Inability to reach decisions has been described as a state of hell. At the very least it is frustrating, detrimental to one's self-confidence and success in life. But a deeper understanding of God can eliminate unsettledness from one's character. The teachings of Christian Science have taken countless people from an inability to arrive at a conclusion without consulting nearly everyone in sight (and then vacillating) to an ability to reach right decisions quickly. And, most important, these people have been able to implement their decisions with peace of mind based on the assurance that they have made the right move.
Christian Science offers a purely God-centered remedy for confusion and indecisiveness. It declares that man is spiritual, the reflection of the all-seeing, all-hearing, all-knowing divine Mind, God; that therefore the wisdom we need for every decision is already established in the spiritual consciousness—the true being—of each of us, and that we can prove this.
Jeremiah exclaimed, "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." Jer. 32:17. You and I are never alone before intricate issues that need resolving, weighty decisions that have to be made. The flawlessly intelligent Mind that has made man and the universe holds these ideas in harmony, peace, and the dominion of perfect understanding. If decisions actually rested on our shoulders, we might indeed feel burdened at times. But we are in reality the eternal reflection of tranquil, unerring Mind, which gives man every thought and impels all activity. Understanding that divine Principle lawfully sustains, legitimately directs, and perfectly controls the real universe including man, we have a working basis for demonstrating divine guidance in human affairs.
Wisdom, intelligence, and spiritual perception are divine qualities that man reflects. Therefore they are always available to us to claim as our own. They constitute our ability to know what to do, and when and how to do it. There can be no indecision or uncertainty in the consciousness where these Godly qualities actively abide. You and I, as in truth the very image of God, exist forever at the standpoint of absolute certainty and perfect assurance, and we can demonstrate this fact.
The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, exhibited remarkable dependence on God for inspiration and guidance—from the early days of establishing the Cause, when she was hard pressed to find anyone who understood her enterprise enough to give helpful counsel, to the later days, when there was abundant support.
William Dana Orcutt, who was connected with the University Press at the time Mrs. Eddy's book Science and Health was being published, writes of our Leader's decisiveness: "At first, one might have been deceived by her quiet manner into thinking that she was easily influenced. There was no suggestion to which she did not hold herself open. If she approved, she accepted it promptly; if it did not appeal, she dismissed it with a graciousness that left no mark — but it was settled once and for all. There was no wavering and no uncertainty." William Dana Orcutt, Mary Baker Eddy and Her Books (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1950), p. 43.
We all can learn to act decisively, confidently. Centuries ago Paul asked: "Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Gal. 1:10. This thought-provoking question provides insight into the way one can master indecision.
Living to please human wills and opinions is a reverse of spiritual priorities. It can leave us unable to hear divine direction— confused, unstable. Putting divine Principle first in our planning and doing, on the other hand, brings increasing dominion, self-reliance, peace.
Willful human advice has to be ruled out if we're to follow Mind's directing. Such interference can be obvious, or it can be concealed and therefore harder to detect and deal with. In extreme instances it is malicious in its intent. But the earnest desire to do God's will sees us through successfully in the fulfillment of His purpose for us. It impels us ever upward toward the demonstration of His exclusive control of man.
Mrs. Eddy states, "In a world of sin and sensuality hastening to a greater development of power, it is wise earnestly to consider whether it is the human mind or the divine Mind which is influencing one." Science and Health, pp. 82-83. The wonderful thing about listening intently for God's voice is that we're forewarned of impending danger and impelled to take steps that preserve our well-being.
Not only does decisiveness enhance our success in the business world but it plays an indispensable role in the maintenance of our health. Christ Jesus' "Get thee behind me, Satan" Matt. 16:23. needs to be our response to mortal mind's aggressive suggestions of physical frailty, disease, incapacity.
"'Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him,'" Science and Health reminds us. "Suffer no claim of sin or of sickness to grow upon the thought. Dismiss it with an abiding conviction that it is illegitimate, because you know that God is no more the author of sickness than He is of sin." Science and Health, p. 390. To the degree we maintain this Christly response, we'll find ourselves enjoying unfluctuating physical and mental wellbeing.
Mrs. Eddy refers several times in her writings to the logic of events. At times we may know without a doubt the decision we should make, yet feel the time is not right. It may appear that a conclusion can't be reached without a long and complicated process. But Mind's unfoldment of good in our lives is never contingent on mortal measurements. When we see clearly that in reality we are God's intelligent ideas, always about our God-given activity, and when our desire to please Him outweighs concern about human opinion, then events can move with dazzling speed. And so complete is God's government in scientific demonstration that extraordinary calm can be ours throughout the adjustment.
Most of us at some point in our growth toward things of Spirit find ourselves faced with an unusually challenging situation that tries our spiritual understanding. And this trial is always unique to us and our need for progress. Although some friend or family member may provide comfort, we may reach a point where we have to meet the problem alone with only God to help—which, of course, is not alone at all. When we first come up against a big test, we may feel overwhelmed and want to run to some person to ask what to do. But to our everlasting spiritual benefit, we find we have no human recourse and must turn to unerring Mind, God, for the direction only He can give.
Wholehearted reliance on God and willingness to do things His way bring us triumphantly through a trying time. And this keeps our lives progressively useful, keeps us receptive to divine strength, inspiration, direction. Mrs. Eddy describes the guidance we may look forward to: "Those who know no will but His take His hand, and from the night He leads to light." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 347.
Christ Jesus showed mankind the way to demonstrate dominion over indecision. He said, "The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." John 8:29.
As you and I commune with our heavenly Father with a child's trust and obedience, we'll bring our lives more and more under His flawless direction.
