Think about it a little more

The young woman wondered if she should attend nurse training. She had always wanted to enter the field, but frankly, she questioned if she could manage the difficult subjects she would have to take. She would have to think about it a little more, she thought.

The young man wanted to enter the military, but he was afraid his parents would be disappointed. He had finished college and was working toward a master's degree in psychological counseling. He mulled the decision around in his head. Then he looked at all the ramifications that might occur if he dropped out of school to pursue another career -- a career in the U.S. Army. He decided he needed to "think about it a little more," before making a decision.

The young girl wanted to try out for the softball team at her new school, but she was afraid she was unqualified and might not make the team. She needed to also think about it a little more.

The young woman who wanted to attend nurse training thought about it a little more and decided to begin her career as a phlebotomist. Then she could pursue training as a nurse gradually. She could possibly get part of her training paid for by the institution she works for, after she has been on the payroll for a period of time. That made sense to her.

The young man who desired to drop out of school and enter the Army did just what he intended. He thought a lot about what he wanted to do. Then he bravely took the step toward his dream. Although he disliked disappointing his parents who were urging him on to get his education first and then join the Army, he thought about it a little more. Then he jumped in and signed up for the military. Luckily his decision turned out to be a good one. He pursued a master's degree in counseling while in the Army and he is now a garrison commander, a colonel, in the Army. He kept thinking about it a little more and made an informed decision.

The young lady who so avidly wanted to be on the softball team at her new school failed to make the team. Many players were available at tryouts with more experience than her. She thought about it before she made her decision. Although she failed to reach her goal this time, she is no quitter. The girl plans to practice, attend all the training camps and practices that she can and then try out again. I suspect that there is no doubt she will make the team. She has given it a lot of thought and plans to take the necessary steps to make her dream a reality.

Decisions are difficult to make, yet everyone has their share of discernments to complete. If you're Christian, Scripture provides numerous answers and guidelines and helps for people. One seldom truly knows if what he's choosing is right or wrong. Will it be successful or will it fail?

The three people whose stories I'm sharing in this article are all Christian, and I'm sure they prayed to God and asked his guidance. Then I believe they thought it out and walked ahead with their decisions.

God desires that we reason things out and think about them a little more. He even offers to help us out. Isaiah 1:18a says, "Come now and let us reason together."

Often people feel that they lack the knowledge and skill to know what to do but God comes through again. He says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) Go ahead and think about it a little more and then make that decision!

Ellen Shuck holds degrees in psychology, religious education and spiritual direction and provides spiritual direction to people at her office.