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All    |    Articles    |    Devotionals    |    Book Reviews    |    Mission Updates

Making Hard Decisions

by | Apr 13, 2026 | Devotionals

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives

generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

James 1:5 ESV

 

Many decisions in our lives do not have an immediate clear right or wrong answer, or we cannot perceive a clear answer when we first look at the situation. These decisions require wisdom to discern right from wrong, and to discern what is best over what may be only good. In the end, our goal is to live in godly righteousness making the very best use of the precious time given to us each day (Ephesians 5:15-16). These difficult circumstances may relate to use of substances (there are countless new man-made and herbal substances on the market), digital habits (the intrusion of digital applications and devices into our lives is only going to grow), work decisions, financial decisions, personal relationships, and many more.

Many of these decisions do have a moral element. This means that the decision does have an element of right and wrong. The decision is either praiseworthy or will bring a burden of guilt and conviction before God. Many decisions are non-moral. This means the decision is truly in the area of moral freedom. It does not matter what you choose (within bounds). In making decisions we should follow some basic processes:

  • Read your Bible regularly and compare your decisions making thoughts to what you know to be true in Scripture. If you can connect your decision to chapter and verse, the decision becomes easy. After you know what you should do, the issue becomes a struggle of the will – to act on what you know.

  • Pray about all significant decisions. Ask God for wisdom and to help you understand the Bible. Many times there is a very good and clear Bible answer, but people do not know the Bible well enough to draw out that answer. The Lord will lead as you seek His direction.

  • Get good council. This means asking people that are more godly and wise than you to help you discern the right choice. This does not mean asking people on par with you, that largely already agree with you, to affirm what you already think.

  • Ask good questions. Often reaching the right and best answer has to do with thinking clearly about a situation or question. Ask many questions to help discern truth. Below are some sample questions I use to help discern what is right and best:

     

  1. Is this morally right or wrong? Can I point to chapter and verse?

  2. Does this tend toward godliness or make me more like the world?

  3. Does this action tend toward addiction? Can I willfully stop this action for a month and not long to enter back into it? 1 Corinthians 6:12

  4. Does my spouse approve of this and think this is good?

  5. Can I afford this and also meet the needs, obligations, and goals of my family?

  6. Is this decision based on greed, jealousy, pride, or anger?

  7. If I were meeting Jesus Christ for lunch today to ask His guidance on this question, based on Scripture, what do I honestly think He would say?

  8. Is this clearly bad for my health in a long-term way? Would my doctor say I should not do this because it will hurt me?

  9. What do my parents think about this decision (depending on your parents’ character this may not be decisive, but it has weight)?

  10. Will this directly produce temptation to sin in the life of another person? We have to be careful here as this can be taken too far, but our liberty should not be used in a way that can be said to directly cause others to sin. It demonstrates a lack of love toward others. 1 Corinthians 8:12-13

 

In another area, we often must make directional decisions in our lives. What school to go to? If we are going to move or stay put? Are we going to take a new job? Who should we date? Should we date? These decisions never stop, but some are very significant. When it comes to marrying, moving, spending a very large amount of money, changing careers, and changing churches significant thought, prayer, and council should be taken before acting. Below are basic questions I take time to answer, pray about, and talk through with my spouse and others I trust before making a decision:

  1. What are the best possible things that could happen if I DO this?

  2. What are the worst possible things that could happen if I DO this?

  3. What are the best possible things that could happen if I DON’T DO this?

  4. What are the worst possible things that could happen if I DON’T DO this?

     

I will put one of these headings at the top of a page in a notebook and take time to start honestly filling out the pages. This effectively takes the many thoughts rolling around in your head and sorts them out in categories on paper. Over time, one category will get longer than others, but sometimes a major issue comes forward that alone will trump all the others. This method will help you make wise and well-reasoned decisions.

 

May the Lord give us wisdom and discernment every day to live in accordance with His will,

Pastor Vic