Pressure's Off
Psalm 121:3
“He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3, NIV).
Have you ever struggled to make a decision because you’re afraid you might choose wrong? As a young man in college, I felt overwhelmed by the pressure of declaring a major. I thought that whatever I chose would limit my career options for the rest of my life. And I wasn’t an 18-year-old who knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. I liked everything, and I liked learning about everything (I still do). I wanted to major in everything! But I had to choose one.
What if I make the wrong decision?
What if this doesn’t work out the way I thought it would?
What if this isn’t God’s will for me?
What if I can’t do this?
What if this doesn’t make me happy?
These thoughts have the potential to paralyze us with fear. The Apostle Peter had some of the same concerns. In Matthew 19:27, he said to Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matt 19:27). In other words, “We’ve taken a big leap with you, Jesus. Will it be worth it?”
This is a normal human struggle. That’s why I find hope in Psalm 121:3, “He will not let your foot slip.” God is not the kind of God who withholds information that we need to carry out His will. He doesn’t hide His will from us when we ask, and then punish us for not following His will that He never gave us. If we have a habit of praying about things and a posture of listening and obedience, God will not let our foot slip.
He will tell us what we need to know when we need to know it. He may not give us the full plan or answer all our questions (in my experience, He rarely does that), but He will give us the next step. And if we are about to take the wrong step, He will stop us.
So, the pressure’s off. It’s not up to you to figure out the best path for your life and make it happen. That’s God’s domain. It’s up to us to trust Him, obey what we already know, and be ready to take the next step when He reveals it. Seek first His kingdom, and let God worry about the rest.
Sometimes I feel like your blog is here specifically for my own struggles. I have been struggling to make decisions about some very serious medical treatments. Your blog has come at a very appropriate time for me.