Scripture in 1st Kings asks, “ How long will you waver between two opinions?” If you have ever been caught between two choices without a clear way forward it can be maddening. Sometimes, with no other recourse, we may elect to remain neutral and make no decision. This too can be frustrating. To elaborate, I recently took an online personal strengths test with the goal of pin-pointing my top 5 personality traits. I was super excited to take the test because I had been experiencing some internal wavering. I’d come to a place in life where I simply didn’t know what to do with myself anymore and needed more information to determine which direction to go. Instinctively, I began to seek ways to improve myself. Interestingly, the end result of this online test noted that this was precisely something I would do. In hindsight, I’ve determined that this testing system used the way in which I processed through the test to determine my top five strengths. Ironically, they were duplicitous. I will show you what I mean shortly.
This personality strengths test is part of a class I’m currently taking at church in pursuit of things more Godly. Again, since I now know my Top 5 Strengths this is exactly how I would categorize this class but I’m being redundant. As I began the test, I laughed at the instructions. They were presented as an example of how the test would be administered and gave questions with multiple-choice answers to determine if you had actually read the entire page of instructions. I now had an intriguing glimpse inside the mind of its creator. The instructions noted that the test was timed and there would only be a short time-span to select your answer or the test would time-out. My adrenaline started pumping as nerves kicked in. I’m at home, on the back porch with my laptop and I’m nervous.
I started the test and on question three I was stumped. Now, I was instructed that I would need to select the answer that best summed me up and that I may sometimes relate to both answers. Man, was that an understatement. Question three sat on the screen as the seconds ticked, almost aloud. I could not choose the better answer because both were absolutely correct. There was no clear way out so I placed the curser in the middle of the screen and sat there. I wavered. BOOM. The test timed out and I literally gasped, “What now?” Thankfully, a screen popped up with new instructions and the test could resume; however, I sat there for a bit frantically trying to determine how to proceed. I decided, right then and there, that when needed, I would have to choose the third option of the three multiple choices, which simply stated, “I am neutral”.
O.M.G. It goes against my grain, or should I say my personality to be neutral. I don’t believe I am ever neutral. Silent? Yes. Neutral? No. I love to have a clear and concise opinion, or action plan, and go with that. Ironically, one of my strengths, per this test, is that I respond in life exactly this way; I gather information, chose the best path and BOOM, I go, with conviction and with gusto. I actually like that about me and I love that the test confirmed that. I don’t know…. it just felt like a little pat on the back or, in the least, acknowledgement that I can make a decision, but I digress.
As I continued the test, I bumped into many questions that gave two polar choices wherein both could have been correct. But, with time pushing me I adapted to the instructions and chose to be neutral with a click of a button. Each time I selected the answer “I am neutral” I worried that my apparent indecisive answer would skew the end results of the test and I would not truly know my top five strengths. Again, the creator of this test came through for me. Within my top five strengths is the characteristic of being able to see inside a problem and solve it concisely, using the knowledge at hand. Again, I have to say I was blown away at the way this test works. The evidence proves that the questions were set up so that if you selected the neutral answer this, in itself, is indicative of part of your strengths.
I should note, here, that one of my strengths was intellection. Now, I didn’t even know what that meant so I had to look it up. So much for being “intelligent” as one may assume the definition of intellection to be. It actually means that I use my intellect to help me along in life. Looking up the definition of intellection is an example of that. See what I mean about this test? It’s truly fascinating.
Back to the subject at hand; “How long will you (or I) waver between two choices.” Life will always press us to make decisions. Wavering is one thing but sitting in indecision is another. Life is ticking and time is passing. Sometimes time presses in and we must choose. My encouragement is this; be prepared ahead of time. Know the Word of God and allow His ways to guide you when you’re stumped. The Lord will always give us a way out when we are being tested and will indicate the way to go when we’re unsure. Like that online test I took, God will apply the test of life in a way that our strengths are revealed and we will eventually “get it” and smile, realizing that this is exactly how our heavenly Father sets it up; wanting us to know ourselves better simply because we know Him. I must say this is an amazing way to learn about our strengths. I am in Awe of God's processes, including His testing of me for distinct purposes!
“For it is written:
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person?
Where is the teacher of the law?
Where is the philosopher of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1st Corinthians 1:19-20
Song Recommendation:
In Awe
By: Hollyn
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