Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

About ten years ago, I worked at a corporation where the Operations Executive, Nancy, conducted a center meeting two months after I was hired. She wanted to communicate that the site was going to be closed and operations relocated to the other site she was overseeing. After the meeting I approached her for a quick word because I wanted a role with more responsibilities and an increase in salary. I mentioned I was working at the current center and was one of those who were onboard with the relocation. In fact, I was happy about it – the new location was closer to home, but I did not mention that. She was pleased because many did not want to move. I asked if there were opportunities for more responsibilities because I am a prior military officer and have an MBA. She did not seem moved by my plight until she heard I had an MBA. Her son had one as well but was unemployed so she “felt for me.”  Nancy advised me to poke my head in her office after I transferred. That is what I wanted to hear, and it pacified me enough to walk away with a smile.

On my second day at the new campus, I stopped by her office and reminded her of our conversation. She said, “Schedule an appointment with Patty” who was her executive assistant. I was new there and knew only one Patricia, who was a Vice President. I emailed Patricia with some background information and asked for time to speak with her. She did not respond to my email but a week later, I overheard the administrative assistant who sat in front of me mention the other Patty to someone else. I asked who she was. When I learned that Patty was Nancy’s assistant, I felt silly. Within minutes I shot the right Patty an email asking for an appointment with her boss and landed one for that Friday. Unfortunately, Nancy had to cancel because she was going on vacation. Had I initially asked Nancy to clarify who Patty was, I would have had an appointment the week before. But who was to say it was not better to have had the meeting after her vacation. I trusted that God was still in control even though I thought I had made a huge blunder.

I never did get to have an audience with Nancy, but I eventually left the company and two months later landed with another one that paid for me to acquire licenses which I still use today. Late last year I discovered an occupation about which I am passionate and requires at least one of the licenses I acquired. This development took years to unfold but it showed that when I relinquish trust to God, I can walk in peace knowing that when things do not work according to my plan it is either not the right time or He has something better in store.

Trust Him Always

You may feel wretched with your seeming blunder

But trust that, His control the situation is still under

He allows us the choice to come and go, do this and that

Yet even if outside Hs will, He can work it for good, stat

In all your ways seek His direction

To make your steps need no correction

He wants His best for your life always

Lose not heart with this life all your days

According to Mel Robbins, author, and speaker, when you hesitate, you are signaling to your brain that something is wrong, and you need to go on the defensive. Your brain says, you did not hesitate when you brushed your teeth in the morning or when you drank a glass of water when you went into the kitchen. But you hesitated to get up, make the call, go to the gym, take a run, say “I’m sorry,” start the project, read the book or something else you know you should do.

Here is a possible scientific way to shed light on how our brain processes information. Hesitating was a safety mechanism used by our ancestors to prevent them from being killed. Today we tend to use some of the same primitive behaviors even though we are not in life-or-death situations. Neuroscientist Paul Maclean proposed the “Triune Brain” model theory which is based on three different regions. Each allows for a different degree of behavioral complexity from the others (Interaction Design Foundation).  These regions are the basal ganglia for the Reptilian Brain, the limbic system for the Emotional Brain and, the limbic system for the Emotional Brain. Believed to be developed sequentially, they function in all circumstances.

It is the Reptilian Brain that strives for perseveration of self, family, private property, and our way of life. So, to change a habit from indecision or hesitation to decisiveness would take conscious effort. Hence the reason that habits take at least 21 days to break (Maxwell Maltz).

God created us uniquely and with marvelous complexities, all for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10). You need not function in fear.

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:2

Recently I was looking at a YouTube video of some of the most beautiful places on earth. Niagara Falls was one of the places featured and the narrator talked about Nik Wallenda who crossed over it on a tight rope. He carried a long bar in his hands to help stabilize him as he made deliberate steps from one end to the other across the watery canyon. Without the bar to stabilize him, the daredevil could have been blown off-balance by winds coming from the thousands of gallons of water rushing over the edge of the falls.

In addition to the stabilizing bar, he had an anchoring rope attached from his waist to the tight rope. So, if in the worst-case scenario, he was to fall off the rope, he would not plummet to the water below.

Do not underestimate the stability that prayer can provide in your life. I have found that after I pray about a concern or challenge, I may be experiencing, I derive peace and even clarity about my next step. I always start my morning with quiet time because it sets the tone for my day. So, when I encounter troublesome stormy gusts like rowdy drivers on the road, challenges on the job, or an unexpected unfortunate circumstance, prayer enables me to maintain composure.

With prayer stabilizing and God anchoring, I can continue stepping forward, no matter what blows.

Have you ever noticed that whenever you decide to take a particular path you are challenged to keep your promise to yourself?

The bible documents several stories of heroes whose decisions were tested but we will look at just one. In Daniel 3, we find the story of three young men named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who decided to worship only God, not idols. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a golden image erected and decreed that when all people heard “all types of music” they must bow down and worship the golden image (verse 5). Otherwise, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. The three Christian men told the king that whether God saved their lives or not they were not going to worship the idol (verses 17, 18).

The word decide has Latin roots and is made up of two words, “de” meaning “off” and “caedere” meaning “cut.” To decide then is to cut off everything else except the most important thing. We tend to succumb to challenges because we give ourselves alternatives or have not committed to our decision.

Michael Jordan decided he was going to be the best basketball player in the NBA and allowed nothing to distract this pursuit. Let me bring it closer to home. Your mom, dad or provider decided they were going to provide food, clothes and shelter for you and conquered challenges to make it happen. Here is something interesting, you make decisions every day which you now perceive as insignificant or easy. But many of them seemed scary or even impossible at first, yet you rose to the challenge. You are not done yet.

Now rise to new challenges. Decide and commit. God is for you.

Romans 8:29-31 says,

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?