can i trust myself to make the right choices?
Life is full of decisions.
Some small: What should I make for dinner tonight?
Others life-changing: Should I take this job? Should I marry this person? Should I move across the country?
And with every decision comes that little nagging question: Am I making the right choice?
If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by decisions—or crushed by regret afterward—you’re not alone.
The Puzzle Piece That Doesn’t Fit
Imagine you’re working on a puzzle, and you’re convinced the piece in your hand belongs in a certain spot. You press and wiggle, but it just won’t fit. Maybe you even try forcing it. But no matter how hard you try, it was never meant to go there.
That’s what decision-making can feel like. We lean on our own judgment, assume we see enough of the picture, and then feel frustrated or hurt when things don’t turn out the way we expected.
The Bible’s Realism About Our Limits
Here’s the thing: the Bible doesn’t tell us to ignore our minds or our common sense. But it does remind us that our perspective is limited. We see life one decision at a time. God sees the entire picture.
Proverbs puts it bluntly:
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
That’s humbling. Our instincts aren’t always right. What looks good on the surface may not be good in reality. The Bible calls this reality “sin” - our tendency to trust ourselves above God, even when our view is clouded or short-sighted.
But it doesn’t leave us there. Instead, the Bible offers a better way:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)
God’s Wisdom Is Available
What does this mean in practice? It means that we don’t have to rely only on our own wisdom. God actually promises to give us His wisdom when we ask.
James 1:5 says:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
That’s a staggering promise. God isn’t stingy with wisdom. He doesn’t shame us for asking. He welcomes us to come to Him with our decisions and promises to guide us.
But What About My Mistakes?
Maybe you’re thinking: That’s great in theory, but what about all the times I’ve already messed it up?
Here’s the hope the Bible offers: God can redeem even our worst choices. Think of David, who made catastrophic decisions—an affair, a cover-up, even arranging a man’s death. And yet, when he turned back to God in repentance, God didn’t throw him away. He restored him.
Romans 8:28 puts it this way:
“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.”
“All things” includes even our wrong turns.
Practical Steps
So what does this look like when you’re staring down a decision this week? Here are a few practices you can try:
Pray Before You Decide – Invite God in, even for small things. “Lord, give me wisdom. Help me see clearly.”
Hold It Up to Scripture – Does the choice align with what God has already said about how to live?
Seek Wise Counsel – God often guides us through trusted people who are further along in faith.
Trust God with the Outcome – Even if you choose imperfectly, God is bigger than your mistake.
Bringing It Back to the Puzzle
Remember the puzzle? Sometimes the piece you thought fit in one place turns out to belong somewhere else entirely. And that’s okay—because once you see the bigger picture, it makes sense.
Life decisions are like that too. You don’t need perfect foresight. You just need to trust the One who holds the picture on the box.
Closing Thought
So can you trust yourself to always make the right choice? Probably not. But you can trust God to guide you, redeem your missteps, and use every piece of your life—even the misplaced ones—for His good purposes.
This week, hold your next decision before Him. Ask Him for wisdom. And then take a step, not in fear, but in trust.
Because the One who sees the whole picture is walking with you, one piece at a time.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)