Decisions, decisions. Some are small, some are life-changing milestones. Like “Where do I go to college? Is he/she ‘the One’ I’m going to marry? Is this the right job?”
We can do the research, list the pros and cons, and ask advice. Often there are trade-offs, and priorities are key. But sometimes the solution doesn’t come from any of these methods. Often, we lack the wisdom or the right facts to properly make the decision. And we certainly can’t predict the future.
But there is Someone who can.
When my husband Kelvin and I were preparing to leave our first church, we spent six months seeking God and checking out new opportunities. We had a short list of criteria, but none of them materialized in the end. God new what we really needed. In all those months of searching, our new church was not even open yet. But during that time our faith grew. Our new home was a great match for us, and we stayed there 22 years!
God not only knows the outcome of every choice, He also knows what we really need for our ultimate fulfillment and joy. He tells us, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Kelvin and I are now facing a double milestone: retirement and buying a house. We don’t know where we’re going, but we know God has a place for us. How do we know?
Two reasons: 1. We believe God’s promises to meet all our needs “according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). He says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
2. Since we have been through uncharted waters several times before, our experience tells us that God will provide for us; He has never let us down. But He expects us to be willing to accept His way, not ours (which turns out to be better anyway), and to be prepared to wait for His perfect timing. This strengthens our faith and trust in Him and His wisdom which is always beyond our own.
Milestones are markers of faith in action. May God encourage you in your milestones!