Should You Follow Your Heart? 

It seems to be our culture’s go-to advice when it comes to seeking guidance about some matter, especially when it comes to relationships. When someone is struggling over choosing between possible suitors or between their dream job and their “dreamboat” or between other priorities in their life, they are often counseled, “Just follow your heart.” However, is that the best advice?

A verse in the book of Proverbs indicates otherwise. It says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). Why is that the case? It is because our hearts are not reliable. As Jeremiah 17:9 points out, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Our hearts can deceive us. They can be so tainted by sin, selfishness, and wrong motives that they can steer us in the wrong direction. Additionally, we may not have all the information needed to make a wise decision. So, although meaning well, our hearts could still lead us astray.

So what is the better option when we are needing guidance? Proverbs 3:5 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” There it is! Trust in the Lord, not in your own heart. Why is He more trustworthy than our hearts? It is because, unlike our hearts, He is not deceitful. What He says is right and true. And He is not tainted by sin – He is good and always wants what is good for us. On top of that, in contrast to our limited understanding, He knows everything. He sees the bigger picture. Therefore we can trust Him. We can be confident that the guidance He is giving us comes from the all-knowing God who is good, who loves us, and who will lead us in the best possible direction.

One of the resources God uses to give us guidance is His Word, the Bible. If what we feel our heart is telling us to do goes against a biblical command or a principle clearly taught in the Bible, then we should not listen to our heart. We need to listen to what God says in His Word and respond accordingly. In spite of what many people claim today, the Bible is trustworthy. It will guide us in the right direction. God has also given us His Holy Spirit as another source of guidance. If we are born-again followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Jesus said that He would be faithful to guide us into all truth. Neither will the Holy Spirit lead us to do anything that goes against the Word of God. We cannot rightfully claim to be led by His Spirit when what we are doing clearly goes against what the Bible says. The guidance of God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit will not contradict each other. If it seems like they are, then we are misunderstanding one or the other.

When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t tell them, “Come and follow your heart.” No, He said, “Come and follow Me.” That is what we are called to do as those who are putting our faith in Christ – not to follow our hearts but to follow Jesus. We need to trust Him rather than our own understanding. He has given us His Word and His Spirit to help us know which way to go.

So if you are looking for guidance in some matter, don’t foolishly just follow your heart. It might or might not lead you in the right direction. Instead, follow the Lord. Trust Him. Do what His Word says. Prayerfully follow where His Spirit leads. Then you won’t go wrong.