When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. – Matthew 28:17

Hesitation provides time to think about a situation, gather information and weigh the facts. Maybe the choice really matters to you. Maybe  hesitation is a warning that you’re about to make the wrong decision. This is not the same as hesitating until an opportunity is lost or we lose sight of a God given vision.

Do we prefer privacy over loving accountability? God has called us into relationships that pull us out of doubt and hesitation: spiritual conversation, mutual prayer and healthy accountability. “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment”(Proverbs 18:1).

Can we discern between faith and fear? Sometimes fear protects us from dangerous things. Other times fear eaves us making no decision at all.  God gives us wisdom to decide between the necessary risks of faith and the appropriate cautions of wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

Do we prefer comfort over commitments? We grow comfortable with our routines. Many believers have had to push themselves to return to church services because they’d grown comfortable with their no-commute, no-prep Sunday mornings at home. Or they could just do whatever they wanted on the weekend and watch a recorded service later.

There are many reasons why we hesitate, so let’s diagnose our hearts. Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” We’re all masters at mental maneuvering, and our hesitations often flow from unexamined thoughts and feelings.