Overcoming Indecision

“Slaying the Quiet Killer”

Hello, Writer! How was your week? Were you able to make some disciplined baby steps toward freedom? If you struggled with where to start, don’t worry. This week, we’re going to take a look at overcoming the hurdle of indecision.

Indecision is one of the obstacles that tries to kill our dreams before we ever begin. It can look like continually re-editing your work and never finishing draft one. It can look like several versions of the same story…none of them completed. It can look like no movement at all because you’re not sure where to start or because your fear making the wrong choice.

Indecision can look like many things, but the good news about indecision is that you are literally only one quality decision away from becoming more decisive. Let’s take a look at some (good and bad!) examples…

Indecision in History

King Henry VIII could not make up his mind in one simple matter: who he would be his wife. You see, he had tied the woman’s ability to produce a son for his throne to her value as the “right” wife. The problem was that—out of six women—only the last produced a son who lived past age nine. That son was still alive when King Henry died. By you know what? Though King Henry began as a highly talented, skilled, athletic, and successful young ruler, he died moody and suspicious and fat. His lack of ability to commit had totally transformed him for the worse.

Indecision is like that, writer. It always looks for validation before it is willing to commit. The problem with that? Life is rarely perfect out of the box. Most of life comes to us “some assembly required.” Just like a house is built in stages—so are our lives and our stories. And guess what. That takes FAITH. Faith that if we truly commit everything will be okay, or even fabulous, in the end.

Indecision in the Bible

In the Bible, the fledgling nation of Israel struggled with indecision as they traveled toward the Promised Land. Was God trustworthy or not? Would He really do what He said? Was Egypt actually better after all? This indecision led to ingratitude and cost some of them their lives. But in the end, by God’s grace, He raised up a generation of Israelites that wholeheartedly chose to serve the Lord and though there were many relapses during the centuries, by the time Christ was born the Jewish people had become unswervingly committed to the worship of God.

Here’s the thing writer. Indecision is really a form of distrust. Of doubt. Doubt of God’s faithfulness and goodness. Indecision wants proof before it’s willing to move ahead. The problem? It’s rare that any amount of proof will satisfy indecision, because indecision is rooted in…ingratitude. Which is always angling for the “greenest” pasture and is always discouraged by the necessary discomfort of growth.

Indecision in Life

When I was an early writer, I struggled terribly with indecision and made excruciatingly slow progress in my novel because of continual editing. “This word would be better…” “Maybe I should say it this way…” But, by God’s grace, H gave me a strategy to break the “doubt” habit. I bought a journal and pen and began to write a story starting on page one in solid black ink. Granted, there were sections I scratched out as I wrote. But you can only do that so many times in a row before it gets ridiculous. And thought I didn’t get to finish that particular story—it succeeded in helping me break the block of perfectionism and see writing as an exploration and discovery. A perspective that would be critical for me to write my two published novels.

Indecision in Your Life

Indecision adds too much weight to our daily choices. Not every choice we make as we move toward our writing dreams or future will be life altering. But every choice will teach us, if we are willing to commit. Because here’s the other thing. It is really impossible to learn and grow if we will not commit and begin moving. God will guide our steps…when we take them. He will work all things together for good. But we have to be willing to walk to give him something to work with. Still feeling a bit tentative? Let’s see what scripture has to say on the subject.

• • If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. – James 1:5-8
  • And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him… Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. – Col 3:17, 23
  • He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. – Luke 17:6
  • No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:37-39

You see, writer? All God dreams are possible…all He asks us to do will be rewarded…if we truly just do it. Why? Not because we’re amazing. But because—as we rely on Him—He is faithful to keep every promise He makes.

Here’s the crux of the matter: indecision ultimately questions: Is God with me or not? Is He for me, or am I on my own? The good news is that, if we are believers, we can say with confidence, “YES. God is with us!!” And we can know He is working all things together for our good as we pursue Him and His call. And as we exercise faith to commit, we will begin to see God meet us and teach us in amazing ways.

Because here’s the thing. Faith is never about us, writer, and our ability to attain God’s promises and fulfill God’s call on our lives. It’s about God’s faithfulness to do what He said He would do if we simply trust Him and keep going. Just like the Israelites. No one would say they conquered Canaan on their own. But they had to be willing to enter the Promised Land and engage in the battle…before they could see God keep His promises.

Where to Start with Overcoming Indecision

Are you ready to start overcoming indecision? Here are some ideas to get you going.

1. 1. Practice Gratitude. Look for things to be grateful for in every situation and say “Thank you!” to God and to other people! Ingratitude is the driver of indecision’s getaway car as it robs your life! Often we are indecisive because we’re waiting for something “better.” But a choice to be grateful focuses us on what we DO have and helps us begin to see where God IS at work in our lives.
   2. Remove Ambiguity. Sometimes in response to questions and requests, we launch into a story explaining a matter instead of giving simple “yes” and “no” answers. Now, there’s nothing wrong with explanations, but if you begin to answer people’s questions with simple fact-based “yes’s” and “no’s,” you will be amazed how that shift can begin affect your ability to decide. Why? Because sometimes indecision is a result of over-conceptualizing and over-emotionalizing a thing where simple facts are all that’s needed.
   3. Focus on God’s character. Spend some time focusing on God’s character every day (His names, promises, and times He’s worked on your behalf!). When indecision rears its ugly head, remember Who God Is in the face of your fear, then ask for His help—for Him to be that for you now—thank Him for it, and make your choice.
   4. Practice Consistency. Practice keeping simple routines, being on time for appointments, meeting deadlines. Sometimes it will be a little painful. Sometimes you might not do as good of a job as you hoped. But the work that’s finished and the commitments that are kept are ones that we learn from. And as you do a thing wholeheartedly, it’s amazing how our undistracted attention will enable us to see ways to improve as you go.

You are only one quality decision away from becoming more decisive! When you being to commit—not only will we begin to move toward our dreams once more and see them fulfilled in our lives…we will begin to enjoy life and the people in it more, too. Because here’s the final thing…

Indecision is a killer. It will steal opportunities, joy, and ultimately your relationships with God and others—because when we are constantly angling for “what’s better,” we miss the good in front of us today. And we ultimately fail to receive the future God’s promised. Simply because we never trusted Him enough to lead us to it.

But here’s the most beautiful thing of all. When we choose to passionately pursue God and His call. He is the one who will make all things beautiful in their time. So encourage you this weekend…that project that’s been on your mind…just choose one small thing and do it. Really do it. Until it’s done. And then celebrate. You’re one step closer to your future.

#choose #joy #walking #gratitude #EveryWriterWriting