Should You Trust Your Thoughts?
In our journey of faith, a recurring theme emerges, a gentle yet firm caution that often runs counter to our natural inclinations: Don’t trust your thoughts or feelings. This isn’t a call to become unfeeling robots or to disregard the inner workings of our minds. Rather, it’s an invitation to a deeper discernment, a recognition that our subjective experiences, while real, are often unreliable guides on the path to truth and spiritual maturity.
As believers, we are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). This principle extends beyond the physical realm and delves into the intricate landscape of our inner world. Our thoughts can be fleeting, influenced by a multitude of factors – our mood, our past experiences, our current circumstances, even our physical well-being. Similarly, our feelings are often transient, ebbing and flowing like the tides, capable of leading us astray if we place undue reliance on them.
The danger lies in equating our thoughts and feelings with truth, especially spiritual truth. We might feel a certain way about a situation, and therefore assume that feeling is God’s will. We might have a strong thought about a particular decision, and mistake it for divine guidance. But the Bible consistently reminds us that the human heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), and our understanding is often limited and clouded by our own biases and desires.
Consider the countless instances in Scripture where individuals acted based on their feelings or limited understanding, often with detrimental consequences. Eve, swayed by the allure of forbidden fruit and the serpent’s deceptive words, acted on a desire that led to the fall of humanity (Genesis 3:6). Peter, despite his fervent declaration of loyalty to Jesus, succumbed to fear and denied Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75). These examples serve as stark reminders of the fallibility of human emotions and intellect when not anchored in the unwavering truth of God’s Word.
The Deceptive Nature of Our Inner World
Our thoughts can be powerful tools, capable of creativity, problem-solving, and deep reflection. However, they can also be breeding grounds for negativity, doubt, anxiety, and self-deception. The enemy of our souls is adept at planting seeds of doubt and fear in our minds, whispering lies that can take root and distort our perception of God, ourselves, and others. If we are not vigilant, we can easily become captive to these negative thought patterns, allowing them to dictate our actions and erode our faith.
Similarly, our feelings, while a vital part of the human experience, are not always reliable indicators of truth. We might feel abandoned by God during a difficult season, but that feeling doesn’t negate His promise to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We might feel unworthy of God’s love due to past mistakes, but that feeling contradicts the liberating truth of His unconditional grace and forgiveness (Romans 8:1). Basing our understanding of God and His will solely on our emotional state is akin to navigating a ship by the unpredictable currents of the sea, rather than by the fixed point of a compass.
The Anchor of Truth: God’s Word
So, if we are not to trust our thoughts and feelings as the ultimate guide, where do we turn? The answer, unequivocally, is to the unchanging and authoritative Word of God. The Bible is our anchor, our compass, and our roadmap on this journey of faith. It is the standard by which we must evaluate our thoughts and feelings, discerning what aligns with God’s truth and what deviates from it.
Psalm 119:105 beautifully illustrates this: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word provides the illumination we need to navigate the often-murky terrain of our inner world. It reveals the truth about God’s character, His will for our lives, and the nature of our own hearts. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we begin to cultivate a mind that is increasingly aligned with God’s thinking and a heart that resonates with His love.
Discerning the Voice of God
This doesn’t mean that God never speaks to us through our thoughts or feelings. He is a personal God who desires to communicate with His children. However, any prompting, intuition, or emotional conviction must be rigorously tested against the clear and consistent teachings of Scripture. If a thought or feeling contradicts a principle found in God’s Word, we can be certain it is not from Him.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, who dwells within every believer, plays a crucial role in guiding us into truth (John 16:13). As we cultivate a close relationship with the Spirit through prayer and obedience to God’s Word, He will illuminate our understanding and help us discern His voice from the noise of our own thoughts and the deceptive whispers of the enemy.
The Importance of Spiritual Disciplines
Developing this discernment requires intentionality and commitment to spiritual disciplines. Consistent prayer allows us to communicate with God, seeking His wisdom and guidance. Regular Bible study equips us with the knowledge of His Word, enabling us to test our thoughts and feelings against its truth. Fellowship with other believers provides accountability and godly counsel, offering perspectives that can help us see beyond our own subjective experiences.
Fasting, when done with a sincere heart, can also sharpen our spiritual senses and help us to be less swayed by our physical desires and emotional impulses. Silence and solitude create space for us to quiet the internal chatter and listen for the still, small voice of God.
Future Study Bible Verse (Old Testament): Jeremiah 31:33-34
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
This powerful prophecy speaks of a future covenant where God’s law will not merely be external but deeply ingrained within the hearts of His people. This internalization signifies a profound transformation, where knowing God becomes an intimate, personal experience rather than solely relying on external instruction.
In the context of not trusting our thoughts and feelings, this verse offers a hopeful perspective. While our current human condition is prone to deception and misinterpretation, this future reality promises a deeper level of spiritual understanding and discernment. When God’s law is written on our hearts, our inner compass will be more attuned to His will. However, even in this future state, the principle of grounding our understanding in God’s truth will likely remain vital. The internalized law will guide our thoughts and feelings, but it will still be rooted in the objective reality of God’s character and commands. This future covenant highlights God’s desire for a genuine and intimate relationship with His people, where knowledge of Him permeates their very being.
Future Study Bible Verse (New Testament): Hebrews 8:10-12
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
This passage in Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31, emphasizing the fulfillment of this new covenant in Christ. The promise of God’s laws being written on our minds and hearts is a reality for believers in the New Testament era through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
How does this relate to the principle of not trusting our thoughts and feelings? The indwelling Spirit empowers us with spiritual discernment, enabling us to understand and apply God’s Word to our lives. However, this doesn’t negate the need for vigilance. Even with the Spirit’s guidance, our human nature remains susceptible to the influence of our flesh and the deceptions of the world.
The fact that “they shall all know me” doesn’t imply an automatic or passive understanding. It speaks to a deep, personal relationship cultivated through faith, obedience, and ongoing engagement with God’s Word. Our thoughts and feelings, even when influenced by the Spirit, still need to be tested against the objective truth revealed in Scripture. The new covenant empowers us for greater spiritual understanding, but it doesn’t eliminate the responsibility to actively discern and align our inner world with God’s revealed will.
Practical Steps to Cultivate Discernment
So, how do we practically apply this principle of not trusting solely in our thoughts and feelings? Here are some actionable steps:
- Immerse Yourself in Scripture: Make the Bible your daily bread. Read it, study it, meditate on it, and allow it to shape your understanding of truth.
- Pray Diligently: Communicate with God regularly, seeking His wisdom and guidance. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your understanding of His Word and to help you discern His voice.
- Seek Godly Counsel: Surround yourself with mature believers who are grounded in Scripture and can offer objective perspectives. Be open to their feedback and willing to be challenged.
- Practice Self-Examination: Regularly evaluate your thoughts and feelings in light of God’s Word. Ask yourself: Do these align with biblical principles? Do they bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)?
- Be Aware of Your Biases: Recognize your own tendencies and areas where your emotions or past experiences might cloud your judgment.
- Cultivate Spiritual Disciplines: Engage in practices like fasting, silence, and solitude to quiet the noise of the world and tune your ear to God’s voice.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Developing discernment is a lifelong process. Don’t be discouraged by missteps, but continue to grow in your understanding and reliance on God’s Word.
The Freedom in Surrender
Ultimately, the call to not trust solely in our thoughts and feelings is an invitation to freedom. When we release the burden of having to figure everything out on our own and instead anchor ourselves in the unchanging truth of God’s Word, we find a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). We are no longer tossed to and fro by the waves of our emotions or the shifting sands of our opinions. We are grounded in the solid rock of Jesus Christ and His eternal truth.
Embracing this principle requires humility, a willingness to admit that our own understanding is limited and that God’s wisdom far surpasses our own. It requires a commitment to seeking truth above our own preferences and a willingness to be corrected when our thoughts or feelings stray from God’s path.
In conclusion, while our thoughts and feelings are a part of our human experience, they are not to be our ultimate guide in matters of faith and life. The Word of God, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, is the true north on our spiritual compass. By diligently engaging with Scripture, cultivating a relationship with God through prayer, and seeking godly counsel, we can develop the discernment needed to navigate the complexities of our inner world and walk confidently in the light of God’s truth. Let us continually strive to align our hearts and minds with His Word, finding our security not in the fleeting nature of our own perceptions, but in the steadfast and eternal truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sources and related content