Overcoming Impossible Odds
Two missiles are about to strike the East Coast and the West Coast. Which one does Superman save? Lois Lane and Superman’s buddy, Jimmy, are on the West Coast, but Superman gave his word to Eve Teschmacher, Lex Luthor’s girlfriend, that he’d save her grandmother on the East Coast. He can’t be in two places at once, so he must choose between remaining true to his word and saving the people he loves. Each choice causes him to sacrifice something crucial to who he is. The good guy who always tells the truth and keeps his word, or the man who saves people.
Best-selling books and movies are full of emotional contradictions that cause psychological tension. It keeps us turning the page, but it also makes characters and plots relatable because life is all about choices. Some are easy, fast decisions, but others we wrestle with, hoping and praying we made the right pick.
Do I stay loyal to the company I work for and hope a promotion will come, or do I take a higher-paying job at an unknown company and hope I’ll like the work and the people?
Do I send my kids to public school if I’m unsure of the curriculum they're teaching, pay the financial hit of sending them to private school, or homeschool and lose the additional source of income?
Do I pay my credit card down because of the high interest rate, or pay my mortgage or rent on time?
Do I have my child focus on one sport so they’ll get a college scholarship, or do I have them play multiple sports to be more well-rounded?
Do we have more children or be content with the number we have?
Is there a right or wrong answer to these questions? There’s no way to know. We can seek guidance from others, and they’ll say what worked for them, but some choices are individual or situational.
While we can’t see the future, we know someone who can.
James 1:5 states, “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.” God wants us to come to Him with our indecision. When my boys ask their father for advice, my husband lights up and is happy to help them. It is the same with God. Matthew 7:9-11 says, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
But what if God remains silent?
Sometimes it’s a test. God’s waiting to see if we’ll make the right decision. Often, when we move, God moves, either to give us the next challenge or to gently offer correction and guide us back on the right path.
The key is to rely on God for the outcome while we focus on the next step. Psalm 119 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Lamps are needed when it’s dark and unknown. A lamp’s light may only go a few feet up the path, but that’s all we need to take the next step and trust God will get us there.
Know God, know His word, and seek His wisdom. He will light your path when you have faith that His way is the best destination.