Making Foolish Decisions

I was talking with somebody recently who made a really foolish decision, one they can’t come back from. It’s permanent, and nothing they can do will change it. Matt and I spent a lot of time thinking through the situation. Why? Why did they come to this decision? What motivated them to do it?

This isn’t the first time we’ve dealt with a situation like this, and it won’t be the last. We spend a lot of time wondering what we could have done differently or said differently. Most often, it comes back to the fact that a person simply didn’t use wisdom to make the decision. They made a rush decision; they didn’t think through the consequences. Maybe they didn’t see the full picture. Whatever the case may be, they made a poor decision.

Paul’s Prayer for His Followers

Paul hits this issue head-on in Colossians. He writes a letter to the church in Colossae and tells them that he prays for them without stopping. Why? Because he had the same issues back then that we do today. We all have a tendency to make foolish decisions.

Paul prayed for the believers; he tells them that he prays for God to give them knowledge of his will and wisdom and understanding. In return, their lives will produce fruit.

I broke it down into a graphic.

Asking God for Wisdom

If we want our lives to honor God, we have to have his wisdom. There’s no way around it. We can and will really make a mess of our lives if we don’t get ahold of this principle: We need wisdom, the wisdom that is from God.

So how do we get it? How do we get God’s wisdom? We find the answer in the book of James.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

James 1:5 NLT

We have to ask for it. The only way to avoid making foolish decisions, mistakes that we can’t come back from, is to ask God for wisdom. Continually spend time seeking him and his plan for our lives.

If we have wisdom from God and continue to seek Him and become more like him, then our lives will produce good fruit. We won’t bear the consequences and scars of a life lived foolishly.

More Encouragement

If you find yourself in a place where you have made a foolish decision, don’t give up hope. We’ve all been there; we’ve all made foolish decisions. That’s why we need God. Here’s a video from my husband to check out that will give you hope and encouragement. How to Reset Your Regrets and Start Over.