Human beings basically all have good hearts. Follow your heart. Do whatever makes you happy or feels good/right. Believe in yourself…The statements just mentioned are something like what would pass for celebrated wisdom in common culture. God’s word plainly says it is foolish.

Human beings are born into this world with hearts that are evil and “desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). This is why the Holy Spirit works in salvation to give sinners new hearts. To live following one’s heart can be a confusing mess. Emotions run high and low and can be dramatically unstable and unpredictable. Feelings fluctuate. Furthermore, to live simply for one’s own personal indulgences and happiness in the moment is to live all wrong!

We have been created for the glory of God (Romans 11:36). To live life trusting in one’s own heart is a futile and idolatrous practice to replace God with self. The corrective to trusting one’s own heart is Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding.”

The call is look upward (to God) and not inward (to self). It is to see God as the source of wisdom, salvation, joy, and strength. Is He not worthy of our trust in view of His glory in creation and salvation?

Times come into our lives in which there is a conflict. A conflict between our personal feelings, desires, inclinations, etc. and the truth of God’s word. Which one will you trust? The path of wisdom is to rely and have confidence in God and His ways even when the “feelings” toward Him may not be strong in the moment. God in His kindness points us to trust fully in Him; may we lean into His kind wisdom.