following your gut instinct

I'm scheduled to go on a mission trip here in a few weeks to NYC. I love to travel (especially to NYC) and have been looking forward to this trip. However, the past couple weeks I have been having this nagging feeling that I'm not supposed to go. I have came up with tons of excuses of why I shouldn't go but nothing seems to justify me letting others down. I'm a firm believer in going with your gut instinct cause that's God's way of talking to us but this time I'm ignoring it cause I don't want to disappoint others and cost the church money by me not going. Can anyone offer some advice or reassurance on this one? (and yes, I know to pray about it and trust me, I have been)

5(A)Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And (B)do not lean on your own understanding.



6In all your ways (C)acknowledge Him,
And He will (D)make your paths straight.

I pray that you will know Gods will for you in the situation.
Gwyneth

First, if you really believe that it is God telling you not to go, then you should not go!

Perhaps you are just being a little anxious about going. Can you tell the difference?

My mother used to tell me "When in doubt, don't". That has really worked for me.

Many people do not believe that one should go with their gut feelings, but I do.

Praying that you will make the correct choice. I really understand how you feel about not wanting to let others down, but do what you think God wants you to do.

I don't think I know the difference between being anxious and God telling me something

Originally posted by chipsgirl:
I'm scheduled to go on a mission trip here in a few weeks to NYC. I love to travel (especially to NYC) and have been looking forward to this trip. However, the past couple weeks I have been having this nagging feeling that I'm not supposed to go. I have came up with tons of excuses of why I shouldn't go but nothing seems to justify me letting others down. I'm a firm believer in going with your gut instinct cause that's God's way of talking to us but this time I'm ignoring it cause I don't want to disappoint others and cost the church money by me not going. Can anyone offer some advice or reassurance on this one? (and yes, I know to pray about it and trust me, I have been)

Click to expand...

If there is one thing upon which I don't rely, it's my gut instincts. When we were getting ready to fly to Romania this summer for a missions trip, my gut said, "Don't go." I always have a bit of trepidation about flying and the uncertainty about being in a foreign country, especially post 9/11. I didn't follow my gut---I went. We had a very productive time and arrived home safely.

I really don't see any scriptural support about God leading through one's "gut instincts." God leads through His Word and directs our steps according to His will. If you have no good reason not to go and you desire to go, then I encourage you to go, and please send me a PM about how the mission trip went.

Bill

Well, I've never regretted following my instinct. I only regret when I don't cause that's when things seem to go wrong.

I think the two of you may be talking about two different things.

There is a problem with being apprehensive about doing something new, getting on a plane, etc. When this happens, I pray and have a peace about it. That it will be ok.

But if I have doubts, I pray and have no peace that I am doing the correct thing, then I continue to pray until I understand God's Will.

Chipsgirl, I really don't know how to tell you the difference between being anxious and knowing that God is guiding you. Perhaps someone more learned than I can tell you. However, I think you have answered your own question when you state that when you don't follow your instinct, things do not turn out well.

What one calls feelings, instincts, etc. maybe entirely different than what someone else may interpret feelings and instincts.

God may be leading you to do something else rather than go on this mission trip. Talk to your pastor about this.

You sound just like a procrastinator. Procrastinators do not want to attempt things unless they feel it will turn out perfect.

Know any perfect people God has used?

The last thing I am is a procrastinator. You shouldn't judge someone if you don't know the full story. I didn't ask for anyone to tell me who or how I am. I simply asked for some advice and reassurance on the matter. I'm still very much undecided on my issue and it's a horrible feeling.

1. Have you been on a mission trip before?

2. If so, did you have the feelings you have now, not to go?

3. If you did have those feelings, did things work out OK?

4. If you have not been on a mission trip before, you may just be anxious about going on something new?

I think that people who do not follow their feelings do not understand the ones who do.

If you have a desire to do something, that is a feeling.

I am praying that you will make the right decisiont The decision that God wants you to make and is right for you.

Further, people have a way of making me feel guilty when I don't do something THEY FEEL I ought to do.

We have the Holy Spirit within us and we need to listen to Him.

I have prayed and prayed that God would help me to see what is making me not want to go on this trip and just now all my fears flooded me. Some of which I didn't even know existed and some which seem pretty stupid. There's still something more though. Just yesterday when my mom told me she had the money for my trip, I felt like I had just been kicked in the gut and all I could hear in my head was that I really don't want to go. I have so many people depending on me though. My family is paying, my work is even giving me paid vacation time off, but most of all, my church is depending on me. There are 10 plane tickets and only 6 purchased. The church has to pay for the remaining unused tickets. If I don't go then there's another wasted ticket. If I knew right now that someone was waiting to buy the ticket I would sell it to them in a heartbeat.

Well, I have decided to go on the trip. I am just going to leave everything in God's hands and go with the flow. I believe He will protect me.

Chipsgirl,

Understanding God's will, in contemporary evangelical circles, is made all too complicated. I write as a pastor, as one who not only has to answer these questions for himself but who also is accountable for how he answers them for his people.

Where in the Bible are we instructed to "have peace in our hearts" concerning a potential action? We are, of course, not to do anything that violates His Word. But to say, "I'm not going to do such and such because I don't have peace in the Bible" sounds more like mysticism than biblical Christianity. I know plenty of non-Christians who go by their "gut instinct." I had a former church member who left his wife and three young children, moving in with another woman, and claimed that God had given him peace that he was doing the right thing!

Please understand, I'm certainly not trying to put you down or anything. Without knowing you, I love you as my sister in Christ. My desire is that all believers act biblically, for we only honor God as we live according to His Word.

Please allow me to share a couple of timely articles to understanding the will of God: http://www.the-highway.com/articleOct97.html and http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/80-24.HTM .

I'm glad you're going on the trip. May God bless your efforts. BTW, there may be things that don't go according to your and your group's plans. Because something happens to someone doesn't mean you're out of God's will. Things happened to the apostle Paul often, but we have the promise of Romans 8:28.

Blessings,
Bill

See post #2 from Gwyneth.

I'm surprised she could quote this text because I thought I had used it so much it was worn out!! In my Bible those verses are about 3 shades lighter than the surrounding text from so much reading(?)!

What book are those verses from? They look familiar but I can't remember. I would like to find them!
And Broadus, thanks for the link!

I am glad that you have decided to go on your mission trip and you feel that it is God's will and it is in His hands.

I am praying for you:

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 KJV

Originally posted by chipsgirl:
What book are those verses from? They look familiar but I can't remember. I would like to find them!
And Broadus, thanks for the link!

Click to expand...

Proverbs 3:5-6

I know that felling! I went on a mission trip to Brazil this summer, The devil tried everything to keep me from going.I had health problems,( the docter told me no stairs, I had to walk alot of them every day there) the money did not come in till the last minuet.(but it did come) My mothers docter even predicted my she would pass away that week.(she lived 2 more months)The really hard one was I knew I was going to leave the church I went with because of some horriable things a few people were doing there. Well, my best friend was going and kept encourageing me to go and my oldest sister kept saying go. I am so glad I went. I carry a photo album of pictures from the trip everywhere I go. It has opened up witnessing conversations with my doctor,family,friends,nieghbors, and strangers. I was afraid it would be hard to still leave that church after being on a mission trip with them. The Lord confirmed I needed to get out of it by showing me what these people were really like. Most were so snobby they did not talk to me even when I talked to them. I thank God you have been honest about your fellings and the people here have wonderful advice. Have you gone yet? Love in Christ Tam

Well I'm back from my trip and while I'm glad I went some crazy things did happen. First of all our flight got cancelled twice then rerouted and delayed so basically we lost 2 days of our trip! On the second day of the trip I fell down a flight of stairs and ended up in the hospital with a sprained ankle. Everyday it seemed that the devil tried to get us down but it didn't work. I refused to give in. I'll tell you all about the trip a little later when I have more time. I just wanted to let you all know I am back safely!

Chipsgirl,

Congratulations---glad to hear you went and returned safely.

Bill