This is a big week. My husband and I have been talking about remodeling our house pretty much since we moved in nearly nine years ago. The idea of moving is (almost) out of the question. First of all, the view from our back porch could be a brochure for a vacation home. Second, the sentimental mother in me can look across the lake and see the mountain where my son and his bride got married. And finally, and most importantly, we are just too dang lazy to pack up a house.
A lot of the big decisions have already been made—what we can afford, what needs to be changed, what will stay the same—but the seemingly endless options involving flooring, colors, hardware, lighting, appliances, partridges, pear trees, bright copper kettles, and whiskers on kittens are overwhelming. We realize that we are likely in our “forever home,” so the details are magnified, at least in my mind. Individually, each decision seems fairly insignificant, but when I have to make a lot of decisions quickly, I quickly transfer into deer in the headlights mode and I don’t always make the best choices.
In the Old Testament, prophets were consulted about big decisions. Additionally, the high priest carried gemstones known as the Urim and Thummim to help determine God’s will in some situations. The exact manner in which the Urim and Thummim were used is not clear, but the “rules” may have been akin to flipping a coin. If only there were prophets and gemstones to help me with these decisions!
In Philippians 4:6-7, we are told “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand….” The praying part and the thanking God for what He has done are both easy enough, but does God really care about tile color in my bathroom or whether the fixtures should be stainless or brushed nickel? And I’m not supposed to worry? How does that work? If I don’t agonize over the decisions, how will anything get done? Do I just give up and quit trying? No! God helps those who help themselves, right? (Contrary to popular opinion, that’s not a Bible verse.) But even though it’s not Biblical, it’s still good advice. Just ask Sophocles: “Heaven ne’er helps the men who will not act.”
When we’re faced with problems, large or small (even something as insignificant as backsplash patterns), God tells us to pray about them and then TRUST that He’s got us covered. Over the next few weeks, I will try to practice what I’ve been preaching here, remembering that I am not in charge, but He is most definitely in control. For the next few weeks, I’ll be praying for the peace which passes understanding. Feel free to back me up on this!
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.
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