Sense of Direction

                                                                                Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash

If I followed my heart, I would be hopelessly lost. I would be adrift on a sea of emotion; impossibly off course in a dense forest of overthinking; stranded on a mountaintop of daydreams and unfinished projects.

Much has been written in Christian publishing and the blogosphere about the dangers of following your heart. I suspect this was in response to the common advice from best-selling authors, Instagram influencers, and trite memes to do just that - follow your heart. But this advice swung the pendulum far to the opposite side instead of encouraging the equilibrium position, the balance of thought and feeling.

Though operating purely on emotion is dangerous, the heart itself is not all bad. Mine has led me to some beautiful vistas – treasured friendships, a job I enjoy, and some mighty fine dogs. On the other hand, my heart has also led me to some not so wise decisions - a broken heart, poor financial and health choices, and more than a few bad haircuts!

The heart is a good travelling companion, but a lousy compass.

Still, our hearts and emotions are God-given. They are a part of His image which He breathed into us at Creation. Throughout His Word, there are instances of how God governs with mind and His heart.

Examples of His anger and wrath come quickly to mind, such as Jesus upsetting tables and driving the moneychangers from the temple in John 2:15-16, or God's wrath turned upon Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.

There are also a number of images of God's tender care for His people:

"As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you..." (Isaiah 66:13) 

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 29:15)

Jesus said "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37) 

Song of Solomon is filled with passion as example of the love Christ has for his church!

And let us not forget "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). And of course, "Jesus wept" (Johns 11:35).

We have the same emotions as God. They are not a part of our humanity separate from God, but a part of Him that He has given to us! The difference is when He follows His heart, it is always wise, judicious, and with perfect control. One need only follow news reports and social media to see that is not the case with man.

So, how can a person follow their heart within godly parameters? 

Following are a few suggestions:

1.     Pray for wisdom

This might seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. We tend to pray for God to get us out of a tough situation after we have made a poor decision. But we might avoid the unwise decision entirely if we pray first.

 James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

2.     Look to God’s Word for direction

If your heart is leading you somewhere that does not line up with the Bible, do not follow it! Your decisions should not contradict Scripture. Martin Luther said, “You should not believe your conscience and your feelings more than the word which the Lord who receives sinners preaches to you.”

3.     Seek advice of friends and family

Proverbs advises “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”  (Prov 15:22) Seeking advice from others draws on their knowledge, wisdom, and experience, so we do not have to go it alone. These are also people who know you and can encourage you or help you avoid some pitfalls. We were created to live in community, and this includes seeking help.

Following our hearts based solely on our own desires and “gut feelings” is like following a GPS that has not had its maps updated in a few years. It can lead us to unknown and unseen dangers and heartaches. Using the resources God has given us – His wisdom, His Word, His people – we can travel life with confidence He is leading us in the right direction.