Have you ever been at a cross-road where making a Spirit-led decision seemed impossible? I’ve been there more times than I care to count. Romans 8:14 says that all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Many of us take this to heart and as sons, we wait to hear the voice of the Spirit in many matters of our lives. 

So, then, what happens when we don’t hear the Spirit? Or, what if we get mixed signals? What if we can’t discern the difference between our carnal opinion and what the Spirit is leading us to? And there are occasions that the devil comes as an angel of light and interjects his demand in conflict to God’s voice and you have a hard time knowing the difference.

These are all scenarios we face as believers and sons of God, and they are difficult to face. The default reaction each person has in these situations probably depends on a combination of maturity level, personality and their perception of God. 

My Experience With Indecision

I can only speak from my own experience. I’ve had many times that I came to these places and my default reaction was to freeze. I would waffle for a long time in indecision with the end result being that I would do nothing.

I asked myself why I reacted this way, and came to the conclusion that I had a sincere desire to do what pleased the Lord and for that reason wouldn’t move ahead without clarity. But what was my motivation in wanting to please the Lord? I asked myself. I realized I was afraid of the consequences of His displeasure more than I was about the way I actually would make Him feel or how I would affect His plans. I was afraid of losing His trust, His smile, or part of His blessing. And I was afraid of feeling imperfect. 

Yes, I’m a bit of a perfectionist and in these situations it can cause indecision and can be a snare. I had to ask myself, is God more displeased with inaction or with wrong choices? Then it hit me like lightening: each time I acquiesced to freezing and doing nothing, I was acting like the man who hid his talent. I’m not saying it’s the entire story of my life, but each occasion reflected that sad example.

The Parable Of The Talents

In the parable of the talents the master had entrusted a certain amount of money to each of his servants according to their ability. On his return the ones with the most talents reported how they had invested and gained more money for the master. But see how the man with only one talent reported to his master: 

Matthew 25:24-27 ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. – ESV 

Conclusion

So, when we are afraid of displeasing God with an innocent mistake—not an intentional sin—then we are in essence joining the man with the one talent in burying what God has given us and calling God a hard man. This of course isn’t true. God is not hard. We have had contact with fallen people that are hard and some who portray God as hard, and so assume He is that way. 

God has infinite patience with those who long to please Him with a pure heart. But it takes faith to truly please Him according to Hebrews 11:6. And faith involves the risk of making mistakes. God can deal with mistakes. He works all things together for good to those who love Him. But if we don’t do anything at all, He has nothing to work with. He has nothing to multiply. 

So if you have been like me in viewing God as hard at times, and burying your talent, join me in repentance before Him, declaring your willingness to invest what He has given you—by faith—so you won’t be empty handed when He returns.