I was feeling discouraged. There is so much hurt in the world. Marriages falling apart and children left hurting on the battlefields of life. Businessmen who don’t know what the word ethical means and who destroy lives without blinking an eye. Even children of God contribute to the destruction that leaves people bleeding. Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.

I wonder what God thinks about this. I wonder why it is like this. What is the cause of all the bad decisions we make?

In one sentence Petra gives us a glance at her husband’s innermost feelings: My husband met another, younger woman. He did not weigh the pros and cons or think clearly.

Yes, that’s the answer to my questions: We struggle to think clearly. Actually, we simply struggle to think. We make decisions without really thinking about it. Like Petra’s husband. Maybe the younger woman made him feel better. Maybe something itched and he made a decision without thinking about it. Without asking what is the right thing to do. Without thinking about the consequences. Without thinking …

And before we point too many fingers at Petra’s husband and others who make poor decisions, let’s have a look at our own choices. Have a look at the small battles in your life. How many are related to not too fresh choices made by you and by others?

You see, we make decisions without taking everything into consideration. We allow our emotions to play too big a role. We don’t analyse everything piece by piece and weigh the advantages and disadvantages. And the consequences are catastrophic.

A child of God must ⁸… have a good grip on himself (and herself) …

This is an instruction. In all decisions. Big ones and small ones. With our loved ones, when they do things we don’t like. At work, where sometimes it is really tough and we have to decide how to react. We have to make decisions all the time. And if we can just think clearly and soberly each and every time, there will be much less trouble in our world.

What makes it even more difficult is the baggage that we drag along. My wife struggled to master the program that we use to record our radio talks. When she calls from the storeroom where we do the recordings, my temperature immediately rises a few degrees. And when I reach her, the volume button on my voice has already been turned up a notch or two.

It’s caused by emotions from the past. No, it is my fault for allowing the emotions from the past to affect my decision about how I’m going to act. No clarity and certainly not being in control. And before we know it, it escalates into a small battle.

Let’s be honest with one another: We are too weak to make all the decisions we have to make every day. We need reinforcements. We must ask the Holy Spirit to come and help us. We must do our part as well, and every time before we react, just breathe deeply first and think clearly.

Scripture
Titus 1:6-10

Reflection
What do your decisions look like?
Where do you struggle to make clear decisions?
Where do you need to be more in control?

Prayer
Holy Spirit, please help me to subject my will to your will. Sometimes I feel weak and have to fight hard against the flesh. Please make me strong and make me sober. Amen.