Over Analyzing!

I remember back to the days when I was at school and college. I made sure I picked the courses that were mainly exams instead of coursework or written papers. Most people hate exams, but not me! I found that I actually excelled in exams and failed miserably when it came to writing a paper.

There may be various reasons for this, but the major reason I realized was that I usually found the first thing that came to my head was in fact the right thing to write down. However, when I thought too much about a particular issue or topic or paper I normally got confused and did not write good papers. In the exam room you have to right down the first thing that comes to your mind when answering questions, there is no time to think.

I have been reminded of this character trait this past week. I have for a while been considering undertaking a project that I am unsure whether I should pursue. Some days I want to tackle it head on, others days I do not want to go near it. I had prayed about it, and even felt God speak to me about it through scripture. If this decision was in an exam room I would have probably already be undertaking it by now. However, I started to think it over,  like I use to do with my papers, I analyzed this decision to the bone. I got books on the subject, I did character studies to see if my type of personality would be successful at this project and I found out every detail imaginable before I made a decision.

This for most people is the wise thing to do. However, for a small percentage of people, people like me this is the wrong thing to do. This past week my wife told me, I think you should stop reading those books, stop analyzing it (she is normally the analytical one not me) and pray, seek God. When you are then 100% sure it is right, go back to the books and the research to help you make it happen. So for once I am going to take my wife’s good advice.

I say all this to encourage you. If you are thinking about going into something new. If you are at a cross roads in your life; instead of burdening yourself with a hard decision. Ask God, seek God and make sure you hear from God. Know from the deepest place in your soul which road to take, then prepare yourself for the road ahead. If you look at what you need before you decide which way to go, very often you may make a decision that you were not destined to make.