Decisions And Stress Seem To Go Hand In Hand
There’s not a person alive who hasn’t made a decision and wondered if they made the right choice. Some decisions aren’t life-changing, but others can be. My post yesterday on what I kept from the Nordstrom Sale was all about decisions, but I’m not stressing over those. However, decisions on a college or career choice, who to marry, or where to live can be stressful. It seems like big decisions and stress go hand in hand.
Do you remember having a Magic 8 Ball as a child? I loved that thing, and I asked it a thousand questions over the years. If I didn’t like the answer it gave me, I would shake it until it finally came up with the answer I wanted. Life isn’t quite as simple as it was when I was a child. The decisions keep coming, but the answers aren’t as easy as shaking a Magic 8 Ball.
When you leave your house, you’ll decide whether to turn right or left. We never know how that one decision can affect our lives. Turning left might put you in a traffic jam that makes you late for work while turning right might give you the opportunity to see a beautiful rainbow. If you turn left, you might feel stressed knowing you’re going to be late for work, but that’s not life-changing unless you lose your job.
Some decisions recently have affected me, and others I love. Those decisions cause me the most stress because I know it isn’t just me who has to live with them. When I’m faced with decisions like this, I try to look for the Lord’s guidance.
In this case, I can see the Lord’s hand at work. Doors that seemed closed suddenly opened, bringing about more decisions. When another closed door opened up out of the blue, I was certain that the Lord was at work. However, everyone wasn’t as thrilled with the decisions as I was, and doubt started to creep in.
I developed a case of the “what ifs,” which made me start to second guess the decision. The what-ifs can send you down a rabbit hole, and the worst-case scenarios take up space in your mind. When the what-ifs start, seeing the Lord’s handi-work disappears.
I was talking to my mother, going over all the reasons for the decision. I mentioned that I thought it was the right choice and that I was certain the Lord was behind the scenes, making everything fall into place. Once I hung up the phone, I looked at my verse of the day.
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
I guess the Lord thought I needed some confirmation. Lol! If that wasn’t enough, this was my verse of the day yesterday.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
It would appear that the Lord is scolding me for not putting my trust in Him! I got the message LOUD and CLEAR!
There is no room for stress and trust in the same thought. If I put all my trust in the Lord, then stress has no choice but to vacate the premises. Stress is a tool of the devil, and trust is a tool of the Lord.
So… so long stress, and hello, trust! I know who I want to follow!
To GOD Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
I’m definitely working on trusting in the Lord and trying not to stress over trivial matters at this stage of my life. Thank you for sharing this.
Beautifully said. I hate when I worry so much and not giving all of my trust to the Lord. Proverbs:5-6 is a great reminder.
5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; 6. in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Hi Tania,
Thanks so much for this lovely and spot-on post today. I also am facing some very stressful decisions right now, and the reminder to trust and the accompanying Bible verses were just what I needed today! Blessings to you for your fun and helpful blog.
Thank you for this message- really hits home and brought me peace this morning!
Thank you for this timely reminder regarding Stress and Trust. Truly God moments showing up to guide me.
As always your thoughts and words destressed me and really put my mind at ease! Thank you.
Thank you for the reminder that stress and trust cannot be And the same thought!
While we know this, a general reminder is always helpful💛🙏
Tania,
I love your daily posts, but Sunday is always my favorite! I so appreciate your words of wisdom and inspiration! I’m so thankful for our Heavenly Father who is filled with Faithfulness and Goodness!! Blessings to you!
Trust the Lord!
Yes. Lots of stress lately here. I am glad to read this today, thank you, Tania.
You are so on target with this, Tania! I have difficulty making big decisions. Thanks for the reminder to seek God’s will and then trust Him to guide us. Your devotional posts really speak to where I live!
Well, you’re leaving us hanging! Wondering if this decision involves your blog. 🧐
No, nothing blog related. Just everyday life decisions that we all have to make.
Such a great reminder!
God puts people, situations, and opportunities in our path for a reason. When we trust and have faith in Him we are at peace. It’s when we doubt Him that we encourage distress and heartache.
Loved your lesson of the day. I prayed hard last night for help and guidance, due to my husband’s passing three weeks ago. I was ready to give up and after my prayer, I turned on You Tube, looking for something to put me to sleep. A video from Lighthouse of Wisdom popped up about women in their 70’s and 80’s suddenly becoming widows. I had never seen a video from that site before so I know it was the sign I needed. My mind and heart is a little more at peace because of it. I do believe in the power of prayer. Sometimes it is difficult to recognize the signs God sends but this one stood out. Thank you for your inspiration and confirmation of my beliefs!
Judy, I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I can’t imagine the heartache and stress you are going through. It is encouraging to know that the Lord sent you a video to ease your mind. He has you in His hands, and knows of your sorrow.
Thanks for your post again today. We have some decisions we need to make and thanks for the reminder. trust instead of stress.
Doubt definitely causes stress. Im trying daily to just lean on the Lord and look for the right decision to come from Him.
Great reminder that God is always there for us … easy to say but not always easy to truly believe. But I think God keeps sending us reminders (problems) until we get it right and relax in His provision. I’m big on the open and closed doors and try not to push hard to open a door that God has closed for me.
I enjoyed the post.
My brother and I had a magic 8 ball growing up. That brought back memories.
Thanks for this inspiring post. You are so good with words.
I enjoyed your post. I remember the Magic 8 Ball. My cousins and I spent many hours playing with it. I also remember so many times in times in my life when I spent hours, days or weeks struggling over something. And when I finally gave it to God the answer seemed so simple. It is so silly of us to struggle when God has the answer. As you say To God Be The Glory.
Great post today! Do you have a daily devotional you use… besides the Bible?
Not at this time. I’ve been looking for a good one to start.
Hi Tania.
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋AMEN‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
LOVE this!!! Happy Sunday 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
I love your Sunday posts! Thank you for this reminder ..I needed to hear this! 🥰
I’m currently making some changes in my life after the recent passing of my husband. It’s so hard but I know that God has got me. I put my faith in him.
I’m sorry, Ella. I know you are going through all kinds of emotions and changes. You are right, the Lord has you and is watching over you.
needed this one…so many things are spinning right now .. time to sit and listen…thank you
Thank you for this post. I know these verses to be true but sometimes we need a reminder.
Thank you, thank you for this. I needed it. Last night my husband was working on a project in the garage. He walked into the living room and said “ I was visited.” I said do you mean spiritually. He said “ yes”. He told me a year ago he misplaced something in his garage and this evening when he was working on his project he turned around and there it was on his work table. I told him it was his Gardian Angel. I said there were many times when I misplaced important items and as soon as I calmed myself and asked my Angel to help me a little message in my brain tells me where to look. No joke. I look and there it is. I knew I just needed to calm my spirit and I would receive an answer. I’ve been praying that my husband give his whole life up to
God, and believe he’s giving him messages. I only need to trust.
In my experience the hardest decisions we choose are usually the right ones!
Hello Tania 😊
I’m on LOA from work and haven’t received a paycheck in 2 weeks. I know the Lord is working on my heart with the trust issue.
He knows our heart ❤️
I loved my magic 8 ball too
Best. Post. Ever. Loved how you connected the dots of God talking to you. Yesterday I spent 3 hrs on tarmac in NYC trying to get home. Another 2 back at gate. After reboarding, another hour on tarmac. Folks around me losing it. Me? I managed to keep my cool because God’s got me! Made it home to KY late last night safe and sound. God will be there for us if we let Him. Shalom
Delays are so annoying, but I like to think there is a reason for the delay. It makes them much easier to handle.
so true! I think we all have trust issues from time to time . Trust in the Lord with All thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding, in ALL thy ways acknowledge Him AND HE WiLL direct thy paths . Love this post today
Proverbs 3:5-6 is such a powerful verse! I quote it to myself a lot.
Amen
Thank you for this post! I have to remind myself of this everyday.
There are no coincidences. Those verses were put in your view by God! And how quickly that devil tries to undo what God has done!
Love your Christian posts! Keep them going!
This is so true. Testing our decision against scripture and wise counsel will always lead us in the right direction. Have a wonderful weekend Tania.
Excellent Sunday post as always. There is stress but we need to recognize it and turn it to trusting that God’s got this one too. After all these years and all the ones before you would think that would come first!
Always look forward to your Sunday message! The hymn “Trust and Obey” is now stuck in my head!
I thought about adding that hymn to the post. Lol!
I am the CEO of “what ifs”…funny how easily I often forget who is in control and never surprised at my choices but ready to work His plan in the end….thank you for the vulnerability to let us know we aren’t alone in our fear and fretting. You’re the best! Have a great week!
I am doing well this morning after my hip replacement on Friday! (Arthritis!)
Pain has been manageable! Bill has booked our annual anniversary October trip. Each year he out does himself. We are taking a Holland America cruise from Boston up the coast of Maine and down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City. The temps will be in the mid fifties, so I’ll be shopping for new fall clothes! Looking for your suggestions as always!
Yay! I’m so glad to hear you are doing great after your surgery! Bill sounds like a great guy!!!
I’ve done that cruise but on NCL. It was amazing. We still talk about that vacation and it was in 2005!
Have a wonderful trip.
“To God alone goes the glory…”
I so appreciate you, your posts and your heart. It’s crazy to me how one single decision can impact your entire life. I’m still a work in progress at 56, but when I read your blogs I feel like I’m going to be alright. Well, just back from a walk along the shores of Lake Erie and now it’s time for my daily devotion time.
Have a blessed day!
Enjoyed reading this today. All so true. I had a Magic 8 Ball, too when I was young! Like you, I loved it!
That was one favorite toys.
Thank you , I needed to hear this today .
Kimberly
Love this message. Being overwhelmed with making decisions is certainly not a good place to be. How do we get ourselves in these messes? It verily isn’t where God wants us. Thank you again for the reminder to trust Him.
Beautifully said! Something we all need to remember.
Sometimes decisions are so hard to make! Thanks for these words!
Thank you again for another well needed mini sermon but yet your Sunday posts always speaks volumes
I’m wishing you a very blessed week
I love this post! A reminder to trust in God! Amen!
I needed that reminder today! Health care concerns for my mother, husband and son. Plus the stress of work. Also had an interview for a different job. The old saying, When it rains it pours, has never applied to me as much as it does now. Trust in the lord always!
Oh, my. That’s a lot to handle all at once. I know the Lord is with you, so lean on Him as much as possible.
“There is no room for stress and trust in the same thought.” I will remember that one. Thank you for the timely reminder of this. I’ve been trying to be led by my faith as well, and sometimes the doubt creeps in.
Amen Tania Amen !!!! I keep reminding myself of Proverbs 3:5-6. Enjoy your SONday.
~Lisa~
I really needed this today. Struggling at work in a toxic office environment. Fearful every day they will cut me from the project, before I find another position to go to. Thank you for your post. ❤️
I’m so sorry. I know that is stressful and you probably dread going to work every day.
Great message