Retirement comes with a lot of potential perks. One of them is that you can take a break from making many decisions. From what to wear to the office to deciding whether you should talk to someone at work about an issue, you're off the hook from many of these types of details. But that doesn't mean seniors don't have any decisions to make, and many times, they can loom large.
One decision you might face, for example, is whether you should remain in your own house or move into an assisted living community. We're obviously a bit biased, but we also know that there are pros and cons to any decision. For seniors of faith, turning to Scripture during these times can help them make a decision that is founded in God's will.
Does the Bible provide answers and instructions that take the decision-making out of life? No. But it does provide guidance and wisdom to help support you during such times. Here are five Bible verses to consider praying or meditating on as you approach major (or even minor) decisions in your life.
The first thing any Christian should do when faced with a decision is ask God's advice. The Bible reminds us not to lean on our imperfect human understanding, because that's often how regretful mistakes are made.
And while it's true that we gain wisdom and experience as we age, we're still human and don't have the perspective that God does. Asking him to lead you in any decision and trying to discern his will for you can take some of the burden of the decision-making from your shoulders. You can do this via prayer, reading Scripture or talking to a spiritual leader for advice.
It can be easy for people to make decisions for the wrong reasons — even when they don't realize this is the case. Money, safety or a desire to be loved by others are some examples of common things people pursue and that can lead to bad decisions when they're the only goal. That's not to say these things are wrong in and of themselves. But by making a point to rely on God first and know that he will provide what you need, you can make decisions that aren't tied to things that might lead you astray.
The Bible tells us that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom — not gold or power or other earthly rewards. This pleased God so much that he gave Solomon many of the other things as well.
If you're facing decisions and not sure how to deal with them or even where to start, don't be afraid to simply ask God to provide you with wisdom.
It's common to talk through options and decisions with others. Talking through them can be a great way to figure out pros, cons and what you really want to do. But remember to follow this advice from Ephesians and talk about options and your decisions in the most positive way possible. That doesn't mean glossing over or ignoring potential issues or downsides; it means not falling into the trap of negative thinking or speaking. And if you're talking to someone about your options and they have nothing constructive or good to say, you might want to seek out someone else to discuss matters with.
Remember that most decisions don't have to be made in the next few seconds. And big decisions, such as whether you will move into an assisted living community and which one you might choose, should take time when possible. After all, you do need to do some research, tour communities and ensure the location you choose meets all your needs.
Gathering data and considering all your options can be stressful, though. Take time during these types of processes to pray and to simply be still and know that God is with you. That's true before you make the decision and it won't change after you make the decision.
