You guys have known me long enough for me to say this: I’ve been struggling with making decisions lately. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this problem, but nowadays, it takes me even longer to feel peace about the decisions I’ve been making. And after several months of praying, waiting, and hearing mixed messages, I realize the reason behind the confusion.
I need to choose my wisdom.
Now, this is not a new idea, but because of social media, TV programs, and extended families, we now have a lot of people trying to pour into our lives. Losing weight, planning vacations, making a family, and choosing careers have never been more difficult. We have so much information available to us that we don’t even know where to start.
We’re getting bombarded by “wisdom.”
As a Christian, I believe that true wisdom comes from knowing God and studying His Word. I wrote last week about the importance of reading the Bible every day. We receive wisdom from God when we read His Word and apply it to our lives. When we read/listen to the Bible in the morning, we gain wisdom for the day ahead of us. With every decision that comes our way, we can hold the “wisdom” we hear from others against the perfect wisdom of God.
If I read Colossians 3:23 about working for the Lord, I will choose to give my best at work and not slack off on the job. If I read Philippians 2:14, I know not to join in on complaining with others. If I read Proverbs 20:19 and I hear my friends gossiping, I won’t jump into the conversation.
So why is it so difficult to make decisions, if all I have to do is read the Bible to know what is right?
The wisdom of this world, the popular wisdom, does not always correlate with God’s wisdom. Instead, the wisdom of this world correlates with human emotion and what feels right. When God says that we get wisdom from spending time with Him, the world says, “No, you can get wisdom over here too, away from God.”
This earthly wisdom can come from a Facebook article that sounds so cleverly and creatively crafted. This earthly wisdom can come from a news reporter who is “just trying to state the facts” (AKA their opinion). This earthly wisdom can even come from a family member who genuinely wants to see you happy and successful.
But this earthly wisdom, in the end, will lead you down a path that could bring you away from God’s plan for your life.
The wisdom of this world is transient. What works for me might not be right for you. One example of this is with weight loss. There are so many diets out there; they can’t all be right! One diet says to eat all carbs and no fat, one diet says to eat all fat and no carbs, and one diet says to eat fat, carbs, and protein, as long as you keep it balanced! For me, I’ve discovered that eating less carbs has helped with bloating and hunger, but maybe for someone else, fats make them feel, well…fat. If I follow the wisdom of everyone else, I will end up discouraged.
Instead of choosing wisdom, I’ve been grabbing onto any wisdom that floats my way. Anytime someone offers me what appears to be wise, I chew on it for a little bit and consider what they’re saying a possibility. Then someone else comes along and says something different but also considerably wise, and I am conflicted with two pieces of information that cannot both be right. I’ve been so obsessed with appeasing the voices around me that I’ve lost touch with the voice that’s whispering within me.
It may take time, but I will hear the voice of God again, and I will feel the peace of God that only He can give me.
Although the Bible may not explicitly explain how to handle each and every task, I know from experience and from hearing others’ testimonies that once we put God first, once we make it our mission to please Him over everyone else, once we pray in Jesus’ name for God’s will to be done…then everything else falls into place.
And I mean, everything.
Whether you’re deciding what to make for dinner or where to go to college, choose the wisdom that aligns with the wisdom of God. Surround yourself with encouraging, wise people who can offer you advice that correlates with God’s Word. Just because it’s on social media doesn’t mean that it’s advice that’s been tested or researched. Choose wisdom, and choose wisely!
Elisabeth Warner 