Have you ever felt lost in life? You’re not sure where to go. You’re not sure who to turn to. You’re not sure which path to take. Maybe you’re facing a big decision. Or you’ve come to a crossroads and you’re not sure which path is right. The Bible has a lot to say about getting directions. The source of the direction is what matters. Let’s look at some wrong sources before we look at the right ones. 

 

The first wrong source would be yourself. Proverbs 28:26 says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” The world says, “Follow your heart” and “What is your heart telling you?” This is completely unbiblical. Your heart is sinful (see Jer. 17:9), and it will lead you wrong. In other words, don’t trust your feelings. Feelings are often associated with your circumstances. When times are good, you feel great, but when times are not so good, you feel miserable. Your feelings can easily deceive you. 

 

Another wrong source would be friends. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s important to have godly friends, and there are plenty of verses in the Bible about seeking wise counsel, but I’m referring to going to someone who will tell you what you want to hear. This is very common. We want advice about something, but we only want a certain kind of advice, and so we go to the people that we know will tell us what we want to hear. They might do this simply because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. A good friend will tell you the hard truth. 

 

A final wrong source would be professional or worldly wisdom. This could include self-help books, psychiatrists, doctors, counselors, etc. These are secular sources of wisdom. They may sound good, but if they aren’t giving you biblical answers, they could be very detrimental in steering you down the wrong path. Many people get their life advice from Dr. Phil or The View, but Christians should not be getting direction from such sources. Be careful. The world has tons of gurus who sound good, but are completely anti-Bible in the wisdom they give. 

 

So what are the right sources for finding direction in life? In their book Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby and Claude King explain that God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit using these means: the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. It is only through these sources that God reveals Himself, His purposes, and His ways. If you want direction from God, these are the ways in which He will give it. But the key to all of this is trusting God. The Bible is extremely clear on this point. Notice the following verses: 

 

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and learn not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Pro. 3:5-6). 

 

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psa. 37:3-5). 

 

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Pro. 29:25). 

 

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Psa. 118:8-9). 

 

Here’s an example: you need direction concerning a certain decision, and God speaks to you through His Word. Then you go to church, and the pastor confirms that in his message. You seek godly counsel, and they confirm it as well. These are the ways that God gives direction. Now understand something: it’s okay to make plans, but you still need to trust God for direction. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” You can make the plans, but God is ultimately in control. Be sure to surrender to His will. 

 

Finally, don’t forget that God gives specific directions. Psalm 37:23 says this: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” God’s direction for you has a specific sequence. God has it all planed out. God will often open doors and close doors; He’s done this many times in my life. So, will you trust Him? Don’t seek the world’s wisdom. If you faithfully seek God’s will, He will not fail to show you the right way.