First person: Are you ever fearful of how the Lord will answer your prayers?

Paralysis of analysis — the inability to make a decision or move forward because of overthinking a situation.

Being overwhelmed by too many choices or continually researching beyond what is reasonable can lead to inaction at best and continual spiraling downward at worst.

Ever experienced it?

It’s no fun for the person nor those trying to help them.

To avoid the paralyzed state when faced with decisions, experts suggest practicing with small decisions such as what to have for lunch.

Process of elimination

From there, always set a deadline for when the decision needs to be made and use the process of elimination to weed out as many options as possible early in the process.

I’m a big fan of the process of elimination. It not only narrows down the selections, but also provides a sense of accomplishment because in order to choose what items are eliminated a decision must be made.

It’s also important to own the decision once it’s made. Second guessing only takes away joy and energy from whatever decision was made.

Doing the best we can

We’ll make the right call sometimes and sometimes we won’t, but the best we can do is to do the best we can with what we know and understand.

Of course, remembering to lean on God for guidance provides the ultimate peace and confidence as we make decisions along life’s journey.

It sounds simple really, even cliché, to pray about our decisions, but is it possible we sometimes avoid seeking direction from the Lord because of a fear of the answer?

Sensing a call to the missions field, one young believer didn’t want to pray about it at first because she feared the answer.

Another young woman knew wholeheartedly she was called to missions, so much so, she was shocked when the Lord’s direction pulled her back from the locations she had pinned on her map.

Recently, a friend shared with me her anger over her health situation and how she desperately wants to be out actively working for the Lord, but she’s not able to hold out.

Another friend is extremely capable and able but isn’t interested in helping others nor doing anything extra at all really.

The friend admits not praying for growth in this area previously but seems more open now.

Growth in the struggle

A pastor friend shared how exhausting it is attempting to motivate individuals to truly open themselves up and let the Lord work through them — to not fear where it all leads. However, while it can be discouraging, it’s in the struggle that we see the Lord do some amazing things, my pastor friend explained.

That’s also where we grow the most, he added.

So, as you are praying for our team as we evaluate and reset during 2025, pray that we will have the courage to truly seek and follow the Lord’s mission for our ministry assignment.

We would love to pray the same for you as well as hear your stories of how the Lord is working in and through you, your family, your ministry, your church, your association and/or your community.

Reach out by phone at 800-803-5201, email us at news@thealabamabaptist.org or write us at 3310 Independence Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209.