Genesis 13:5-18, 14-15; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalms 6:1-10; Proverbs 1: 29-33

“Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord…So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company…Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.” (Genesis 13:10-12 NIV)

I’m going to assume for a moment that you are also well versed in Genesis and that you know how this is going to end for Lot. Not only is he captured and Abram has to go rescue him and his household just in todays reading, but Lot is still going to go through the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the loss of his wife, and the disturbing impregnating of his daughters. Rough stuff for our friend Lot–and when I read over the Scripture verses above, I can’t help but wonder if it would have been a happier ending had he chosen differently at this very fork in the road.

I know you’ve gone through situations similar to this: two choices before you, the choice entirely your own, and one of those paths is looking real good. The decision could be centered around a host of things: where you’ll live, what your job is, what you’ll “do” next–a big decision that will absolutely affect how your life plays out from that moment on. Maybe that one option looks a lot better from the outside. Maybe the grass is “well watered” so to speak, and, to others, it would be a clear option. Or maybe you have a specific plan in mind, and in your brain the next step is clear before you. This step would bring you closer to your goals/dreams/vision and make total sense in that moment. What if it seems like the perfect choice…but doesn’t provide that perfect outcome?

It’s easy to pick something that makes sense in our mind. That position will provide more money, hence more stability. That town is in a less populated area, so less taxes and better COL. Or, that area is super popular, with lots of options for the kids schooling, and fun activities for the weekend. It’s easy to consider our own particular values and find the option that best fits in with what we see for our life–the option that is “clearly better.”

Lot is an example of why the “clear choice” isn’t always the right choice. Everything can make total sense to our minds, but only the God of the universe in whom we trust can give us definite direction. Lot thought he was choosing wisely, and yet he would experience great loss and heartache due to his decision. We may think we are choosing wisely based on the circumstances in front of us, but we’re actually headed down a path of destruction. Now, we read very little in terms of Lot’s thought pattern, but we know that Lot was not God’s chosen person-Abram was. God makes promises to Abram in the next chapters that Abram cannot see how they will come to pass, and instead of understanding, just trusts. If Lot was not chosen, then we can assume God was not a part of the decision making practiced. But Abraham was–and though he gave the choice to another, the Lord was already on his side and with him wherever he’d go.

We have to ask ourselves, how do I make decisions when there is a “clear choice” in front of me? How do I spend time in discernment and decision making? Am I steeped in prayer and the Lord’s presence, or am I dependent on my current view of the situation. It’s hard when there is a clear winner in our mind, but the Lord is leading us down another path. We have to trust that our loving heavenly Father not only understands the overall picture of our lives, but also understands what will actually happen after we make our decisions. That’s the beauty of free will–we have the opportunity to make the decision. We also have the opportunity to rely on him for our wisdom and understanding in every situation.

The next time you experience a fork in the road, remember to listen. Ask Father God if there is anything you don’t know about the situation. Ask Him what He would want for you to choose. And then move forward when you feel peace and trust in your decision either way. No matter what, the Lord will go with you, but we can avoid a lot of heartbreak by simply relying on Him to answer our questions when we ask them of Him.