Having a big decision to make sends some people to bed. Others are so confident in their judgment that they can immediately decide without a second thought.
Being a Christian decision-maker should make you more confident, but, in fact, introduces the “pleasing-God” factor, which for some people can shoot the level of anxiety about a big decision off the charts.
Yesterday, I woke up knowing exactly what I needed to do about a big decision that has been in the works at Let’s Start Talking. If I share it with you, it is not because I think it is the only way to make big decisions, but rather because it is a way that has worked for me for many years now. Perhaps there is something that will help you with your big decisions.
The Acts 1 Model for Decision-Making
“It’s not for you to know the time or place”
Over a year ago, we knew that we would possibly be asked to vacate the office space that LST has occupied for the last eleven years. Highway construction outside our door threatened to take our building. Eventually the State of Texas took only part of our parking lot, so we seemed to have dodged the first bullet. Although all but one of the other tenants in our building left, we stayed put, enjoying our space and our exceptional rental terms. No decision was required, so no decision was made. Don’t let the fear of what might happen force you into decisions. No need to either fear the need to control the future or pretend you can; God does.
“Therefore it is necessary to choose “
About two months ago, an owner representative walked in and told us that they were closing our building permanently and we would need to vacate the premises by August. The possibility had become our new reality, so now a decision was required.
“. . . one of the men”
We immediately started looking at the most obvious choices for new office space, i.e., highrise office buildings in our current neighborhood. Some we liked the space, some we liked the price, some we liked the location, BUT in the beginning of our search, we did not know what was most important to us. We only found that out as we looked around and gathered information.
What we discovered was that LST was a family, not a corporation, so “corporate” space did not feel right to us. In our current office, you can park outside our door and walk right into Julie’s office and reception area. We discovered as we searched that we did not want to be a name on the elevator index and a door at the end of the hall on the fourth floor.
The eleven in Jerusalem knew they had to make a choice, but when they established the criteria for the choice—someone who had been in the group with Jesus the whole time from John’s baptism to the resurrection—the options became clearer.
“So they nominated two men”
We don’t know how big the pool was. We do know there were 120 in Jerusalem and over 500 witnesses of the resurrection in Galilee, so there could have been many, but the Eleven only found two that met the final criteria.
Knowing that we needed our own “family” space narrowed our office-space search to stand alone small office buildings. With the first few that we looked at, we started feeling much better about our choices.
Be open to the unexpected
There is no mention that the Eleven started with a short list of their friends. I can imagine that they were surprised by the two finalists.
After all of our looking, the first property that really captured our imagination was not for lease; it was for sale! We had not considered trying to purchase property until we saw a building that was perfect for us! As we crunched numbers, it became clear to us that at the right price, purchasing space would be much less expensive for us than leasing. Even considering the possibility of purchasing our own space opened up new buildings to view. Was God moving us in a new direction?
“For one of these must become . . . .”
It is the middle of July now, and our time is running out. We may have no more than six weeks left in our current office, although we have asked for more. It’s time to choose!
The Eleven did all their homework, narrowing the choice to just two men. Then they prayed and cast lots.
We have searched and looked and learned and discovered –and we have narrowed our choices to two buildings, both we think would be wonderful. There are also obstacles still and uncertainties—otherwise there would be no choice—but we have prayed that God would make the decision clear. It’s time to start deciding.
“Then they cast lots . . . .”
There is no element of chance in casting lots. God is fully in control. If you believe in the sovereignty of an immanent God, big decisions are not that scary. For me, “casting lots” is waiting until the answer is clear. I don’t know how God does that. Some might call it the promptings of the Spirit; others would say God spoke to them; and I’m ok with however you want to describe it as long as you give glory to God. What I know is that I wait until I know what the answer is. And over and over again, God has led me through big decisions in this way.
“And the lot fell to . . . “
How can you be sure that casing lots works? Does it require faith? Of course, it does. But that is what I’m sharing with you. You can trust God; it doesn’t all depend on you!
As I said earlier, I woke up yesterday and had an answer. I knew exactly what we should do, walked into the office and shared the answer with co-workers who all confirmed it. And now we have given the process over to God to make the final decision about where LST will live.
We’ve identified the decision to be made, we’ve gathered all the information and facts that we could, we’ve been open to new possibilities, we’ve prayed and narrowed the choices. We’ve done all we can do. And now we believe God will show us His way.
Let Acts 1 be your instructions, and let God be in control and you will have that peace that passes understanding.
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