Don’t Follow Your Heart

Recently I was in a city I am vaguely familiar with when I checked out of the hotel at 5 a.m. and made my way toward the interstate. It was still dark outside and pouring rain. My GPS told me to head east, but the directions “felt” wrong. I would’ve bet my first cup of coffee that I needed to drive the opposite direction. I had a decision to make. Would I trust my sense of direction or the GPS? I’m embarrassed to admit for a brief but delusional moment I was arrogant enough to believe I knew better than the GPS. Thankfully, common sense prevailed, and I followed the directions on my GPS. A few minutes later I was on the interstate headed home to Nashville. If I’d trusted my feelings, I’d been lost in an unfamiliar city trying to find my way in the rain. The spiritual analogy wasn’t lost on me.

In American culture, it’s not uncommon to hear people say, “Follow your heart.” Those who say it are probably well intended, but it’s terrible advice. Why? The Bible teaches our hearts will deceive us. In Jeremiah 17:9 the prophet wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Our hearts are inclined to lead us in a direction that feels right at the moment but ignores long-term consequences. As Christians, we are not called to follow our hearts. We are called to follow Jesus. The primary way we follow Christ is through obedience to His Word. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). 

On many occasions, the Word of God will command us to do something that feels wrong. For instance:

• The Bible tells us to forgive, but our hearts want to hold a grudge (Ephesians 4:32).
• The Bible tells us to love our enemies, but our hearts long to retaliate (Matthew 5:44).
• The Bible tells us to be generous, but our hearts tempt us to hoard (Acts 20:35). 
• The Bible tells us to speak kindly, but our hearts lead our mouths to gossip (Ephesians 4:29).
• The Bible tells us not to fear, but our hearts are prone to worry (Isaiah 41:10). 
• The Bible tells us to humble ourselves, but our hearts seek glory (1 Peter 5:6). 

I could go on and on, but you get the point. Following your heart is not synonymous with being true to yourself. In fact, it’s just the opposite. If we cave in to every desire and whim, we will end up a complete mess.  So how do we know which direction to proceed? The Psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:104) Our hearts are not trustworthy guides. Following Christ through obedience to His Word is the only way.