"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Three women buying homes without husbands — one woman widowed twice, another widowed once, and the third never married. The transactions completed, each one struggled with doubts about having made the right decision. I observed the struggles, heard the doubts, and prayed for guidance for them. I also empathized. Making a big decision alone is not an easy thing. Carrying it out alone is even harder.

And yet none of them were truly alone in their decision-making process. God's promise to be with us and to guide us is real, if not physically tangible. And therein, I believe, lies the struggle. I have no doubt that God led each one of these women, but the lack of an audible voice to reassure them left room for doubt.

So how do we know if our decisions are truly led of God? The best answer to this was the encouragement one of these women gave to another: "If you trusted God and acknowledged Him in the process, then you have to believe that He directed your decision."

Truly, if we are learning to know God through His Word and following it to the best of our understanding, if we are submitting ourselves to His Spirit to live in and through us, and if we are trusting Him to lead and guide our every step, then as we work through decisions we can be assured that He truly is directing our steps.

Satan wants us to agonize over life's decisions, and then feel doubts afterward. God not only wants us to have peace and assurance as we make our decisions and carry them out, He promises to guide those decisions and assist us as we go through with them. Ever our constant Companion, He will never leave us nor forsake us, at any stage in the process.

"And the LORD shall guide thee continually." (Isaiah 58:11a)

"Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (I Chronicles 28:20)

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

© 2009 Fern Horst

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