I have a difficult decision — What are you going through?

What Jesus teaches

Direct
Summary of Luke 14:28–30
Whoever wants to build a tower first sits down and counts the cost.
Direct
Summary of Matthew 7:7–11
Ask, seek, knock: the Father gives good things to those who ask him.

What Christian tradition learns from this

Church teaching

Conscience is formed by the Word of God, prayer and the advice of wise people; the virtue of prudence helps us choose the right means. CCC 1785 CCC 1788 CCC 1806

Tradition & devotion

St Ignatius of Loyola teaches to notice consolation and desolation in prayer — and never to make a major change in a time of desolation. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 318(awaiting verification)

What Jesus did

A night of prayer before choosing
Luke 6:12–16
Direct
What Jesus experienced
The most important choice of his ministry: which twelve to send.
What Jesus did
He went up the mountain and prayed all night; in the morning he chose.
What Jesus said
“he passed the whole night in the prayer of God.”
Luke 6:12 · Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
Not my will
Luke 22:39–46
Direct
What Jesus experienced
A decision that would cost him his life.
What Jesus did
He told the Father honestly what he wanted — and then entrusted himself to the Father's will.
What Jesus said
“not my will, but thine be done.”
Luke 22:42 · Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
He set his face to Jerusalem
Luke 9:51
Direct
What Jesus experienced
Knowing what waited for him there.
What Jesus did
Once the direction was clear, he walked towards it steadily.

What Scripture doesn’t tell us

No app — and no single Bible verse — can tell you God's will for a specific decision. Discernment usually takes prayer, time, honest advice and sometimes a spiritual director.

Someone who walked this road

Saint Ignatius of LoyolaHistorical context
A wounded soldier who learned to read the movements of his heart, and taught the Church a method of discernment still used today.
Explore connections →
MaryScripture
At the Annunciation Mary asked an honest question — how can this be? — and then said yes.
Explore connections →

Pray

Lord, I don't know which way to go. Give me light to see, freedom to choose well, and peace to accept what I cannot know yet. Not my will, but yours. Amen.

Written for Lumen as a simple personal prayer — not a liturgical text.

One thing to do today

Take a sheet of paper. Write your options, and for each one what draws you towards it and what holds you back. Pray over it for ten minutes, then talk it through with someone wise who has nothing to gain from your choice.