“Our emotions can lie to us, and we need to counter our emotions with truth.”  – Billy Graham

“Truth is so obscured nowadays and lies so well established that unless we love the truth, we shall never recognize it.” – Blaise Pascal

“Your duty is to scream those truths that one should shout but that are merely whispered.” – Nassim Nicholas Taleb

“And then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” – Jesus speaking in John 8:32 NLT

Think for a moment how different life would be if we embraced the idea of seeking truth as a necessary daily routine – as important as brushing our teeth or drinking our morning coffee?  Before heading out the door to face a new day, what if getting our daily dose of truth was just as important to us as our appearance or putting on a fresh set of clothes?

What kind of changes would occur inside of us?  Would we interpret the events or circumstances that surrounded us that day differently?  How would it impact our family, our friends, and the people we interacted with along the way?  Would focusing on truth EVERY DAY lead to a more productive, fulfilling life?

I believe it would my friend, in ways we can’t imagine!

But when we seek the truth, it requires us to lay down something each of us cling to as if our life depended on it.  We grasp firmly to our emotions, immerse ourselves in our feelings, and treat our own opinions and viewpoints as virtuous and blameless – exempt from critique or criticism.  Our viewpoint on any issue becomes cemented in our mind as fact, certainty, and a reality that cannot be challenged. Our feelings become our truth. 

But feelings and truth are often far from congruent.  Like Billy Graham states above, they can outright lie to us!  We can feel overwhelmingly alone, but when we study the Scriptures and take a hard look around the landscape of our lives, the truth is often quite different.  We can feel love for someone, but the truth is found in our actions – actions that might not match up with those emotions at all.  On any issue we encounter, we can feel like we see and understand all the facts, but in all actuality, our viewpoint is tainting the truth of the matter.

Surrounding all of this is a fact that is hard to accept:  There is only one truth to be found on an issue – not several that are based in opinion or nuance.   

Not everything you find on the internet is based in fact and truth.  Algorithms in search engines tend to steer us toward the areas where we “click” the most – taking us down wormholes that feed us information we like and agree with.  As an example, if you believe wearing masks in this pandemic is futile, then you will be led to more and more sites and information that support that theory.

 Same holds true if you believe they are effective.  You will be driven to more and more information (true or not) that support your hypothesis.  Wonder why the country is so divided and entrenched on THEIR OPINIONS?  Look how the age of information has led us to more disinformation than we could ever conjure up on our own!  This holds true no matter what side of an issue you find yourself on.

There is the one true God (Isaiah 42:8) or there are several.  There are two genders, male and female (Genesis 1:27) or there are 32, 57, 64, or 72 (This is what my internet search on the topic revealed).   There is our own individual way (Proverbs 14:12) and of course there are several individuals out there in this world, or there is One perfect way and One singular Truth (Psalm 18:30 and John 14:6)

I am not trying to be pretentious, because most certainly the idea of opinion versus fact applies to me as well.  Regardless, the problem still exists.  How do we go about seeking truth – the REAL truth?  How can we get our daily dose of it to cut through all the emotion, opinion and disinformation that surrounds us each day?

It begins with humility and vulnerability.  We must lay down our biased opinions, our personal internet searches, and our fickle emotions and open up our hearts and minds to finding wisdom and understanding.

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2: 1-6 NIV

“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” – Proverbs 9:10 NLT

It means setting aside quiet, reflective time each day – opening our hearts and minds to seeking out truth within our circumstances.  It means putting the phone down, turning off the TV, and shutting out all other distractions – making a decision to sit quietly in the presence of Truth.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 HCSB

“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 Amplified Bible

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3: 5-6 NLT

It means listening inwardly and intently – not for personal validation but for God’s gentle whisper – for His distinct voice.

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” – John 10:4 NIV

“After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.” – 1 Kings 19:12 CSB

You will know this voice when you hear it.  It is unlike any other.  It is gentle and soft – loving and filled with peace.  You will hear it only when you diligently seek it – when you humbly let go of all your opinions, self-professed truths, and emotions that surround the wisdom you are seeking.

You don’t need to be perfect or blameless to hear it.  All it takes is sincerity and diligence – an open heart and a listening ear.  Often, I hear that gentle whisper in the early morning hours – a time that is dark, quiet and peaceful – void of all distractions and interruptions.

As I mentioned earlier, I am not trying to be grandiose, pretentious, or imposing in any way, but I am asking you to diligently seek truth and wisdom in your life each day – not truth as you define it, or your opinion of it, or the emotions you hold that support how it is shaped within your life.  Simply open your heart and mind to it in the steps and in the manner that I suggest above.

Don’t try it once, but daily with a humble, open heart that is striving to be enlightened.  I know that Truth will be revealed to you, my friend!  God promises it! 😊

May His wisdom infiltrate all aspects of your life!  God bless!