There are more than one thing I am pondering about this perception:
1) The idea of wrong decisions sometimes cause us to live under a cloud of fear and doubt. Oh my gosh! Made a wrong move. It's doom and gloom from hereon. There's no remedy, I'm finished. Shame on me! My future's ruined. Why am I not holy enough? Why did I not pray enough? How come I can't seem to put my finger on his perfect will?
2) What will be, will be? I've always hated that song Que Sera Sera (yes, I know, 'hate' is a very strong word). Did God let Joseph have a life of 'what will be will be'? Let nature run its course? At which point did God choose to turn his brothers' evil meant to harm him for good, from which he ended up saving not only his own family, but an entire nation, from famine? The bottomline is that God showed up! Then there's Esther, David, Jacob, Abraham - who all found that the dreams they lost to failure and/or foolishness were redeemed in the place of recognizing God is a purposeful and sovereign God who can work things out for good.
3) We're super-scared when stakes are high. Small decisions deceive us into a sort of complacency in how we ask for counsel. But big ones? Ooh...scaweeeee. God, help! I suppose it's true, yes, that certain decisions are not as critical as others. Either way, though, would you say that you and God can make both big AND small decisions together? Sure. Perhaps the fear of making a wrong decision is, by our categories, greater with bigger decisions. I think whatever type of decision ought to be a partnership between you, God, and others who give wise counsel. And the imagery of how one discerns the most right decision is not some mystical, pie-in-the-sky type thing, confirmed with an audible voice (although that is not difficult at all when you involve God in the process). Any decision is a partnership decision - all things concern God and what he means to you.
4) In thinking that God leaves us to our decisions, especially when you are in even the slightest doubt that you may not have 'heard' or sensed rightly, there is a sense of abandonment. What a cage in our minds! But perhaps you do this without realizing? Like our parents, leaders or friends, we feel like God says to us about our decisions, "well, you made your bed, so you lie in it." You deserve it. You chose the path, so what happens as a result you have only yourself to blame. Or that person whose advice you wanted to take. Or that incident you selected to be classified as a confirmation. I can't help but picture Jacob, whom God wrestled with all night through. It's almost like, "Jacob, I wanna be involved in your life more than you know. I want you to know my purposes for your life and those you love cannot be thwarted. I am here to make sure that you know it is within my power to show up in your life, In fact, I'll leave you with a limp just so you never forget - I've got your back."
So maybe my pondering today leads me to interpret Jacob's experience this way: God does care whenever you make any decision. You may think your decisions are not always the most right ones, but he always - ALWAYS - goes through the consequences of your decisions WITH you, i.e. he does not snicker at you from afar and maybe stretch out a hand only when you yell for help. You are not left to your own devices (thank God!), or you would have long ceased to exist.
To take it further, maybe what we think is right or wrong in terms of a decision isn't the same as how God thinks. In our moments of seeking resolution or direction, no concern, however valid, ought to cloud your trust that He has got your back. Whatever you decide, he will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always near, an ever-present help. He enjoys you. He rejoices in your decisions every time, when your heart intended to hear and obey him. Perhaps it is safe to say, in this context, that there cannot be a 'wrong' decision because your heart was right at that point of decision. Perhaps it is safe to say, thus, that you cannot fail, you can't possible fail! In fact, you will succeed 100%, not because you are the most awesome decision-maker in the whole wide world (who is?!) but that you are the most childlike in faith and desperately reliant on him to help you go through life.
Stop for a moment on the phrase 'you have only yourself to blame". What does that mean? Do you blame yourself when you encounter difficulty following your decision? But do you take credit when a decision goes so well that everything seems to 'fall' into place? Maybe by believing that when something goes wrong it's all your fault means that when something goes well you think all credit should go to you. Would it not be true that thankfulness is due, NO MATTER HOW life turns out? Worship is due. Glory to God is due.
In the quiet, in the stillness I know that you are God.
In the secret of your presence I know there I am restored...
...in the chaos, in confusion I know you're sovereign still.
In the moment of my weakness you give me grace to do your will...
...now I live to bring you praise...all my delight is in you Lord...
P/S: So, does God snicker?
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