“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
All Scriptures KJV (King James Version of the Bible)
There are moments in life that change everything, instantly and irreversibly. Moments when you hold your head in your hands, knowing what the right choice was, yet you chose the path that seems smarter, safer, or easier. A decision that altered the course of your life, and there’s no going back. We don’t make choices in a vacuum. Sometimes the perspectives of those around us steer the path we take, even when we sense another direction is correct. Have you ever felt that tension? Or the voices around you were so loud, they drowned out God? Can you look back upon your life and narrow it down to a moment when a single decision altered the trajectory of everything that followed, no rewind, no undo, no going back? A moment when you knew deep within your spirit what the right choice was? Have you recognized God speaking, yet ignored Him? Our reasoning feels logical, our plans seem practical, and our understanding seems complete. We tell ourselves we are making the best choice, weighing the options carefully, calculating the risks. It feels responsible, even wise.
Following our mind can feel like control, like we are protecting ourselves from disappointment, failure, or difficulty. But when we prioritize human reasoning over divine direction, we miss the more profound wisdom God offers. We may step confidently only to discover that it was not the path He had prepared. And while our minds may argue, our hearts often carry the quiet regret or restlessness that comes from ignoring what we knew to be true.
Sometimes, even when we recognize God’s voice, our hearts pull us in a different direction. Not because His guidance is unclear, but because our own desires, fears, or reasoning feel louder in the moment. We hear the whisper of truth and then layer it with what seems safer, easier, or more convenient.
Listening to our hearts instead of God can feel justified. We tell ourselves we are protecting ourselves, doing what makes sense, or following what feels right. And yet, deep down, there’s a tension—a quiet, persistent knowing that what we want in the moment may not be what God wants for us. That tension is not accidental. It is the Spirit nudging us, the conviction that says, this path is not the one for you.
When we choose to follow our own hearts instead of submitting to God’s guidance in ministry or personal calling, it can seem reasonable at first. We may step into roles God has not asked us to carry, hold back when He is calling us forward, or measure success by affirmation rather than obedience. Yet Scripture reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” Jeremiah 17:9. Left unchecked, even sincere intentions can lead to weariness, discouragement, or quiet discontent. A ministry decision made to please others, avoid disappointment, or protect our own sense of worth can slowly pull us off course. Over time, these choices accumulate, reshaping our calling in ways God never intended, gently reminding us that true peace comes from surrender, not striving.
The same is true in our relationships. When we follow our hearts instead of God’s truth, we may excuse unhealthy patterns, avoid difficult conversations, or remain in situations that draw us away from Him. It often feels loving or compassionate in the moment. Yet the Word warns us that our hearts can mislead us when they are not anchored in God’s wisdom. Small compromises, unmet boundaries, or choices rooted in fear rather than faith can slowly produce confusion, heartache, or regret. Over time, these moments shape the direction of our relationships, reminding us that God’s guidance is not restrictive but protective, always leading us toward what is good, holy, and life-giving.
The difference comes from developing the habit of listening first to God and through His Word, through prayer, and through the gentle nudges of His Spirit. When our hearts are trained to pause, reflect, and discern, we begin to recognize His voice more quickly. The moments of hesitation are fewer. The times when we follow our own reasoning over His guidance become less frequent.
It is not always easy. Our hearts are familiar, comfortable, and persuasive. God’s voice can be quiet, tender, and counterintuitive. But over time, choosing to trust God, even when our hearts argue, builds a clarity and confidence that cannot come from our own understanding alone.
This is where Scripture becomes more than words on a page. As we read God’s Word, we begin to learn the sound of His voice. His truth shapes our discernment. His character becomes familiar. Over time, we learn the difference between His gentle leading and the confident reasoning of our own minds. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, Psalm 119:105. The more consistently we walk in that light, the less often we find ourselves stumbling down the wrong road.
From the beginning, people have struggled not with hearing God, but with trusting Him. Eve knew what God had said, yet when the serpent questioned His words, she allowed reason and desire to speak louder than obedience. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, Genesis 3:6. What she saw overruled what she had heard, and in that moment, everything changed.
Lot’s story unfolds much the same way. Scripture says he pitched his tents toward Sodom, gradually drawing closer to what God would later judge. When the warning finally came and escape was urgent, he lingered, Genesis 19:16. His hesitation reveals a heart divided between God’s direction and earthly attachment. Where might we be lingering, even while knowing God is calling us forward?
Perhaps we heard the voice of God clearly, and still chose otherwise. Not because we were confused, but because we were confident in our own understanding. Jesus tells us plainly, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, John 10:27. Hearing comes from relationship, and even within relationship, trust must still be chosen.
Jonah heard God unmistakably. There was no confusion, no ambiguity. Yet Jonah ran, not because he did not understand, but because he did not agree. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, Jonah 1:3. His decision led him into a storm, not just around him, but within him. Still, God’s mercy pursued him even there.
Looking back, I recognize moments when God was faithful to whisper truth, caution, or direction, and I was just as faithful to reason my way past it. I knew it was His voice. I simply believed I knew better. I told myself I would obey later, once things were clearer, safer, or more practical. Yet clarity often comes after obedience, not before. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, Proverbs 3:5.
The most painful part is not always the consequence itself, but the realization that it did not have to be this way. That God spoke. That I knew. That I chose otherwise. And yet, even here, Scripture does not leave us without hope.
Peter heard Jesus warn him that he would deny Him. Peter was confident in his own strength, his own resolve. Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee, Matthew 26:35. Hours later, Peter wept bitterly. But Jesus restored him. Failure was not the end of Peter’s story, nor is it the end of ours.
If this reflection stirs something in your heart, let it not lead to shame, but to humility. Let it remind us that listening is an act of surrender, and obedience is an expression of love. If ye love Me, keep My commandments, John 14:15.
Reflection question:
What is one area of your life today where you sense God is asking you to trust Him, even if your mind thinks it knows better?
Prayer:
Lord, teach us to trust You when You speak, even when our understanding argues back. Where we have chosen our own way, meet us with mercy. Shape our hearts through Your Word, and lead us gently into obedience that brings life. In Jesus-Yeshua’s name we pray. Amen.
Jesus ~ Amazing Grace! 