Choose Life

“You may not agree with my decision [to end my life], but it’s not your life and you’re not the one living it.”

Her words stung, because I had been so careful not to make verbal judgments on the action she was contemplating, but instead had tried to lead her in the direction of hope and gratitude.

“Where is God in your decision?” I wanted to ask… but I knew what her response would be: “Exactly! Where is God?” I knew she had prayed for help and healing of her physical condition. She had received the help, but the healing had not yet manifested and she was faced with the likelihood of a future she did not want. She refused to accept that which she was powerless to change.

I came to my morning meeting with God with this issue heavy on my heart. As I laid out my concerns and questions before Him, I came to the conclusion that while I may not agree with her choice, I believe in her right to have a choice.

How to “support” her in her current situation then becomes the issue. I will continue to love her regardless of the choices she makes. But I am not bound by that love to assist her in facilitating choices I believe are wrong (not that she has yet requested me to do so).

Funny that my devotional reading this morning was on this very topic! In his “What would Jesus do” discussion on the issue, Ken Weliever said this: “”Jesus did not excuse or soften their sinful behavior. Instead, He sought to lead them out of their sin to a relationship with the Father. He treated them with kindness, compassion, and respect.”

Answer received. I guess it all boils down to who you answer to… yourself, or to God. In my case, that choice has already been made.

“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God… You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

(Psalms 73:16, 24 NIV)

(Photo credit: Unsplash/BrettJordan)