How to Deal with Difficult Decisions at Work
How to Make difficult decisions at work
Work, like other parts of life, can present us with some difficult situations. These aren’t always bad situations. They may be quite good, like a new job offer, but the situation might leave you wondering what the right choice is.
What do we do when we run into situations at work where we don’t know what God would want us to do?
1. Check the Bible for Specific Instruction
The first step is to see if the Bible directly addresses the situation. If someone suggests you steal something from the office, the Bible specifically says not to steal. So, you know what to do.
2. Check the Bible for General Principles
The reality is that many specific situations aren’t addressed in the Bible. We would all love to be able to look in the Bible and find a specific verse talking about our situation so we know exactly what to do, but the Bible doesn’t do that. The Bible wasn’t intended as a step-by-step instruction guide. The Bible reveals God and his plan for salvation and our means of redemption.
There are, however, Godly principles in God’s Word which can provide guidance. For example, a coworker asks you to cover for them while they ditch work to go to a baseball game. The Bible may not talk about covering for people who skip out on work, but it does speak of the importance of integrity and diligent work. So, you may say you can’t do that and suggest it would be better if they just asked permission to go.
3. Pray
Really, this should be number 1 and number 3 and number 5… Even before searching the Scriptures, you should pray. However, I’m putting this here at number 3 because of the type of prayer I’m suggesting. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and guidance. If after searching the Scriptures for an answer, you still feel unsure. Pray specifically for God to lead you to an answer and give you peace about it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” – James 1:5
4. Seek Wise Counsel
Call your pastor, and elder, your parents, an older friend. Seek out someone you know has wisdom and tends to give good advice. Talk it over with them and pray with them. Sometimes people who are removed from the situation can see the situation more clearly. Sometimes our desires and connections can cloud our judgment.
5. Make a Decision and Ask God to Bless It
Sometimes, even after searching the Bible, praying, and talking with others we still aren’t sure. In those situations, sometimes it’s best to just decide and ask God to bless that decision. Since you have already searched the Scriptures, prayed, and talked with wise friends, you likely aren’t facing something that is clearly morally wrong. In fact, it’s likely just a decision of preference. Do I take a promotion? Should I ask for a raise? Should I take on a certain project? etc.
There may not be a right and wrong answer. It may just be a choice. I believe that many of the decisions we lose sleep over are just preferences. The reason we don’t sense a clear answer is because God’s answer is, “Do either. You can choose.” I see this a lot when people are questioning whether to take a job offer or stay in their current position. I tell them it’s not a moral question. Take it if you want or don’t. Just serve God in either position.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
