It is common for people to experience times of self-doubt. Things can go wrong. “We all make mistakes.”
At those times we may seek the counsel of others – friends, family members, or trained professionals. When we are in doubt about the validity of our values or our point of view, we may come to question our perceptions of reality and the quality of our judgements.
Unfortunately, sometimes there are problems with the quality of the guidance we get from others. In short, not all of it may be good advice. Unless we ask for them, the opinions of others may not be welcome. Also, if we listen to their advice they expect us to follow it, and we may not want to.
I appreciate the wisdom of others who offer their counsel when I need it. We must recognize, however, that not everyone who offers advice does so for our benefit. There are some who may want to manipulate us to their own advantage. Or, they may want to hold us back so that they can keep us from achieving our full potential – possibly to control us or keep us from being competitive with them for leadership or position. Others, bless them, may with the best of intentions offer bad advice.
I am not saying we should disregard the advice of others, but before we proceed to decision-making it is best to see what God has to say about it. Most importantly, we should give God the final say-so.
What to do, then? In everything we must pray earnestly for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then we have to look into the Holy Bible for the whole wisdom of God; whether it be about a single decision, or about the totality of who we are and why we exist. We must not grab just one verse and run with it. We should search the entire Word of God to learn everything God has given us. I recommend getting a good Bible concordance. It really helps. I am sharing this with you in good faith, and it is supported by the following:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2Peter 1:19-21 ESV)
Jesus said:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17 ESV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:26-27 ESV)
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John16:12-15 ESV)
Acknowledgement:
All of the Bible verses
quoted were copied from https://biblehub.com/esv
