By Kevin John Maddela

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

It is difficult to make decisions at every fork in the road that comes our way. We often need time to think, weigh options, and seriously examine them. It is even harder to decide when we are tempted to do things contrary to God’s will.

Growing into adulthood has confronted me with a lot of pressure. I often ask, “What comes next?” I’ll be honest that failures come when I have made poor decisions - decisions that resulted from impulsivity, or a lack of prayer. Wrong decisions take us to the wrong turn on the road.

I’ll be honest that failures come when I have made poor decisions

As I’ve tried to chase God’s plan for my life, especially when there are tough decisions to make, I have begun to ask myself several questions: Have I been ready? Have I been praying? Have I trusted God in these circumstances?

I take delight in the Lord as I carry these questions in faith and prayer.

Have I been ready?

When we are ready, God wants us to catch his blessings! We must not be sluggish; we must not be bored. We must be excited to take on what’s next for us. When we are ready for the path that God is calling us down, we cannot go wrong when we chart a new direction. We avoid wrong turns!

Have I been praying?

Prayer, whether a solemn request or an expression of thanks, is a connection to God. God sees our concerns, especially when we go off-track or lose a sense of direction. God’s power through our prayers leads to the right path. We avoid wrong turns!

The best decision is to connect to God with trust.

Have I trusted God in these circumstances?

Sometimes, we come to a point when we cannot do anything but trust God. When life takes us to the edge of a cliff, trusting God is the only way! May we never forget to trust God in all circumstances – whether we find ourselves in seemingly lost paths or even at times of heightened joys! The best decision is to connect to God with trust. And with this, we avoid wrong turns!

How then do we align our plans and timings with the Lord’s? Obedience and prayer are the key. When we are on track, it means we are trusting God fully. Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEB) says, “With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” In making decisions along our own journey, let us not forget that the Lord never fails. Let us delight in God as we acknowledge him as the perfect guide in our every undertaking.

Discussion Questions

1. Are there times when you find yourself off-track in your decisions?


2. Have you always been ready for the circumstances that come your way?


3. Have you been praying about your decisions in life?


4. How have you trusted God in all circumstances?