5:08 – Advice from the Bible when it comes to making decisions 7:24 – How can we really tell if our plans ali gn with what God has planned for us? 9:20 – What about those who do believe in God, but until now they don’t have prosperity?
10:34 – How should we go about making decisions when the situation is less straightforward and really complex?
11:57 – Why did David, who was a king, turned to God instead of turning to his knowledge, to his power, or the wealth that he had?
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Gary Salovino:
They feel stuck because they don’t know what decisions to make, or they’re scared to really commit to one decision…
Keanna Bradshaw:
I went through all the phases of not knowing what I really wanted to major in. And it set me back a lot in my studies.
Russel Dongalen:
I had to choose if I wanted to fit in or if I wanted to be happy.
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How Can I Make The Best Decision In Life?
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Brother Felmar
Minister Of The Gospel
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Hi, everyone, and welcome back to Vantage Point, real talk about the challenges of today, and what the Bible says on how to deal with them. Joining us today are Keanna Bradshaw, Gary Salovino, and Russel Dongalen. Now, to get things started, let’s go around today’s panel. And if everyone could share, please, what are the big decisions that you are faced with right now?
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Russel Dongalen
Aspiring Graphic Designer
Russel Dongalen:
At the moment, I am conflicted on whether I should continue on to higher education like college or university, and then find a job that is in relation to what I studied. Or if I should just go straight into working.
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How Can I Make The Best Decisions In Life?
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Russel Dongalen:
But going straight into work sometimes isn’t the most sustainable and can also be very inconsistent. So I’m open to going the more traditional route of going to college or to university, and then getting a job after that is in relation to what I studied.
Keanna Bradshaw:
One of the big decisions that I’m faced with right now is a lifestyle change.
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Keanna Bradshaw
Sign Language Interpreter
Keanna Bradshaw:
I haven’t made a lot of efforts to allow myself more free time, or just to be able to accommodate all of my obligations because I’ve been entrusted with different duties in the [Church Of Christ]. And I have a job now. So I go to that during the day. And then I have my classes at night that follow. So you can imagine that I probably need a little more discipline than I give myself now, and that I need to decide how to work around these schedules. So I can help where I want, where I’m needed, as well as achieve all of my goals. And something that kind of goes hand in hand. This little like on the other hand of things is the decision sort of affects me being a social person. If anyone knows who I am, they know that I’m always talking to people, I’m always hanging out with my friends or talking to my family. So I also love meeting
people as well. So that kind of is where I’m making the decision, which is my second one, to decide who I want to keep closest to me, especially as I go through these pivotal moments in my life.
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Gary Salovino
Customer Service
Gary Salovino:
I’ve been considering pivoting between staying where I am, and doing well and excelling in my current work, or pivoting to a new career. The biggest reason that I’m still in the job that I have is that it provides me structure, the structure, the schedule that I have, it lets me not compromise in any of my duties in the Church and allows me to always perform and attend. And so I really value having that structured time. But at the same time, I want to pursue a career that can fulfill me in different ways. So the risk for that is high. But because of the worries and the daily needs that I have that the job provides me, that’s why I stay but I see the value in doing something else, which is why making the decision is difficult.
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Gary, let me ask you this. So our thought process on making decisions, do you think it’s the same for everybody?
Gary Salovino:
Brother Felmar, I don’t think everyone approaches making decisions the exact same way. Some people they’re very impulse-driven. They make a decision on the spot based on how they feel. There’s others that in spite of how they might feel they’ll do what’s required that’s aligned with their goals. Our condition and our environment also play a huge role in how we make decisions on a day to day basis. But what’s really becoming even more common and more apparent, is that a lot of people feel stuck, they are stuck, they feel stuck because they don’t know what decisions to make, or they’re scared to really commit to one decision that they could really decide on. And I’m actually just describing myself in this scenario.
Russel Dongalen:
Coming from what Gary said, Brother Fel, do you have any advice for us when it comes to making decisions?
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Absolutely. But as always, it will be based on the Holy Scriptures. Let’s read Jeremiah 29, verse 11.
I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.
[Jeremiah 29:11 Today’s English Version]
Brother Felmar Serreno:
So as people of God, what should be our basis when making decisions? God stated, “I alone know the plans I have for you.” So when making decisions, our basis should be God’s plan or His will for us.
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How Can I Make The Best Decisions In Life?
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Brother Felmar Serreno:
God, Who is our Creator, already knows the plans He has for us. Now think about this, will there ever be a time that our own plan would be better than what God has planned for us? Well, the short answer to that is no. But uh, Russel, what’s your response to that?
Russel Dongalen:
It’s like what was stated in the verse, that God already knows His plans for us. And so there will never be a time where our own plans or our decisions would outweigh what God has in store for us. No matter how meticulous we are when it comes to planning our future. And even if we have set goals and ambitions in life, sometimes those plans never come into fruition, or they don’t pull through in a way that we expected them to. Whereas God is already navigating our lives, he already has everything set out in front of us. And we just have to trust in His directions.
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Right, since God is Almighty and all-knowing, His plan is the best possible outcome for our life. Now, we’re not saying it’s wrong to have a daily schedule or for your parents to help you plan out a career path. But to ensure the best possible outcome, we must make sure that our plans, our decisions align with God’s plan or His will for us.
Gary Salovino:
But how can we really tell if our plans align with what God has planned for us?
Brother Felmar Serreno:
That’s a good question. Well, for starters, God doesn’t want anyone to end up in disaster or ruin. But disaster is waiting for those who end up doing what is sinful, or end up breaking any of God’s commandments. So, a guiding question that we can
ask ourselves before making decisions, especially major ones, is this: “Will any commandment of God be broken in the process?” If so, refrain. Now, Keanna, could you share with us please a time or a situation when you were faced with a decision, which could affect our Christian values?
Keanna Bradshaw:
Yes, so I think I speak for a lot of people when I mentioned the one word, which is “school.” I went through all the phases of not knowing what I really wanted to major in. And it sent me back a lot in my studies. And one of the biggest decisions that I could think of at the time was to focus on school and take a step back from my offices in the Church. But just, I, until this day, I struggle with that idea alone, because we always were taught to put God first and that our plans would succeed. So yeah, that thought really hurt. And it still does like just to imagine that I even had to go through that experience. And I’m still working through this situation ‘til this day. So it’s a very real situation for me during this time.
Brother Felmar, I actually have a question. We heard earlier from the Bible that God plans to bring us prosperity. But what about those who do believe in God, but until now they don’t have prosperity?
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Well, that’s because there’s a big difference between genuinely trusting in God and simply believing. Now while on today’s show, we are discussing trust in God. But if you or any of our viewers would like to know more, or would like to have an in-depth understanding of really genuinely trusting in God, so we invite you to log onto our website incmedia.org. And look for the program, The Message and their episode Trust God’s Plan For Your Life. Another helpful program is the God’s message podcast, which has an episode Trust In God At All Times.
Gary Salovino:
Brother, what about the more intricate problems? Like, let’s say someone has an office in the Church, but things are really starting to pick up or get busy on the personal side of their life, or the individual is in school,
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How Can I Make The Best Decisions In Life?
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Gary Salovino:
…and then now they have a job. Whatever their weekly routine might be. All of it is becoming mentally, emotionally and potentially even physically exhausting. So my
question is, how should we go about making decisions when the situation is less straightforward and really complex?
Brother Felmar Serreno:
In response to that, let’s read from the book of Psalms chapter 142, verses 1 down to 5.
I cry out to the Lord; I pray to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my problems to him; I tell him my troubles. When I am afraid, you, Lord, know the way out. In the path where I walk, a trap is hidden for me. Look around me and see. No one cares about me. I have no place of safety; no one cares if I live. Lord, I cry out to you. I say, “You are my protection. You are all I want in this life.” [Psalms 142:1-5 New Century Version]
Brother Felmar Serreno:
What we have read, here are the words of King David. It’s worth noting that as a King, David had wealth, he had influence. He had knowledge, he had power. But you know what else David had? He also had problems, numerous and complex ones as well. In those times of crisis, what is it that David did? He stated here in what we have read, he said, “I cry out to the Lord; I pray to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my problems to him;”
Keanna Bradshaw:
Brother Felmar, what if others are thinking, But David was a king, he could have turned to his knowledge, he could have turned to his power, or the wealth that he had. Instead, he chose to turn to God. Why is that?
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Well, it’s because according to King David himself, he said here “When I am afraid, you, Lord, know the way out.” There are really times in our life when we will encounter bigger problems, you know, experiences that we may have never faced yet before. And those moments can be overwhelming. And in the moment, we won’t have the answers. But God always has the answers. He knows the right and proper way out of our problems. That’s why it’s essential to be prayerful, and obedient to God, so that He will guide us when we make decisions in our life.
Now, Russel, could you share with us what has been your experience. You know, in connection with making decisions- How have you found balance in your personal life and in fulfilling our duties to God? And how have you persevered?
Russel Dongalen:
If I look back, it’s a few times in middle school and in high school. I was always judged by a lot of other kids because I was so dedicated with Church and performing [my
duties]. And when they would ask me why, “why are you going to church? Why are you doing all this?” It was because they’re being judgmental, and it wasn’t out of curiosity. And being at such a young age, that’s really difficult because I put so much pressure on myself to fit in,
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How Can I Make The Best Decisions In Life?
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Russel Dongalen::
…and to have friends just because of having friends. And it wasn’t because of wanting to create those genuine connections. So I had to take a step back, do some thinking and decide what I wanted to prioritize. I had to choose if I wanted to fit in or if I wanted to be happy. And it was performing my duties. It was attending service, it was being with the friends and those connections I made in church. That’s what made me happy. And while I, of course, still care about having a personal life of making friends outside the church and I have personal goals. I also came to accept because I found a sense of belonging and that’s here in the [Church Of Christ].
Brother Felmar Serreno:
If we can go to Gary this time, Gary, have you been able to find that balance with maintaining, you know, the things about our personal life, but still fulfilling our obligations to God?
Gary Salovino:
For myself, Brother Felmar, I actually really related to a lot of what Russ just said, there’s a certain balance that we want to strike with our lives. We want to make sure all of our daily needs are met. And we want to make sure that we’re able to put clothes on our back, food on the table, our daily necessities. So in the traditional sense, yes, I’m looking for balance. But in a non-traditional sense, I’ve chosen to not be balanced, I don’t ever accidentally want to see my situation as oh I need to spend less time in my duties, or I need more time for my job. I know that’s something Keanna mentioned earlier, being concerned about that thought coming to their mind.
I give my best effort to my daily needs, to my job, and to make sure that I’m able to survive. But once that is met, I do everything that I can to really dedicate more of my time and effort and focus to the duties I’ve been blessed with, to the relationships I’ve built in the Church, to continue to help with all of the different works and projects that we have. Because like Russ said, that is where I found fulfillment and happiness and joy. Being around the brethren, helping with the different activities that we launch, continuing to be led and inspired by the brethren around me. That is
where I want to spend more of my time. And so I don’t ever want it to be 50% work 50% being in the Church. I want it to be as much as I can be involved and giving priority to my duties while still taking care of what I need. And so, at least making that decision. As difficult as it might be in the moment, it’s always been the best decision to make. That’s what brings me fulfillment. And so I do that, to give my best and more of myself to our Almighty God and to the works of the Church.
Brother Felmar Serreno:
Keanna, Gary, and Russel, thank you for joining us today on the show. God bless everyone
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