Some decisions don’t feel like much of a choice. Certainly this is the case when a decision is made long before the moment of execution. All the same, while we feel compelled in these moments to simply follow through on what was already decided, it’s important to remember the freedom of choice that remains. This helps us to continue taking responsibility for our decisions and not feel forced or otherwise pressured into it by others.
For instance, the decision to remain faithful to our wife in marriage is ideally made long before this decision is ever tested. As such, it might not feel like a real choice in the moment. There’s a sense in which we no longer have to wrestle with the core decision regardless of how the temptation is packaged. At the same time, it would be foolish to ignore the cost this still requires of us, and the way we’re still freely making a decision to remain faithful every day.
And because ultimately this is our free choice we then cannot blame our wife for the cost required of us. And this remains true even if she’s unfaithful herself. While we feel compelled to remain faithful because this is consistent with who God has called us to be, no one is forcing us to do so. The sacrifices made are freely chosen by us and should be accepted as such.
Of course, whatever it looks like, others might try to take advantage of our convictions. And anger in the face of this injustice is justified. But the injustice is in their disrespect toward us, and not in the decisions we freely made. We must still take responsibility for our choices regardless of how unfair others might be on their side of the street.
In the end, while you rightly feel compelled to follow through on the decisions you’ve already made, this remains your free choice all the same. Own your decisions, or adjust accordingly, without blaming others either way.
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
