Daily Devotional
The Quick Sand Of Assumption
Text: Esther 6:6
So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, “To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?”
Message
Oxford Languages Dictionary defines assumption as a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. It is also the action of taking on power or responsibility.
The Law of Assumption tells us that each and every one of us has the power to manifest our desires—all we have to do is assume that they’re on their way to us. It emphasizes belief in an outcome as already existing.
Similar words to assumptions are belief, supposition, presupposition, presumption, conjecture, expectation, speculation, postulation, conclusion, deduction, inference, thought, suspicion, notion, impression, fancy, guesswork, guessing, guess, reckoning, and guesstimate.
What makes people assume?
We are viewing life and the world around us through our own lenses, so really, we are seeing things as WE are. We make assumptions about other people’s lives based on our own experiences in life, and so we assume that what we are correct because we know our experiences to be true. Humans also make assumptions because of our own personal flow of logic, imaginations, past experiences, and our wishful thinking.
Sadly, assumptions are beliefs we take for granted and accept as true. Most of which are unconscious — either bad or for good reason. Assumption killed Haman. Esther 7:10 says, “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.”
In the Bible, 1 Samuel 17:25, the men of Israel say that the king will reward the man who kills Goliath with great riches, his daughter, and tax-free status for his family. King Saul later regretted this assumption!
In 2 Samuel 1, a young Amalekite man from Saul’s camp came to David with news of Saul’s death and falsely attributed it to himself. David tore his clothes and mourned. David asked the young man why he killed Saul, the Lord’s anointed. David ordered one of his men to kill the young man. The young man was struck down and died, where he assumed that he would be honoured.
Why do people jump to assumptions?
People jump to conclusions all the time, and one of the main reasons for this is that our cognitive system relies on mental shortcuts, which our brains use to save time and energy. Also, jumping to conclusions can be fueled by minimal information and the need to reach a decision quickly. Though assumptions are part of normal life that we use to reduce the amount of mental energy we use to make sense of the world around us, it can be faulty. We collect data through our senses, and we match that data against previous experiences so we have an idea of what might happen next, and then act accordingly.
What are the dangers of assuming?
Though our assumptions might be based on past experiences of criticism or rejection, they aren’t necessarily true in every new situation we encounter.
Other risks in assumptions include misunderstandings. We often misunderstand the situation or the people involved. This can lead to conflict, hatred, miscommunication, and even harm. Assumptions can be particularly harmful to your mental health because they often lead to distorted thinking and unrealistic expectations. So, in human relations, don’t assume you know someone’s story, their struggles, or their intentions. That is one of life anyone biggest errors.
Can an assumption be true?
An assumption, naturally, is anything that’s assumed to be true, but that does not have to be. The presence of assumptions doesn’t render a projection invalid — in fact, they’re unavoidable, particularly for projections of the future. An assessment that relies on too many assumptions will be full of risk. Remember, assumptions are like quicksand, which can pull you under and lead you astray or even kill you or your loved ones.
Living on assumptions is like rushing through life without a clear sense of purpose and direction. It’s better to take your time and ensure you’re headed in the right direction than to hurry along the wrong path. Remember, speed without direction is like a ship without a rudder ; it may move quickly and very fast, but it will never reach its intended destination. So, let’s make a conscious effort to never assume what we don’t know.
How do you identify your assumptions?
You will learn how to identify and analyze assumptions in an argument using four steps.
- Identify the main claim and the supporting reasons.
- Ask questions to uncover the assumptions; ask open-ended questions that encourage a two-way conversation.
- Evaluate the assumptions for relevance and validity.
- Challenge the assumptions with counterexamples and provide tangible evidence that offers examples that debunk your assumptions.
How do you stop making assumptions?
Some simple reminders to catch yourself before you make a false assumption include;
- Assessing your beliefs; it is important to step back and really dig into why you believe what you do about a person or situation.
- Reflect on where your assumptions are coming from.
- Ask (don’t just assume), ask questions first, as questioning is the antithesis of assuming.
- Respond (avoid reacting-it is very dangerous).
- Reconsider (think about it).
- Communicate (regularly), desire, and decide to see positive intentions by seeking multiple perspectives.
- Shift from expectation to shared understanding.
Conclusion
In summary, in place of living on assumptions, seek knowledge and understanding. Both are like finding solid ground that will keep you stable, secure, and strong.
Seek wisdom, ask questions, and listen with empathy and understanding, focusing on God’s goodness, love, and faithfulness. In doing so, we can experience a deep and abiding joy that sustains us, even in difficult times, which is not dependent on our circumstances or assumptions but on our relationship with God.