A few years ago, I was a foolish girl. I didn’t think I was at the time, but looking back I realize I was a fool with a capital F.
There was season in my life when I lived out the “fool” part of this verse, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).
I wasn’t a fool in every area of life, but there was a particular area where I very strongly rejected any advice that did not line up with my own opinion.
Here is how that verse looks on a twenty first century girl, aka. Me.
My dad and I are sitting on my bed having a conversation. My dad tries his best to share his heart with me on a certain issue and explains why he doesn’t think this opportunity is good for me at this time in my life.
Embracing the title “fool” I look at him, tears welling in my eyes and say, “You’re just against me. You don’t want me to be happy! Why do you want me to be miserable forever?!?”
During that conversation I had totally shut my ears off to what my dad was saying.
I was doing exactly what that verse described. I was absolutely right in my own eyes and I viewed anyone with a different opinion than my own as being against me. I wanted what I wanted and I wanted everyone to agree with me and cheer me on.
Looking back on that specific situation I am grateful that God gave me enough wisdom to avoid completely rejecting my dad’s counsel. I didn’t accept his wisdom willingly and I cried a lot along the way, but I eventually listened. And boy am I oh-so glad I did.
Now that several years have passed I view that situation completely differently.
My eyes have been opened and I no longer desire what I desired back then. I realize that my parents, and wise counselors around me, were spot on and I was spot off.
If only I had immediately heeded the advice of Proverbs 12:15, I would have been spared mountains of struggle and heartache.
Through that situation I came to realize this sure fire sign of a foolish girl.
The Bible states so clearly that a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. That is the sure fire sign. When you are convinced that you are right and everyone else is wrong, you are on your way to becoming a fool. When you close your ears to the wisdom and counsel of those around you, you are embracing the title fool.
Way too often we as Christian girls follow our emotions and feelings and ignore the wisdom from those around us.
We close our ears to anyone that doesn’t agree with what we want to hear. We convince ourselves that anyone who disagrees with us is either “against us” or “dislikes us.”
I’ve been there, done that and I know exactly how it feels. It’s not an easy position to be in. I’m not here to tell you that obeying God’s Word is easy, because it’s not. It takes guts and gumption and a girl willing to follow God’s Word no matter how difficult. I get that. In fact I wrote a blog on what it truly takes to be a strong Christian girl.
This topic is not an easy one for us as Christian girls to live out. Thankfully the Bible leaves us no squiggle room. Proverbs 12:15 gives us two simple options.
Here is the basic breakdown:
Foolish Girl = Ignores advice.
Wise Girl = Listens to advice.
I so desperately want to be a wise girl. I don’t want to make big mistakes and have lasting struggles because of my foolish and stubborn heart. I want to follow God’s Word and obey it even when it’s so difficult to do.
I’m guessing I’m not the only one who struggles with being a fool. I have a feeling some of you girls are struggling with this issue right now.
You may have a situation in your life that no one (but yourself) seems to understand. Your parents don’t get you, your friends don’t get you, your pastor doesn’t get you, no one gets you.
You have a choice to make. You can either reject the Bible’s wisdom and believe that you are right in your own eyes, or you can accept the wisdom of those around you.
The choice is up to you.
If you are struggling in a certain area, we would love to pray for you or talk with you. Please feel free to leave your comments below and we can start a conversation.
