Why We Don't Take Advice.
Truth in Love.
Written April 7, 2018
"I have many things to say unto you, but yet cannot bear them now." - My Utmost for His highest, Oswald Chambers
I cant' handle the truth that God has for me until I walk deeper with Him. By knowing him deeper - his personality, his ethics, what he likes and dislikes - only when I know him, deep in my heart can I listen with pure humility and thus take in and fully trust his word.
Think of any relationship. Would you heed advice from someone you barely know? About something so personal and close to your heart? If some acquaintance came up to you and started 'suggesting' to you how you should live your life and point where you are going wrong, would you receive it? Of course not! We only receive advice from those are closest to us. From those who have walked with us for years, where time was invested to build that trust. It's only with those that are closest to us, who know us intimately that our hearts can be open. You know them and they know you, so when they speak truth into your life, sometimes really hard truths, you will be open to listen.
Too many times in my own life did I make such a mistake. Advice, constructive criticism that occurs before a trust relationship is built lead to so much hurt, misunderstandings, judgement and more often that not would have the opposite effect. Instead of bringing growth and encouragement it created chasms, judgement, frustration and brokenness. I quickly learned the concept of truth in love. And love comes only by walking with someone.
God knows our sensitive hearts and has so much to share with us but holds back knowing we can't handle all of it. Only when we are invested and really get to that place of trust, can God begin to share his truth, the message that we need to hear from him. Only when we have established that trust relationship with the Lord are we in a position to receive his truth and not take offense or run away from it. Rather, cherish it because we know his heart and where he's coming from. We know he's speaking from a place of love and grace. And that he truly does have our best interest. To be sanctified in this life.
Jeremiah 29:11 "...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
Therefore, it is imperative that we know God and walk with him intimately, daily. Only then can his word influence us and bring true change in our lives. Only then can we really understand and trust what he's saying and allow his words to hit our hearts which will then bring everlasting change.
"Our Lord does not hide these things; they are unbearable until we get into a fit condition of spiritual life." - Oswald Chambers
This is also why as people, we shouldn't go around barking advice or judgement to anyone around us. If we want to be in a position to give advice it requires that we first walk with that person, know them, fall with them, invest into them. By doing so and only when we have done so do we earn the privilege to speak words of advice that can be received from the individual and bring true change. Because only by doing these things first can we speak from a place of love and not just hard truths. So when compelled to share advice, ask yourself have I invested enough time with this person to have that privilege.
