This Monday I had a situation presented to me which left me with, what felt like, a pretty big decision. I spent a day or two considering the different aspects of my choices and considering possible ramifications for each. I spoke with Drew and another good friend. I asked a few to pray for my decision and I did the same. For three days, I went round and round about this choice. Throughout the process, I felt stress and was often left distracted. Yet once I made my decision and shared it, what peace!
Interestingly though, I had peace despite coming to a conclusion that was not what I or those closest to me might have expected. Yet I had peace because I knew that if and when the day came when I questioned the choice, I would recover easier and more quickly because it had been my choice.
There's power in having the choice; there's responsibility with it as well.
But what about those times when it feels as though the choice has been taken away from us? When the doctor gives you news you never expected and couldn't have changed even if you had some foreknowledge? When a job ends or requires you to relocate? When a child is born with a disability or major illness? When your spouse changes- and not in a way you particularly care for?
Now consider another reality- what if fate really was completely in control and nothing you did or chose would really have any affect on the final outcomes? I know I've personally seen more than one or two shows/movies that have depicted just this idea- following two separate realities based on making a different choice only to have the outcome remain exactly the same. I guess that takes the stress and worry out of decision making. However it also takes away the power and from what I have seen, people like having the power to choose.
Got me wondering why and I was taken back to what I have recently begun to see as one of the greatest gifts to humanity- the gift of choice.
Imagine you are the all-powerful, supreme being who has created other living creatures. As the creator you desire to know your creation and to be known by them. You want to have a true relationship with them- not one based solely on fear and submission as their ruler or creator.
Now imagine you are creating the world they will live in and giving it the laws that will govern every aspect of that world and their lives.
Imagine that you are not only all-powerful but also all-knowing, so even at the creation of the first being you already knew everything about him and all his descendents, their strengths and weaknesses, their successes and failings. And because of this knowledge, you know that giving your creation the power of choice will mean allowing many, possibly even most, of them to defy, deny and discredit you.
In that scenario, would you want to give your creation the power of choice knowing full well that it means giving your creation the ability to not fulfill your greatest desire for them, a part of why they were created?
I can tell you this. This woman, with her severely limited comparison through motherhood, who is obviously far less benevolent would not. Why would I- all-powerful, all-knowing, supreme- why would I do that to myself when I get to call the shots?
And that's what makes it such an incredible gift. God gave us the power of choice- despite knowing the ultimate outcome- because of His great love and benevolence. You may not think about that when you are weighing the merits of your choices or celebrating a well made decision, but there is something in us that loves the fact that we can choose. And there's something in me that can't help but thank God every time I find myself going round and round about a decision. God didn't have to, and given many of the choices I've made, it would have been much easier if He hadn't- yet still He did. And He did so, knowing that one day it would require an even greater sacrifice on His part......His greatest gift.
