Finding And Taking Advice

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:15 esv

When we’re struggling with depression, we might find it difficult to reach out for guidance. But the Bible has many verses regarding the benefits of seeking counsel and accepting advice. Without wisdom, we can suffer setbacks and delay our healing journey.

When we seek guidance, we should look to someone who can speak biblical truth. When we seek medical advice, we want to hear from someone who has trained and practiced in the area in which we are struggling. When we look for community support, we should seek people who are further along their journey than we are. Someone who has not walked in our shoes might be able to offer a different perspective that we might not have considered.

Although we might seek and receive biblical guidance, we can still refuse to apply it. We might choose not to follow the advice because of pride, or simply believing we can trust ourselves to know what is best. The Bible speaks of the danger of going down this path. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

The most important test of counsel is to compare it against Scripture. Any advice contrary to the Bible is troublesome. We can also compare new advice to the body of knowledge we already know to be solid.

Philippians 1:9–10 states, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” One of God’s desires for us is that we grow in wisdom and discernment.

He that won’t be counseled can’t be helped.

Benjamin Franklin

A wise man seeks much counsel ... a fool listens to all of it.

Larry Burkett

One of the primary reasons we don’t seek counsel from the wise people around us is that we already know what we are going to hear and we just don’t want to hear it.

Andy Stanley

For Further Reflection

James 1:5; Proverbs 3:13–18; Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 19:20

Today’s Prayer

Father, please help me to seek, listen to, and apply godly wisdom, even if it isn’t easy. Give me the wisdom to discern my next steps. Amen.