One of the reasons that I was excited about coming on staff with AIM
was the opportunity to try new things, to expand my skill set and job
experience. The most recent of my first-time moments has been
interviewing people to bring on staff. Surprisingly, being on the
other end of the interview has been much harder than I anticipated.
Asking the right questions, getting to know the person, and probing for
information without coming off sounding like a homicide detective has
taken some practice, but I think I’m getting better at it.
The interview process got me to thinking a lot about how I’ve been
seeking direction from God in my life. Lately I’ve been earnestly
seeking God’s direction for my long-term future. In America there is
extreme pressure to pick a single career and commit to that long term.
However, I have multitudes of desires in my heart, and I just can’t put
one before another. Having not gotten any direction from God, I’ve
just figured the best thing to do was wait. But now I’m seeing that
isn’t necessarily the right thing to do.
Yes, I believe sometimes God wants us to wait for His direction.
But then I thought about the interview process. I’m looking for
someone who catches the vision of AIM, is passionate about what we’re
doing in the marketing department, and earnestly wants to lend their
skills and gifts to further our dreams and goals. I don’t want someone
who is halfheartedly committed and needs me to point out each task in
bullet point form, walking them through it step by step. I want
someone who shows initiative.
God wants someone who shows initiative. He wants us to catch his
vision through the Word, apply that to our lives, and then take the
initiative to use our gifts, skills, and desires to further His
kingdom. If He has something specific to tell me, then I’m sure He
will. Otherwise, I want to be found trustworthy enough to take what
He’s given me and run with it.
Here’s an excerpt from Seth Godin’s blog entitled “Make a Decision”: “It
doesn’t have to be a wise decision or a perfect one. Just make one. In
fact, make several. ‘Make more decisions’ could be your three word
mantra. No decision is a decision as well, the decision not to decide.
Not deciding is usually the wrong decision. If you are the go-to
person, the one who can decide, you’ll make more of a difference. It
doesn’t matter so much that you’re right, it matters that you decided.
Of course it’s risky and painful. That’s why it’s a rare and valuable
skill.”
My generation has so many options, so much clutter in our brains
that we’ve become terrible at making decisions. We’re indecisive. And
I know that a lot of times I’ve masked that indecisiveness behind
“waiting for God to tell me.” I’ve used that as a crutch to prop
myself up and make me feel alright with not acting on a decision.
I’ve been seeking God on two very important, life-altering decisions
lately, and I haven’t heard squat from Him regarding what decision
should be made. But I’ve felt this decision theme weighing heavy on my
heart. He’s given me His Word and His Spirit to guide me. I’m not the
halfhearted employee who needs constant supervision. God’s finally
taken my training wheels off and said, “Go ahead, you’re ready. Use
what I’ve taught you.” And I may mess up; I’m a sinful, fallible human
being. But I know that in God’s sovereignty He will use my mistakes
for His good. It’s gotta be better to try and fail than to drown in
indecision.
I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous, but I don’t need my crutch anymore.
