Choose a Side: The Danger of a Divided Heart

By: Pastor José Flávio Macieira — 2025

This reflection is part of the series "The Fire of Truth on Mount Carmel," inspired by the themes from the book "The Desert Therapy."

In the journey of faith, indecision is not a pause; it is a step backward.

The endless scroll through a streaming service catalog, the paralysis in front of a menu with dozens of options, the fear of committing to one path for fear of missing out on all the others. Our culture suffers from an "option epidemic" and teaches us to keep our commitments open. But what if, in the spiritual life, this attempt to "have it all" is the surest way to have nothing of value? It is to this heart, paralyzed by indecision, that Elijah's question on Mount Carmel echoes with unsettling urgency.

“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.” (1 Kings 18:21 NIV)

After gathering the nation, Elijah doesn't deliver a long sermon. He offers a surgical diagnosis of Israel's soul. The image he uses is "wavering" or "limping." It's the picture of someone trying to walk with one foot on each side of a fence, unable to move forward in either direction. The people wanted the best of both worlds: the historical covenant with the LORD and the apparent benefits of prosperity promised by Baal, the god of the dominant culture. They didn't want to abandon God, but they didn't want to abandon the idols either. Their response to Elijah's sharp question? A deafening silence. A silence of apathy, fear, and a faith without conviction.

Imagine a person standing with one foot firmly on the dock and the other on a boat that is slowly drifting away from the shore. For a brief moment, they have contact with both worlds. But with every second, the distance increases, the position becomes more unstable and painful, and the fall into the cold water is no longer a possibility, but an imminent certainty. The indecision of trying to stay in both places is, in fact, the decision to end up in neither. Trying to serve God and the idols of the world is this unsustainable attempt to live on the dock of God's security and in the boat of the culture's pleasures at the same time.

Today's "Baals" are not stone statues, but they are just as demanding in their worship. There is the Baal of Financial Security, which demands our anxiety and our extra time. There is the Baal of Social Approval, which demands that we shape our convictions to fit popular opinion. There is the Baal of the Sovereign Self, which demands we maintain final control over all our decisions. Our culture tells us we can have Jesus "plus" a devotion to these other lords. The radical call of Christianity, echoed by Elijah, is that worship of the true God is, by nature, exclusive. Jesus doesn't ask to be first on our priority list; He asks to be the entire list.

Why do we hesitate to choose? Fear. Fear of what we will lose if we surrender completely to God. Fear of being seen as radicals or extremists. Fear of letting go of an idol that secretly still gives us some comfort or pleasure. The grace of God meets us in this place of fear. God's call to exclusivity is not the demand of a tyrant, but the invitation of a loving Father who knows that a divided heart is a miserable and anxious heart. The command "choose!" is, in fact, the door to freedom. Grace doesn't give us the strength to live in two worlds; it gives us the freedom and joy to choose the only world that truly matters.

Your Next Step of Faith

Identify the main area where you feel "limping" or divided (your finances, your relationships, your use of time). This week, make one concrete decision, however small, that demonstrates your choice to follow only God in that area. Action manifests the decision.

The Mirror of the Soul

1. Between which "two opinions" do you feel most divided in your life today?

2. What is the fear behind your hesitation to fully consecrate yourself to God in a specific area?

3. How does the analogy of the person with one foot on the dock and one on the boat describe the anxiety of a divided life?

Prayer

Lord, God of clarity and truth, forgive me for my divided heart. Forgive me for trying to limp between loyalty to You and the attraction of the idols of my time. Expose the areas of my life where I am hesitating to follow You wholeheartedly. Give me the courage to make a clear and definitive choice for You. I want to stop limping and walk with firm steps in Your ways. In Jesus' name, amen.

A heart decided for God discovers the freedom to walk without stumbling.

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The reflection you just read explores one of the crucial moments from the 40-day journey in our book, "The Desert Therapy: God's Care for the Exhausted Heart." To dive deeper into this and other topics, we invite you to explore our books. Each purchase is an investment in your own spiritual journey and a vital support that allows us to continue this ministry.

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