Question 1

What causes confusion?

Accepted Answer

Romans 7:21, 23-25I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. . . . But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.1 Corinthians 1:18The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.1 Corinthians 2:14People who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.Ephesians 4:17With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.James 3:16Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder.Confusion is often the direct result of not knowing God and being tossed about by whatever seems good to you at the time. The line between right and wrong, good and bad, is not clear and you’re not even sure if it should be. That’s confusing. The sinful nature and its fruit promotes confusion, even in the life of believers.2 Corinthians 4:3-4If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.Galatians 1:7You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.Isaiah 59:9-10So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom. We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.Confusion can be caused by false teaching and evil. Satan twists the truth and tries to confuse God’s followers to blind them and lead them astray.Exodus 23:27“I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run.”Deuteronomy 7:23“But the Lord your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed.”Psalm 55:9Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city.God can stir up confusion as a way to deliver his people from oppression or protect them from impending danger.

Question 2

What are the results of confusion?

Accepted Answer

Ephesians 4:17-19With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.The ungodly are hopelessly confused about life’s real purpose and priorities, which results in misplaced values that lead to chaos and a sense of meaninglessness.Acts 21:34Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress.Confusion can make you uncertain about the facts, making it difficult to discern the truth.Acts 19:29, 32, 35, 40-41Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. . . . Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. . . . At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. . . . “I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.”Getting caught up in an emotional event or group mentality can cause confusion. People don’t even know why they are doing what they are doing. Reacting to emotional outbursts cripples your ability to make rational and effective decisions.

Question 3

The world is a pretty confusing place. What can I do to be less confused?

Accepted Answer

Ecclesiastes 6:12In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.Seeing life through your limited vision can bring confusion and frustration. Ask God to help you view life from his perspective. He does not resent you asking, and in fact, he longs to grant your request. Life is less confusing when you realize he truly is in control, not to manipulate you or order you around, but to assure you that this world is not random and chaotic. If it were, life would be meaningless. But if God is in control of the world, then you can be sure that his promises about how you can make a difference in it will come true. You can live a life of purpose that will make a difference for all eternity.Psalm 119:103-105How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.Look to Scripture for instruction and understanding. God has given you the Bible and protected it through the ages to help you avoid much of the confusion you face in life. Don’t be surprised if you are feeling confused when you have neglected reading your Bible. It contains the wisdom needed to deal with any situation. Through the Word of God, you discover the mind of God.Psalm 75:3“When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I [God] am the one who keeps its foundations firm.”Psalm 94:19When doubts filled my mind, [the Lord’s] comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.Philippians 4:8-9Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.God is good and holy. When you focus your thoughts on his character, much of your confusion about the world will clear up.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Be a devoted follower of God—constantly and deliberately deciding to trust him and follow his Word, which gives you understanding, focus, and purpose.John 14:26“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”John 16:13“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. . . . When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He gives the power and understanding to deal with confusion. Since you don’t know the answers to life, you need the One who understands and knows all things to guide you.Acts 20:28-30“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.”2 Timothy 2:24-25A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.Hebrews 13:17Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.Listen to wise teaching. You will gain understanding and learn what to do.2 Corinthians 4:8We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.Ephesians 4:13-15This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.Philippians 1:9-10I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.Hebrews 5:14Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.You fight confusion by not giving up in your quest for spiritual maturity. The more you know about biblical truth and about how to live the Christian life, the more confident you will be in knowing how to handle confusing events and ideas in life.

Question 4

How should I respond when God confuses me—when I don’t understand him?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 10:23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.Trust God at all times. Confusion comes when you waver, when you lose sight of the eternal blessings at the end of life’s road. If you let God’s Word be your compass for life, you will at least be certain about what roads not to take. That’s a great place to begin reducing the confusion in your life.Acts 10:9-11, 16, 19-20Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open. . . . The same vision was repeated three times. . . . As Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. . . . Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”Romans 8:26-27The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness . . . we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.1 Corinthians 2:12We have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.When you are in such confusion or turmoil that you don’t even know how to express it to God, the Holy Spirit prays for you and expresses your problems to God. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who lives in you to give wisdom, discernment, and guidance. This amazing gift of God’s own presence within you helps you be less confused.Isaiah 45:11This is what the Lord says—the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?”Jonah 4:1–4This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”Jonah was confused about the mercy of God. When you expect God to act in a certain way, you might be confused or even angry when you see what he actually does. Be humble; his ways are often not your ways. Examine your heart to see where you stand with God. Your heart will be confused if you are out of tune with him.Respond in obedience to God regardless of how little you understand about his ways. Just as you don’t need to know everything about plumbing to take a bath, you don’t need to know everything about God to follow him. You just need to trust what he says.Job 11:7“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?”Ecclesiastes 11:5Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.Isaiah 45:15, 18Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in mysterious ways. . . . For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” he says, “and there is no other.”Habakkuk 2:1I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.Wait for God to answer. Don’t be confused when an immediate answer from God does not come. Realize that how and when he answers is always in your best interest because he created you for a purpose. The timing of answered prayer is as significant as the answer itself.