gut
/ɡʌt/
used in reference to a feeling or reaction based on an instinctive emotional response rather than considered thought.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take Proverbs 3:6
Trusting your gut is a phrase thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? That uncomfortable feeling that you have before making a big decision, or a peace you have about a new area of your life. How many of you base your big life decisions on a feeling that your digestive organ gives you? Stranger still, the positive or negative feeling is usually right, even if it’s in hind-sight. I often hear people saying “I knew I should have listened to my gut” - referring to a negative instinct they had prior to a decision that they’ve already made.
To me that sensation is typically God, the presence of a force that is greater than my situation, but steers me one way or another towards a greater good. Not everyone believes in God, some have their doubts about the concept, some have concluded that he is not real and some are still unsure. Despite this, many, if not all, trust their gut.
Trust is another huge concept in life. In what or whom do you place your trust? Trust is to believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of something that is often unseen. There is something both scary and exciting about it, it’s placing faith in things unseen. Who do you turn to when making decisions, big or small?
Do you pause and listen to a feeling in your bowels or jump into something, later regretting it due to a negative feeling. Interestingly our physical gut is closely related to our brain, there is a nerve called the vagus nerve that has a direct link from the brain to the gut. So maybe there is some truth to this decision making factor.
Neurons are cells found in your brain and central nervous system that tell your body how to behave. There are approximately 100 billion neurones in the human brain but our gut contains 500 million neurones, connected to our brain through nerves. So could it be wiser to listen to your gut than your brain?
As I made some big decisions this week e.g. whether to stay in Australia longer or to return home, I too waited to hear a response from my gut - Which I believe was also impacted by God. How do you determine the fate of our future? With the help of the neurones of the gut, or a good old fashion pros and cons list. I got my gut feeling and the decision was made, I’ll let you know if it was right or not when I figure it out.
