I spent some time this morning reflecting on Psalm 103. The whole chapter is worth meditation if you have time today, but I feel especially drawn to verses 13-14. 

As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

What does it mean to show compassion? We recently sat down with a young woman who was struggling to make decisions. She wanted to do what God wanted her to do, but felt paralyzed to step forward into anything. In our meeting, the Lord reassured her that if she is acknowledging God in the decision she is making that He will direct her path (Prov 3:6). We understood that even in moments where God is silent and she is forced to choose between two or more equally good opportunities and options, that it is God’s compassion to train us up in the way we should go that keeps him silent (Prov 22:6). A loving father knows his children must learn to make decisions, so he will string along decisions for us to make that train us but make no difference to him. Picking an outfit for the day feels like a major decision to a child, but a loving parent gives them the choice early so they learn to easily choose. 

About two years ago now, Cindy and I were faced with a choice to move. We kept praying and asking God to tell us where to go, willing to go anywhere, but God remained silent. Over several months, we became convinced that God had something big planned for Oregon City, so we stayed. As those plans have begun to unfold and become more clear, God has reassured us that the decision for where we lived did not matter to him. We would have been led to help people the same as we do here anywhere we could have gone. If it had mattered, He would have clearly shown us. God’s great power is to take our decisions and weave them into His great plan. Rest today in God’s compassion: If you’re trying to choose between things and God is silent, He is teaching you how to choose and is thereby showing you his great love and compassion. 

Yielding Prayer: 

Father, I yield my way to you today. I have been avoiding some decisions out of fear, afraid that I could go the wrong way because you weren’t clear. However, I see now that you are lovingly letting me choose. It is your love and compassion that helps me grow and mature, and I see that this is good for me. I commit to acknowledging you today in my decisions, pausing to wait for your wisdom and direction, but I further commit to choosing wisely when you don’t answer. I accept the truth that you have already prepared me to make the decisions that you are silent on right now. Help me Father, to do what you would do. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.