I have often said emotions should not have a voice in the decision making process. That principle remains. However, that would seem to conflict with another saying that is also valid: "you have to do what your heart tells you."
The conflict is merely apparent. I won't wrangle over the meaning of the words "your heart" in this context, because as used it is intentionally hard to pin down with precision. It represents the complex of all that swirls in our minds when we are faced with something that pulls us in multiple directions.
Clearly "your heart" will include your emotions. When people are advised to stop and consider what their heart is telling them, it is hoped they will take the time to stop, first of all, and block out the proverbial "fog of war" that renders most humans indecisive, or leads them to be hasty and foolish.
Secondly, the intent is that you re-examine all this in light of your best self-knowledge. Do you know which of the options you can really live with? Can you identify the choice that will bring you the least satisfaction? Helpful analytical questions might be:
We could go on forever. Need it be said that we must also eliminate options that don't actually exist? Having a "good grip on reality" is just another way of saying you know what God has created and what He has said about it. Anything contrary to His declarations is not an option. The advise to examine your own heart assumes there is for you no clear word from God on the choices.
In the middle of this, we are also asking whether you can live with the emotions that will arise from your choice. We cannot stop emotions; we can only train them to re-associate. If at root who and what we are is denied, then we can't even do that successfully.
The point is to take a good long look in the mirror, and best you can, take the road best matching that to which you believe God has called you. You can only do today what today offers.
Ed Hurst
15 May 2003
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