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