What causes confusion?

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.