How Does Stillness Translate to Thoughtful Decision Making?

Towards the end of last year, I sensed the Lord giving me new instructions. As I prayed for my word for the year, I got two: Rest and Surrender.

These words aren’t particularly surprising, based on what I know of myself. For many years, the Lord had been calling me to “Be Still” - Psalm 46:10 and to “Seek Him First” - Matthew 6:33. Whenever I think I’ve finally gotten the instruction right, I seem to get a new level of understanding and He brings me into deepening the instruction.

This year has been no different.

However, something surprising has emerged as I contemplate my finances.

Before I go on, I want to gently remind you that as financial advisors, and Christians, many of us have experienced some of the things you have experienced. I just reread my colleague, Neil Chacko’s, blog post where he shared about whether we should be tithing if we are in debt, found here, and the authenticity behind his words. Many of us have experienced things that you may be asking questions about and have been able to tackle them, then be able to share from our experiences.

My year of rest does not mean that I have not done anything. It just means I have approached it with more intentionality. It has meant saying no to more things, and considering what is truly important to me. I have continued to work in and on my business. I have continued to serve my church community and friends. And, my most favorite role of all, I’ve continued to be a mom to a precocious teen, showing up for her in the ways that she values most.

Rest in this sense does not mean doing nothing. It simply means being more mindful of what I do, and how.

As I mentioned, a surprising thing has emerged as I have been in my season of rest and surrender.

I have tackled big projects, both in scope of work and financially, that I have in the past told myself was not the right time because of the finances (and labor) that would be involved.

I did a major home project that I had set aside for many years. I reasoned that I was in the early years of building my business, and had many higher financial and time priorities. While it was something I had desired, I had told myself I couldn’t afford the expense at that time.  In my mind, I had planned to do it a few years down the road, and that time had not come yet. But, an amazing thing happened. God presented me with the opportunity. It felt as if it had fallen into my lap. The price had even come in far below my expectation.

If I were in my normal mode of rushing through, I would not have paused long enough to ask some follow up questions when the professionals came to my neighborhood. Being in a season of pause, allowed me to think through and ask questions that I might not have.

On the converse of this, I wanted to make another purchase, and it was a fraction of the cost of the original project - and yet instead of rushing ahead, I sensed a “wait a little bit” in my spirit. After waiting for a bit, I did go ahead and made the purchase. And somehow, it felt like it came at just the right time, even being delivered early. As I had work going on in my home, I was able to get help to move some stuff around, and was able to create a space that I had been dreaming about.

These two examples remind me of a verse, Proverbs 16:9 NIV: In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

As a planner, I tend to want to plan all the ways I think things should be done, but being able to rest and enjoy stillness in this season has allowed me to look at things from a different perspective. I create plans in my mind, but I think God chuckles, and says “I can do better,” and we know that when God gives us a gift, it will be better than what we can plan for ourselves. 

In full transparency, rest is something I struggle with. Our culture tells us that we are to constantly be striving and attempting to make the next thing happen for ourselves. We are now especially aware of all that is shown to us on social media, where others show their highlight reel of how much they are doing. We also get to see what our friends are doing  in real time, that just one generation ago was not happening in this way. It can make us feel like we are falling behind, and we need to hurry up what God is doing. This keeps us on the treadmill of life, constantly moving, and getting worn out.  And then, thankfully, I am sent reminders that rest is not a suggestion, it’s actually a command. Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” And in that moment, I breathe a little deeper.

Romans 8:28 reminds us of this fact “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose,” and for that, I am grateful that I can experience His rest, and thoughtful decision making in my financial life.

I am also noticing, because of taking time to make decisions instead of my usual rushing from one thing to the next, it allows me to make thoughtful decisions in other areas of my life as well.

If you are struggling to quiet your thoughts around your financial life, our Christian Financial Advisors Network can help you. As I mentioned, we are much like you, having experienced different seasons of our lives, where God teaches us, so that we can then share with you.

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