- Aug 2, 2020
- 5 min read

CROSSROAD IN LIFE by Cerita Nagy

Decision = the act / need for making up one’s mind.

Choice = the right, power or opportunity to choose.

Crossroad = a place of decision that will affect the course of one’s life.

Have you ever been at a crossroad in your life?

Everyone encounters them in life.

I personally have experienced some.

Which path will we take - God's will or our own ways? The choice is up to me and you.

No matter who we are, all of us have made choices in our lives that have had consequences - some good and some not so good. If we are honest and given the opportunity, we would have made different choices somewhere in our lives. One thing is certain, we can learn from our choices by the consequences we experience.

I was 30, when the company I worked for, had to close its doors and I was unemployed. Although I saw the signs for a few months, I made a choice to stay. I am loyal and have a serving heart. Sometimes this is a good, but also a bad personality trait to have, specially if this is not in your best interest, a mistake I made more than once in my life. Most of us were also brought up that no matter what, you never quit, you don’t give up on something or disappoint someone. I faced my first crossroad!

I stayed home for a few weeks, enjoyed my house and being a full time mom. Cleaned the cupboards, working in the garden and having coffee with friends. This only lasted a few weeks. I got bored and knew I had to get back to being more productive and use my skills and talents. I met with a family member one day for coffee, and that was the start of my first business venture.

Did I make a good decision?

I was always one of those people that, when I got an opportunity or have a new idea, I just dived in and learnt later. Dealing with the consequences on my decisions.

My husband is the more realistic one, the practical and the analyst of us two. I did not have his blessing in this decision. He had his doubts and uncertainties about my decision to start a business. I did not listen to him.

I had no business experience.
There are many risks involved.
Not good to go into a partnership with a family member.
Where will I get enough capital to start the business.

I had the answers to all his doubts and questions. I already had made up my mind and nobody would stop me! I did not listen or respect his opinion. Only later I realised, how important it is when you make decisions, that it require buy-in from both parties, and that every decision you make, has an impact on your partner and your relationship.

“For wives, this means being supportive to your husbands like you are tenderly devoted to our Lord, for the husband provides leadership for the wife, just as Christ provides leadership for his church, as the Saviour and Reviver of the body. In the same way the church is devoted to Christ, let the wives be devoted to their husbands in everything.”

Ephesians 5:22-24 (TPT)

I was always a believer, I went to church, I prayed, I read the Bible, but I did not have an intimate and personal relationship with God at that time.

I didn’t take time and listened to what Gods plan was for me.

I didn’t spend time in His Word and get guidance from Him.

I did not pray about this and ask God for His blessing on this new venture.

“Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6 (TPT)

When we are faced with a crossroad in life, in our career or in business, we need to wait on God until we can move forward with confidence that He is directing our paths. When we are faced with difficult or challenging situations, we sometimes rush into decisions without waiting on God, spending time with Him and listening to His voice.

“You can rationalize it all you want and justify the path of error you have chosen, but you’ll find out in the end that you took the road to destruction.”

Prov. 14:12 (TPT)

All choices have consequences. These consequences will be either good or bad for us. We are responsible for our choices. I made numerous other bad decisions during that time, decisions that exposed me financially and emotionally.

When we start a new business or partnership, we are so excited that you jump right into getting started and neglect to iron out all the details not putting all the agreements in writing. This is a mistake I made, that caused huge problems when things started to go wrong after almost 8 years.

I also did not take advice I received, when things got out of hand, because of family members that were involved. I made business decisions with my heart and not my head. Acting sooner and addressing some of the issues could have saved a lot of hardship and pain for all of us involved.

Just because a certain choice, decision, path or opportunity seems right - is no guarantee that it is right. We always have to trust in the Lord and not lean to our own understanding or insight. Only He knows the end from the beginning, and He will lead us in the way that is best for us.

We need to put ourselves in a position to hear and receive His guidance for the course and direction of our lives. He will keep us calm in the midst of chaos and will bring us to victory. We have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and instruction.

We have to be obedient and this is not a one-time action, but a lifestyle!

When faced with a crossroad or decision in our lives, career or in business, we have to ask ourselves one important question:

Will the path we choose be a path that will fulfill God's plan for our lives?

Or will it simply be a path that follows our own reasoning for what we want out of life?

Our future is determined by all the choices we are making everyday. Let us bring God into helping us make our decisions.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

If we make the decision to obey God - no matter what we may see, think, or feel - when we stand at a crossroad in our lives, we will be able to hear His voice!

WIFE, MOTHER & GRANDMOTHER ǀ ENTREPRENEUR ǀ FOUNDER CONFIDENT WOMEN IN BUSINESS | DIFFERENCE MAKER

Cerita Nagy is a wife, mother of 2, grandmother of 2 and a passionate daughter of God. She is the founder of Confident Women in Business. She does marketing and fundraising for Vastfontein Community Transformation. In 2015 she was nominated as a Top 100 Difference Maker and in 2018 as a Top 10 Difference Maker by Difference Makers SA. She believes that you have to genuinely connect and care for other people. You need to make a regular decision to live authentically, live openly and live generously!