“I need advice.” It would be great if we could ask for it flat out, straight forward but, all to often perhaps, we don’t even know we’re in need! It hits us more like a frustrated sigh, an angry cry, a complaining text message, a snide remark, tears of remorse…

We’ve come to a point where our journey of life has been interrupted, kind of like when on a road trip your handwritten directions don’t match up with the street signs or your gps lost signal. What do you do then? Keep driving thinking you’ll find the way? Stop and ask for directions? Pull over and decide to abandon the journey right there? Turn around to give it another go?

What do you do when you don’t know the way? What about those times when you don’t feel God’s leading, the Bible doesn’t seem to speak directly to the issues you are facing, or you aren’t sure you have the strength to carry on? When life gets messy and confusing we often turn to our friends.

We are blessed along the journey to travel with friends. Scripture encourages us to bear each others burdens, encourage and strengthen each other, and to spur one another on as we live life together.

So what do you do when you don’t know where to go and you need guidance along the way? Proverbs is full of wisdom admonishing us on taking wise counsel and warning of the consequences of making foolish choices.

How do we find wise counsel?

This is really an important question. Because we live in a world where everyone is an expert and there is a seemingly never-ending body of “wisdom” available for the choosing. And that’s really it you know? Choosing. We have to make a few conscious choices: 1- recognizing we need to seek wisdom, help and guidance. 2- to seek those things from “wise counsel.” 3- to follow the advice.

This November I heard David Hertweck say that when we need help knowing what is wise, we should look for someone who we can say of:

We need to be intentional about asking for advice because let’s face it, there is a lot of bad advice out there and it is so very easy to be the recipient of advice. I think that “ease” leads to not really listening to any advice or picking a little bit of a this and a little bit of that.

When the I get a text like this, I find Paul’s words ringing in my head, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” We need to seek Godly wisdom and we need to be people who understand the important position we are in when someone seeks our advice and give Godly wisdom.

Lord- help us to follow your leading. And when we can’t find the way give us the courage to admit we need help, open the doors for us to seek counsel from those who will guide us in your ways, and strength to follow advice that leads us deeper in our walk with you. When you give us the privilege of serving someone in need of guidance grant us the strength of character to lead them them in love to you. Amen.

~Jillene

Looking for more guidance? David Hertweck recommends Andy Stanley’s book, “The Best Question Ever: Learning to Foolproof Your Life.“