How many times has your gut led you astray? No, I’m not talking about the thing that hangs over your belt. That’s your nemesis.
I’m talking about that emotion or feeling you get that makes you believe something is right when it’s not. The one that says “do it” when you really shouldn’t.
If you know what I’m talking about, then I’m guessing your answer to be like mine, more times than you can count.
For many, “your gut” is the single most crucial aspect of your decision-making. Too often, you rely on it to make significant decisions in life. This shouldn’t be the case.
I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t have a “good feeling” about things and that you should never listen to your gut. Sometimes it’s right. But really, I would give credit to the Holy Spirit for that.
What I’m suggesting is that you and I should start trusting in God over our gut every time. As you know, our gut is often wrong because our emotions and feelings cloud our judgment. We get too emotional.
But do you know who is never wrong, has never been wrong, and never will be wrong? The answer to that question is God. And that’s a pretty good track record to trust.
Here are two reasons why you should start trusting in God over your gut.
1. Your gut can’t always be trusted.
How many times have you been to a restaurant to try something new only to regret it later? “I want to try new things,” you say, but you shouldn’t have listened to yourself.
The problem is often the same with the decisions you make. Then when you look back, you think, “well, it sounded good at the moment,” only to realize you should have made a different choice.
Instead of trusting in your untrustworthy gut, you should “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Remember, God is the one who never gets it wrong. We, however, get it wrong A LOT! That’s why the Bible says, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.” (Proverbs 28:26)
2. God proved we can trust Him through the examples of other people.
Some of the people we look up to in this world are horrible examples. And if you sit back and think about it, fame and wealth don’t automatically make you a person of character.
The people we should look to as examples are the people who trusted in God over their gut. In other words, they had faith in God over their feelings.
The Bible is full of real-life examples.
But “I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith.” (Hebrews 11:32-39)
All of these people faced feelings that were contrary to their faith. Yet, they put their trust in God first, and in the process, they set an example for us to follow.
It’s time to stop trusting in your gut and start trusting in God.
