions Feel Difficult, Mama

Tonight we will talk about what to do when you struggle to make decisions as a mama.

Transcript

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Do you ever find that you struggle as a mama to make decisions? We're going to talk about that tonight on Midlight Mamas. I find it interesting to talk about the subject of making decisions as a mama because I myself am not a great decision maker. It's taken me years of making small decisions a little bit at a time in order to be able to grow my decision-making muscle, especially when it comes to big decisions. And tonight I wanted to take us to Scripture because I feel like the greatest answers to all the things that trip us up is God's Word. So I want to take us first to James 1.5 that simply says, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God. So I think that we see that the very first place to go, if we just don't know what we're supposed to do, is directly to God and his word. And then we come upon Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 21. And it says, Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand, or whenever you turn to the left. And this is written at a time when Isaiah is speaking to the people who were anxious, rebellious, and looking for quick human solutions. They wanted to run to Egypt for help instead of trusting God in the middle of their hard season. God gives a promise of future restoration to them, and part of that promise is personal guidance. So the voice comes from behind. That is a practical application for us because it is like a shepherd walking behind the flock or a teacher walking behind students ready to correct and guide. And then it says, When you are about to turn the wrong way, to the right or the left. The instruction is clear and simple. This is the way, walk in it. You see, mamas, God does not leave his people guessing. Even when they start to drift or feel confused, he stays close enough to direct them. So when your mind feels foggy and every choice around you feels heavy, this is a comforting verse, because it does not say you have to figure everything out with perfect clarity. It says that even when you start to turn the wrong direction, there is a voice behind you, steady, present, and kind, that can still guide you. You don't have to see the whole path, you only need to hear the next step. This is the way, walk in it. And then I want to take you over to Psalm 32 and verse 8, and it says, I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. In Psalm 32 is a Psalm of David, and it's about the joy of forgiveness, because after confessing his sin and experiencing the relief of being cleansed from that sin, the tone shifts. And in verse 8, God Himself speaks a personal promise of ongoing guidance. It's as if the Lord says, Now that you are close to me, again, I will keep leading you. So he makes three promises here to David. He says, I will instruct you, meaning he will give insight and understanding. I will teach you in the way you should go, meaning he will point out the right path. And I will counsel you with my eye upon you. He will watch over you with attentive and personal care. And that image of being guided with his eye is especially tender for us as mamas because it suggests close, attentive leadership from God, not loud commands or forced control, but a watchful, caring presence that notices when you start to drift and gently redirects you. So, mamas, when you feel cloudy and decisions feel heavy, this verse is reassuring. Because God does not require you to have perfect clarity before he will lead you. So, mamas, we have this really sweet assurance from the Lord that he is with us in decision making, and even when we have cloudy moments, because we are in the midst of raising babies and children and we sometimes get weary, the Lord is with us to direct us in our decision making. And I don't know about you, but that is a beautiful thing to me. And I want to take you now over to a beautiful place in Scripture, and it's found in Proverbs 3, 5 through 6, and it says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. This verse sits in the opening section of Proverbs, where a father is teaching his son how to live wisely. The larger theme is that true wisdom begins with trusting God rather than relying on ourselves in this psalm. And there's parts to this. The first one is a command, trust in the Lord with all your heart. That basically means for us to put our full weight on Him. The Hebrew idea of trust is like leaning your whole body onto something strong enough to hold you. And then the other command, lean not on your own understanding. And this means don't make your limited perspective the final authority, mama. This is not anti-thinking. It simply means our understanding is incomplete, especially when we're tired, emotional, or foggy. And then the next one says, in all your ways acknowledge Him, which means bring God into every part of life in every decision, not just the spiritual ones, but every day, your daily decisions. And here's the promise He will direct your path. God will direct, clear, and guide the way. The picture is of a path that is leveled and made passable, not necessarily easy, but directed by Him. So, Mamas, when decisions feel overwhelming, these verses can offer relief. You are not required to figure everything out with perfect clarity. You are invited to trust God with your whole heart, even the tired, foggy parts, and acknowledge Him in the middle of the decision. You can still think and weigh options, but you don't have to carry the full weight of getting it right on your own understanding. God promises to strengthen the path as you lean on him. And one other thing to think about, Mamas, is that many of our decisions have to do with things that we bring into our homes or into our lives. And I just want to remind you, as a good friend reminded me today, that things that are given by God are meant to be tools to use for him, not to enslave us, but to be used by God for his glory. So that is something to think about as you make these decisions daily. Is this a tool I can use for the Lord, and how do I use it to give him the glory? I will rest in that idea myself tonight, and I hope you do too, Mama. And for now, I'd like to leave you with a blessing from number six, twenty four through twenty six. May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face to shine upon you, be gracious unto you and give you peace. Amen. And Mamas, for those of you who are making big decisions right now, I pray God's blessings over you in the midst of this time. Until next time, mamas, take care and we'll talk again soon.