Being Guided vs Being Told

I cannot tell you how many times I was more willing to do something when someone wanted to guide me than when someone just told me what to do.

This is human of us, right? We don’t like being told what to do, and when that does happen, we are more likely to become bitter and defiant. But if we are asked nicely and then guided, we will be more willing and obedient.

Throughout the Bible, we read many passages where God and Jesus are very direct, but in that directness, there is guidance. It’s not a “do what I said because I said so.” It’s more of a “do this, and here is why I say to do this.” Sure, there were still consequences when it wasn’t done, but regardless, we learn that communication is important.

I’ve found this type of communication to work with my own children. When there is an understanding of why I said something, there is more obedience and willingness. But if I walk into the room and start being demanding, they all of a sudden become on guard, defensive, and more likely to obey out of obligation because of the forcefulness that came with the direction.

Psalm 78:52 says, “But He led His own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.”

If a shepherd were to move too quickly, the sheep would think something was wrong, get spooked, and run in the opposite direction.

This scripture is talking about God guiding the Israelites through the wilderness. God knew that He needed to guide them and not just tell them what to do. They had just left a place of oppression, and if God had continued to treat them the same way, they would have been even more difficult than they already were and probably would have gone right back to where they came from, thinking they had it good there. He guided them. He gave them freedom, but at the same time, He was still direct and firm.

At times, we would all love someone to be direct and just tell us what to do, but most of the time, we want to feel respected. When we are guided and asked, we know that we are receiving respect.

God knows exactly how we need to be led, spoken to, and guided. That’s why most of the time He will guide before telling. In the guidance, He prepares your heart, your mind, and equips you with what He is asking you to do.

Friends, what we learn from all of this is this: it is better to guide and lead as the Lord leads than to be demanding and forceful. Just as we want to be guided and respected, we should do the same to others.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

With this scripture, we are reminded that as Christ-followers, we must represent Jesus in all that we do.

When we let God guide us, we are better able to guide others.