My senior year of high school was a breeze . . . for the most part. I had only an English class and a gym class left in order to graduate, so I filled up my schedule with fun electives and study halls and worked in the community with children. Sounds like a piece of cake, right? It was for most of the year; and then towards the end of my semester, I had a major decision to make. Life wasn’t such a cakewalk any more.

One night that year as I lay in bed, it occurred to me that I had no idea what I was going to do once I graduated. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I had to choose between three different schools. I didn’t even know what I wanted to major in. Most importantly, I didn’t know what God wanted me to do. It was a terrifying realization. That night, I cried out in fear and much confusion. I sobbed so hard that my mom heard me from her room and came running in. She didn’t have any answers as to what God wanted me to do either; she knew that it was a choice I had to make on my own. That was the first life-changing decision I ever had to make.

Some of you may be facing that same choice right now, and others of you may be facing different choices. Whether your decision at this moment is small or life-changing, the question remains the same, How do we make wise choices? How do we know what God wants us to choose?

In Matthew 26:36–46 we see that humanly speaking, Jesus had a major choice to make. Jesus was fully man, which means He felt sorrow and anguish as He waited in the Garden, knowing what was about to happen to Him on the cross. Jesus was also fully God, so He would not have chosen otherwise, but He still felt the emotions and pain that a man would feel. His choice affected every single person that ever lived or is yet to be born! His choice affects how we are going to spend eternity. Can you imagine having to make a choice that important? Jesus chose to be beaten, tortured, mocked, ridiculed, and crucified for our salvation. He said in verse 38 that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. In fact, twice Jesus asked His Father to take “this cup” from Him (verses 39 and 42). Jesus agonized over what He was about to do and about what was going to be done to Him.

In the other accounts of the Gospels Jesus is described as being deeply distressed, troubled, and being in anguish—so much so that His sweat was like drops of blood. He had the power to call on God the Father to put at His disposal over twelve legions of angels to protect Him (verse 53), but He chose not to. Jesus told His Father in verses 39 and 42, “Not as I will, but as thou wilt” and “Thy will be done.” Jesus’ sole desire was to serve God with every aspect of His life and to do God’s will no matter the cost. Even when the choice was agonizing, even when the choice was overwhelming to the point of death, Jesus obeyed God. He never wavered in His personal walk with God.

Sometimes it’s easy to look at Jesus’ life on earth and think that it was no problem for Him to follow God, since He was fully God Himself. Jesus didn’t have the ability to sin, but we do. It may seem discouraging because we as humans struggle with making right choices. Don’t give up. Although it is impossible for us to live a perfect life like Jesus did, it is possible to make right choices as He did.

The first thing to do when faced with a choice is to pray. Jesus talked to His Father all the time while He was on earth. Even while He was in the Garden, facing crucifixion, Jesus prayed. In fact, Jesus fell with His face to the ground and prayed. In Luke 22:44 we are told that Jesus prayed earnestly. That means He prayed intently, seriously, and sincerely. God heard Jesus’ prayers, and He sent an angel from Heaven to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). What a powerful God we have to call on at any time! James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The second thing to do when faced with a choice is to seek God’s Word. Jesus often quoted Scripture. Throughout the New Testament Jesus can be seen speaking God’s truth from the Bible. Making wise choices comes from spending time in God’s Word. The Bible is God’s way of speaking to us. The more we read His Word, the more we understand God, and the more we know what He wants for our lives. We can see how God wants us to choose when we look at the many examples of other believers in the Bible. No, God doesn’t tell us exactly what college to go to in the Bible, but He does provide wisdom and counsel through his Holy Scriptures. God leads, He guides, and He directs us exactly where He wants us to go as long as we are seeking Him.

Third, when faced with making a choice, be still before the Lord (Psalm 46:10). Sometimes that is the hardest thing to do, but God commands us not to be anxious about anything. Philippians 4:6 and 7 say, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

As I look back on that huge decision of choosing a college to attend and choosing a major to pursue, I remember praying often. In seeking God in prayer, reading His Word often, and being still before Him, God led me exactly where He wanted me. And He will do the same for you. When faced with an important decision, there is no feeling quite like the peace of God that transcends all understanding!