HomeCounselingBiblical Counseling Coalition | Feelings in Making Choices

Biblical Counseling Coalition | Feelings in Making Choices


Are you somebody who struggles with indecisiveness?

“I need God’s will for my life.”

“Is he the one?”

“Is she the one?”

“Is that this job the one?”

“Is that this church the one?”

We may talk about many causes for being indecisive. Right here, I’d wish to level out one of many paralyzing elements: our feelings. Generally, we watch for peaceable feelings to make selections. If peaceable feelings imply seeing indicators of a “burning bush,” then we is perhaps ready for a very long time. Whereas we’re ready, the temptation is to investigate many times the current choices and, after all, the higher choices. Then, there are the “what if” prospects that maintain us from shifting ahead. We’d discuss to household or associates however hear totally different opinions. It doesn’t assist if we’re wanting sure folks’s approval, similar to dad and mom, associates, or work/church leaders. These elements mixed may add to our inner turmoil of eager to know God’s will. If we’re not cautious, nevertheless, we might overanalyze as a method to be accountable for our lives. It could possibly be a tactic to keep away from regrets, struggling, or embarrassment.

At occasions, figuring out God’s will is obvious. For sin points, it’s not a matter of praying extra. Ought to I cheat on my venture? No. Ought to I date or marry a non-Christian? No. Is it acceptable to mistreat somebody with our attitudes, phrases, or actions? No. God hates sin, so we take it significantly by ending it, avoiding it, or fleeing from it. Normally, once we wrestle with figuring out God’s will, we’re speaking about decisions that aren’t sinful. Figuring out God’s will is said to biblical decision-making (see assets on the finish).

God’s Peace

All through the Bible, God instructions His folks to worship Him above anything on this world (Exod. 20:3; Deut. 6:5-6; Matt. 22:37-40). Apparently, God by no means guarantees a life freed from ache or struggling. The Apostle Paul obeyed God however skilled afflictions (2 Cor. 1:8-11). Equally, for us, having a setback in life or actually laborious conditions doesn’t essentially imply that we sinned. That is the place godly counsel is efficacious to assist us look at our lives biblically fairly than counting on feelings. These are moments once we might need regrets or query God’s goodness.

Peace is feasible even once we are hurting or confused. Peace is a blessing from God once we belief Him. For instance, see Isaiah 26:3-4, “You retain him in excellent peace whose thoughts is stayed on you, as a result of he trusts in you. Belief within the LORD endlessly, for the LORD GOD is an eternal rock.” We don’t belief our feelings for safety. We belief God as a result of He’s “an eternal rock.” God is powerful and everlasting. It’s additionally a reminder to have an everlasting perspective on our life. In our earthly life, we are going to sin and make errors, however we will study and permit God to make use of them to mature us spiritually.

Our feelings fluctuate continually, however God is unchanging. Once we’re conflicted about selections, we want reminders of what God cares about all through the Bible: loving God and loving folks. Usually, God doesn’t use express indicators to direct our selections however gives steerage within the Bible on proper targets, priorities, and values. If our choice finally ends up not being what it appeared at first, then we will reassess our scenario and make adjustments based mostly on God’s expectations within the Bible.

God’s Steerage

Psalm 119:105 gives an imagery of God’s steerage by means of His mild. It says, “Your phrase is a lamp to my ft and a light-weight to my path.” Generally, our path in life appears darkish and not sure although we’re attempting to make a clever choice. We will all the time discover godly knowledge once we meditate on God’s Phrase. God’s Phrase is a lamp to our ft. It gives sufficient steerage to direct our subsequent steps, maybe for that day alone. That’s comforting to recollect. Usually, we wish to know, however we don’t should know the result of our decisions. We will search data that’s essential to think about for every choice in that second.

God’s Phrase is the supply of information for good selections, nevertheless it’s greater than mental data. We need what God wills once we search God. “Don’t be conformed to this world, however be reworked by the renewal of your thoughts, that by testing it’s possible you’ll discern what’s the will of God, what is nice and acceptable and excellent” (Rom. 12:2). The Holy Spirit adjustments our ideas, giving us biblical discernment, as we turn out to be extra like Christ. Egocentric wishes for achievement or approval from folks flip into godly wishes to do what is true and honorable earlier than God.

Additional Studying

Rather a lot could possibly be mentioned about biblical decision-making. For additional studying, listed below are two books:

Kevin DeYoung, Simply Do One thing: A Liberating Strategy to Discovering God’s Will

Garry Friesen, Resolution Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Various to the Conventional View

Questions for Reflection

  1. Am I counting on my feelings to make selections?
  2. How am I doing spiritually?
  3. Have I examined the Bible for God’s perspective on the difficulty?
  4. Have I prayed in regards to the choice or situation? Are my prayers in step with biblical teachings?
  5. Have I consulted a minimum of a few godly folks for counsel?