The Courage to Make Decisions – Sunday, August 24, 1958
The power of decisions is sometimes seized from us by too long a delay. And while we should never be stampeded, never too swiftly persuaded in a matter of major choice, neither should we wait so long that we let life waste away.
Time slips from us, and circumstances are altered by each instant. Indeed, it is not possible to reconstruct any absolutely identical set of circumstances. Once we close a door, we never open it again on exactly the same scene. We are never standing still—not even in indecision, not even in inactivity.
Time will be different in another hour, in another instant. And even if all the other elements could remain unaltered, the passing days and seasons take their toll from the total of time, regardless of what we do or fail to do.
But still we must not be pressed into panic or rushed into deciding wrongly, for there are false and foolish steps as well as safe and sure ones; urges to evil as well as to good; steps down as well as steps up—all of which impresses the need for a prayerful approach to all problems, to all the choices that are offered; and the need for predicating each step upon sound principles.
We have to start; we have to keep moving; we have to work; we have to make a living and do the essential duties each day—even when things aren’t just as we would want them.
Honest, useful work; honorable, constructive activity (even if it isn’t just what we want) is immeasurably better than inactivity and may open up other avenues that will lead to what we want, or to something better than we now know.
We have to make decisions as they come, as soundly as we can, not being stampeded, not being rushed into wrong ways, but taking the first solid step, we can see—and having faith that He who helped us see the first step will then help us to see the second and will help us to the solid and satisfying thing we so much seek.
With good and prayerful purpose, and in good faith, we must have the courage to make decisions. *
*Revised.
August 24, 1958
Broadcast Number 1,514