What the Bible Teaches About Trusting Our Hearts
When it comes to understanding ourselves, the Bible has a lot to say—especially about our hearts, or in today’s words, our thoughts and feelings. The ancient writers knew that the human heart can be tricky; sometimes, it even fools us.
Why Can’t We Always Trust Our Hearts?
Let’s face it: we’ve all heard the advice “follow your heart.” But the Bible urges us to be careful with this idea. In Jeremiah 17:9, it says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Basically, this means our hearts—or our inner desires and ideas—can sometimes trick us. We might believe we’re doing what’s best, but it’s possible our hearts are leading us down the wrong path without us realizing it.
Protecting What’s Inside
So, what should we do? Proverbs 4:23 gives a straightforward answer: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Think of your heart as the source of a river. If the spring is clean, the water is good; if it gets polluted, everything downstream suffers. This proverb says we must protect our hearts from negative influences—like anger, jealousy, or dishonesty—because these things shape our words and actions.
What’s in the Heart Comes Out
Jesus, in Matthew 12:35, adds another piece to the puzzle: “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” In simple terms, whatever fills our hearts eventually shows up in our lives. If we fill ourselves with kindness, patience, and love, those qualities will show in what we do. But if we let bitterness or anger take root inside, that’s what will come out too.
The Big Takeaway
Put simply, the Bible teaches that our hearts are powerful, but not always honest. We can’t blindly trust every feeling or desire we have. Instead, we need to pay attention to what’s going on inside us and make sure we’re filling our hearts with things that are good and true.
By being careful about what we let into our hearts, and by asking for wisdom and guidance—whether from faith, community, or reflection—we can make better choices and live truer to our best selves.
So next time you hear, “just follow your heart,” remember: take a closer look, guard it well, and try to fill it with the best things you can. That’s the simple but powerful wisdom the Bible offers for everyday life.
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