By Conner Compton
Life is full of difficult decisions, and no one is exempt from this reality. These choices challenge our values, priorities, and faith. They often force us to balance personal desires, financial considerations, and obedience to God. While the right path—what God desires—can be challenging to follow, the profound blessing of having God by our side makes every struggle worthwhile.
Decisions are a constant part of our daily lives. Some are trivial, like what to eat for breakfast, while others have a significant impact, like career choices, financial investments, or moral dilemmas. The difficulty of these decisions often comes from their consequences and the conflicts they bring to light. For Christians, these conflicts frequently arise between personal gain and following God’s commands.
In the Bible, we see numerous examples of individuals faced with tough choices. Abraham had to choose between his love for his son Isaac, and obeying God’s command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-14). Joseph had to decide whether to succumb to the seductions of Potiphar’s wife or remain faithful to God and his master, even at the cost of his freedom (Genesis 39:7-20). These stories show that choosing God’s way often involves significant personal sacrifice and goes against immediate self-interest.
Money and personal desires are common areas where difficult decisions manifest. The lure of wealth and the pursuit of personal ambitions can lead to compromises that deviate from God’s will. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus teaches, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” I take this verse as God wanting us to choose him over everything else, and when we take that leap of faith and put all our trust in him, that’s when the blessing start to come.
Many times, the right decision according to God’s will, can seem counterintuitive from a worldly perspective. Giving generously when finances are tight or maintaining integrity at the risk of losing a job creates a challenging decision. Yet, as Christians, we are called to trust in God’s provision and sovereignty. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us, “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 straight your paths.” When I hear this verse, it makes me think of a something the late Billy Graham said “when it seems like God is nowhere to be found and you feel like you’re all alone. This is when God is the closest, because you must live by faith alone. This shows me that when you’re at your low and you’re struggling, that is when God is with you most”. As long as you trust in the Lord in the difficult decisions you will be blessed beyond imagination.
Despite the difficulties, choosing to follow God’s will brings unparalleled blessings. The greatest blessing is the assurance of God’s presence and guidance. When we align our decisions with God’s will, we invite Him to walk with us, providing strength, wisdom, and peace. Psalm 37:5-6 promises, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
Obedience to God cultivates spiritual growth and character development. Trials and tough decisions refine our faith, making us more Christ-like. James 1:2-4 teaches, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Overall, you’re probably wondering why we are talking about decisions so much. It’s because in our everyday life and especially in our finances we are faced with challenging decisions throughout each day, and sometimes we have to make some hard decisions that we do not always want to make. But I write this article in hope that even in these difficult times we have courage in the choices and decisions that we make that God is going to be with us.
Life is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. He never told us that it would be easy, and I believe that we all get caught up in the idea sometimes that we aren’t going to face difficulties or challenges. It is quite the opposite and as soon as we realize that life is hard and full of difficult decisions, we will finally start realizing the blessings that God has given us. We have to put our faith and trust in God, and when we do we will be blessed beyond our wildest dreams. When you face challenges in this life, and you will, think of what is said in Romans 8:28 “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Conner Compton is a senior at Virginia Tech majoring in Financial Planning and Wealth Management.